Cosumnes River College’s Financial Aid Office, located in the Library Building, L-107, provides a wide range of financial assistance to students in the form of grants and loans. All awards are contingent upon availability of funds and academic performance.

The basic premise for all need-based financial aid programs is that the primary responsibility for financing a student’s post-secondary education rests with the student and his/her family. Student financial aid is intended to assist with those educational costs that remain after the student’s resources and an expected contribution from the family have been taken into account.

To be considered for financial aid, a student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. The FAFSA is available on the Internet for those students who wish to apply for financial aid electronically.

• The website address is: https://fafsa.ed.gov/.
• The school code for Cosumnes River College is: 007536.

Cosumnes River College participates in the following programs:

GRANTS

BOGW (Board of Governors Enrollment Fee Waiver)

• BOGW is for California residents and AB 540 students only.
• BOGW does not require repayment.
• BOGW is a simple, quick process that is not connected to other Federal aid programs.

• BOGW pays enrollment fees for one fiscal year: summer session and fall/spring semester. Only one application a year is necessary, and you must reapply each fiscal year, starting with the summer session. 

• BOGW applicants will be required to complete a simple application form available in the Financial Aid Office or complete online application at www.losrios.edu/lrc/bog_steps.php. Applicants may be asked to provide proof of eligibility. There are three methods by which you may qualify: 
  • Method A: TANF/CalWorks, SSI, General Assistance or General Relief recipients must bring a photo identification and an Aid Verification Summary or provide a copy of their last voucher or check when completing the application.
  • Special Eligibility: Eligible dependents of veterans and recipients (or a child of a recipient) of the Congressional Medal of Honor must submit certification from the local county Veterans Services Office, California Department of Veterans Affairs or the National Guard Adjutant General. Dependent of a victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack must submit documentation from the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board, (916) 322‑4426. Eligible dependents of deceased law enforcement/fire suppression personnel killed in the line of duty must submit documentation from the public agency that employed the decedent.
  • Method B: If you meet household (low) income standards. Please see CRC Financial Aid website for income guidelines.
  • Method C: If you have been determined to have any financial need based on completion of the FAFSA.

Board of Governor’s Fee Waiver Changes
Beginning 2016-17 academic year, the Board of Governors Fee Waiver will be implementing academic standards. All grades will be used to determine BOG eligibility for 2016-2017. Any combination of two primary consecutive terms (Fall and Spring) of cumulative GPA below 2.0, and/ or cumulative course completion less than 50% may result in loss of fee waiver eligibility. You’ll be notified within 30 days of the end of each term if you are being placed on either Academic (GPA) and/or Progress (Course Completion) probation. Your notification will include the information that a second term of probation will result in loss of fee waiver eligibility. After the second consecutive term of probation, you may lose eligibility for the fee waiver at your next registration opportunity.

How to regain eligibility: 

If you lose eligibility for the BOG Fee Waiver, there are a few ways that you can have it reinstated: 

• Improve your GPA or Course Completion measures to meet the academic and progress standards
• Successful appeal regarding extenuating circumstances 
• Not attending college in the district for two consecutive primary terms 

The appeals process for extenuating circumstances includes: 

• Verified accidents, illness or other circumstances beyond your control
• Changes in economic situation
• Evidence of inability to obtain essential support services
• Special consideration factors for CalWORKs, EOPS, DSPS and veteran students
• Disability accommodations not received in a timely manner 

Please note that foster youth and former foster youth (age 24 years and younger) are not subject to loss of the BOG Fee Waiver under these regulations. 

CAL GRANTS
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a GPA Verification form must be completed by March 2 prior to the award year. The completed GPA Verification must be received by the California Student Aid Commission for consideration. 

1. CAL GRANT A
   ​Cal Grant A helps low- and middle-income students with tuition costs at 4-year colleges and universities. Grant recipients are selected on the basis of financial need and grade point average. 

   The California Student Aid Commission will hold tuition fee awards, for those who qualify, until the student transfers to a four-year college. Students must maintain eligibility each year. 

2. CAL GRANT B
   ​Cal Grant B is administered and processed by the California Student Aid Commission and aids high-potential students from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds. Applicants must be a new freshman in college, completed no more than 16 units or a full-time semester of college, or have completed 4.5 months at a vocational/technical college by June 30 of the prior school year. 

3. CAL GRANT C
   ​Cal Grant C is administered and processed by the California Student Aid Commission and provides assistance for low- and middle-income students who are formally enrolled in and pursuing a vocational training program at Cosumnes River College. 

