Financial Aid Process
We believe cost should never be a barrier to a college education. More than half of SFSU students receive financial aid. Here’s a closer look at how to apply for assistance.
Explore and understand financial aid options
Before you apply for financial aid, we encourage you to get familiar with the programs that might be available to you. These could include state and federal grants, scholarships, loans and campus employment.
Your financial aid eligibility and the amount of aid you may qualify for is typically based on the Student Aid Index. Undergraduate students can get a personalized estimate of what this might look like using our Net Price Calculator.
Complete a financial aid application (FAFSA/CADAA)
The first step to applying for financial aid at SFSU is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by the priority deadline:
| Form | Application Opens | Priority Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| FAFSA (School Code: 001154) | October 1 | March 2 |
| CADAA (School Code: 001154) | October 1 | March 2 |
Which form should I complete?
| Form | Who Should Complete |
|---|---|
| FAFSA |
|
| CADAA |
|
Provide additional information, if required
After you submit your financial aid application, it will take our office about a week to receive your information.
Upon our review, we’ll let you know by email if we require any additional documents. You can also check your financial aid status from the SFSU Student Center. You’ll just need your ID to log in.
If no additional information is requested, the next step is getting your financial aid offer (also called an award summary or financial aid package). We’ll send those out automatically every year once they are ready!
Review your financial aid offer
You will receive an email notification that your financial aid offer is ready. You can access it from the Student Center section of the SFSU Gateway; you’ll click on “View Financial Aid.” Then select the academic year you want to see.
| What your financial aid offer includes | |
|---|---|
| Your financial aid offer | Your award summary will break down the types of financial aid you’re being offered for the fall and spring semester. This could include a combination of state and federal grants, scholarships, student loans and work-study (campus employment). |
| Your cost of attendance | Your award letter will also provide your estimated cost of attendance (COA), which includes tuition, fees, books, housing, meal plan and other educational expenses. These are not all direct costs; the COA is your guideline on how much school could cost in total for the year. |
| Your outstanding balance or refund | Finally, your award letter will determine if your financial aid is expected to cover your total direct expenses or if there will be a balance due after all aid is applied. If there are still funds available after all aid is applied, you may be able to use the remaining financial aid for other educational expenses like books, supplies and living costs. (See disbursement section below.) |
Accept, decline or appeal your offer
From the Student Center section of the SFSU Gateway, you will be able to accept or decline all or portions of the loans in your financial aid offer. Grants will be automatically accepted for you!
In special circumstances, you may also appeal your financial aid offer. We make every effort to be as accommodating as possible. Learn more about the appeal process.
Receive your financial aid (disbursement)
If all financial steps are completed, one week before the semester begins, we’ll release your financial aid to your student account. These funds are applied to your current charges. You can track your disbursement activity in your Student Center:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Charge | A breakdown of SFSU tuition, fees, housing and other costs. |
| Payment | Financial aid disbursements and out-of-pocket payments. |
| Refund | Leftover funds that will be sent to you after financial aid disbursements. |
Any applicable refunds will be issued to students within three to five days by direct deposit or within two weeks if mailing a check. We encourage everyone to sign up for direct deposit if possible.
Have a question about financial aid? Here’s how to reach us.
Our expert financial aid team is available to help with any questions you have along the way.
Financial Aid
The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) at SFSU is here to guide you through every step of the financial aid process—from applying for aid to accepting your award. We’re here to support you as you pursue your educational goals and build a bright future at SFSU.
More about aid and affordability
Affording SFSU
We’re one of best schools in the nation for social mobility. Learn how our students and their families make an SFSU education work for them.
Grants
Grants are need-based awards that do not need to be repaid. They include the Federal Pell Grant and the Educational Opportunity & Pathway (EOPP) Grant.
Scholarships
SFSU offers hundreds of need- and merit-based scholarships. You can search our database for programs that match your academic interests, skills and talents.