FEDERAL PELL GRANT
​The Federal PELL Grant program is an aid program designed to provide financial assistance to students who have not yet received a bachelor’s degree from any U.S. or foreign institution. The Federal PELL Grant is intended to be the “foundation” of a student’s financial aid package with other sources of aid to supplement it. 

In order to determine a student's eligibility, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed.

A Student Aid Report (SAR) will be mailed directly to the student and duplicate information is transmitted electronically to the designated school. The student may be asked to complete verification documentation as required by federal guidelines.

Eligibility will vary according to enrollment status and federally determined Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS (FSEOG)
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) program is limited to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who, for lack of financial means, would be unable to enter or remain in college. Funding for this program is limited; therefore, students are encouraged to apply early.

FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM (FWS)
The Federal Work Study program allows students to earn money for their educational expenses while in school. Students are encouraged to find jobs relating to their program of study. Work study wages are based on federal minimum wage guidelines. Students may qualify by virtue of their need, satisfactory academic standing, availability and feasible work skills.

LOANS

FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM (Subsidized)
To apply for a Federal Direct Loan, Institutional policy requires that a student must:

• Complete the FAFSA
• Complete Loan Entrance Counseling
• Complete a loan request online through “My CRC Aid”
• Maintain at least halftime enrollment status
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

Instructions to apply for the Federal Direct Loan Program are available in the Financial Aid Office or the CRC Financial Aid webpage.

Accepting any federal student loan is accepting a responsibility. Defaulting on any federal student loans will result in disqualification from all financial aid, adverse credit and severe legal action. By accepting a Federal Direct Student Loan, the student accepts the responsibility to repay it.

REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL/STATE FINANCIAL AID

Ability to Benefit: Applies to students who are admitted to college but do not have a high school diploma or the equivalent. To receive
Federal student aid, a student must pass a standardized placement test which measures the student's ability to complete the course of study.

Eligibility for financial assistance is determined by:

• Financial Need: Financial need exists when the cost of education exceeds all of the resources available to a student. This need must be determined each academic year for which a student applies.
• For Federal aid, be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or status as a resident alien with the appropriate visa. For CA state aid, be a California resident or AB540 student.
• Making satisfactory academic progress: Academic progress will be monitored periodically to continue eligibility status. The Financial Aid Office must ascertain satisfactory progress and may deny aid to any student who fails to meet the minimum stated academic progress guidelines.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy:
Congress and the Federal Department of Education want funds awarded only to students who are making satisfactory progress toward their educational objective. Therefore, the Financial Aid Office is required to monitor this progress and deny aid to any student who fails to meet satisfactory academic progress policies. Please check with the Financial Aid Office for specific details or the CRC Financial Aid website at:
Satisfactory Progress

Basis for Denial of Financial Aid:
Financial Aid may be denied for the following reasons:

• Default on Federal Student loans.
• Owing a refund or repayment on PELL or FSEOG.
• Failure to meet the satisfactory progress standard as adopted by Cosumnes River College for financial aid recipients. (Specific details are available in the Financial Aid Office or CRC-Financial Aid webpage.)
• Completion of a Certificate Program, AA or AS Degree, or 72 or more attempted units (whichever comes first) unless a Financial Aid Appeal has been approved by the Financial Aid Office.
• Falsification of information that affects the determination of eligibility or aid.
• Failure to provide necessary verification/documentation of income and resources.

Student may file a Financial Aid Appeal to reinstate financial aid if there are extenuating circumstances that caused the dismissal. A student may be placed on financial aid probation for one semester if the Financial Aid Appeal is approved. If the student fails to make satisfactory academic progress during the probationary semester, the student will no longer be eligible for aid within the academic year.

Selective Service Notice to Men: Federal and State laws require that men must be registered with the U.S. Selective Service System to be eligible for school Financial Aid (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.)

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

The Financial Aid office maintains a list of local and national scholarships available to students. Scholarship information is available at the CRC website. 

Over 80 scholarships are given out annually by the CRC Foundation for continuing and transfer students. Some scholarships are based on financial need and some are academic focused. Students are required to complete the online application by March 3. Applications will be matched to all the scholarships for which applicants are qualified. All eligible applications are reviewed by the CRC Scholarship Committee. 

Application Filing Dates for 2016-2017 

Start: January 2 

End: March 3 

Generally, all applicants must meet the minimum requirements of having completed 6 units at CRC and being enrolled in 6 units for the spring semester. A minimum of one faculty or staff letter of recommendation is also required. Some scholarships will required a written essay. Students can receive assistance with their essays through CRC’s Tutoring Center located inside the Learning Resource Center room 215. 

Scholarship checks are disbursed August 1-September 30, 2017. 

For additional information on scholarships contact Liz Starbuck, College Relations Specialist at (916) 691-7320.