by Selen Ozturk
Although California Community Colleges are the nation’s largest higher education system, student aid is the reason many students can afford education at all.
This aid is available through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for the 2024-2025 academic year, but community college students must apply by Tuesday, September 3.
Student aid
“It’s not too late to go to college. $383 million in aid is available by September 3,” said Dr. Daisy Gonzales, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), at a Thursday, August 15 Ethnic Media Services briefing about student aid. “That deadline is a lifeline for students and for California’s ability to continue as a national leader in higher education for mixed-status families and immigrant students.”
There are 116 community colleges in California. Of the over two million students attending them, over 70 percent come from diverse ethnic backgrounds, with 48 percent identifying as Hispanic.
54 percent of all California students who qualify for financial aid — meaning that their annual income is below $40,000 — attend a community college in the state. 65 percent of California community college students come from Perkins Economically Disadvantaged backgrounds.
“Resources are available to help you — regardless of you or your family’s documentation status — cover tuition and costs like rent, food, transportation, books and even childcare,” said Gonzales.
Students who submit their application by September 3 are made eligible for all of the grants and scholarships available in California.
I’m living proof of the power of financial aid,” Gonzales continued. “As a foster youth in Los Angeles, I received the incredible gift of a Cal Grant and a Chafee Foster Youth grant, which let me into Los Angeles Valley College at age 15. Later, I went to Mills College in Oakland, and then earned a Master’s and PhD at the University of California Santa Barbara.”
“I’ve dedicated my entire career to education, because of this gift,” she added. “There’s still money on the table, and it can make a difference as to whether students can afford their education.”
“I’m still being contacted by undocumented students who are being told, both in high school and adult school and other places that college is not for them,” said Nancy Jodaitis.
“I want to make sure this message comes through loud and clear: Regardless of what happens at a national level, not that it won’t impact us, not that fear isn’t present, but California will continue to stand with immigrants, who have been such an integral part of our community and our state,” she added
In his 2022-2023 state budget, Governor Newsom established a goal for 70 percent of Californians to earn a post-secondary] college degree by 2030.
Immigrant and low-income community college students are key to achieving this goal. California community colleges serve 55 percent of the state’s DACA students, and over 50 percent of all California students qualify for free tuition at a community college through the aid available until September 3.
“Financial aid is not considered part of public charge,” Jodaitis explained. “Every public college and university in California has someone dedicated to supporting undocumented students at the school, and your information will not be shared.”
Student challenges and successes
“Without financial aid, I don’t think I could be I am now,” said Ivan Hernandez, president of Student Senate for California Community Colleges. “I was born in the U.S. but grew up in Mexico. I moved back for treatment after a leukemia diagnosis, and stayed to pursue higher education. My family didn’t have ways to support my education financially, so it was up to me to apply for aid.
“However, this year has been extremely frustrating and challenging for individuals from mixed status families such as myself to access higher education,” he continued.
This year, even students as proactive as Hernandez are facing challenges that threaten their education — namely, FAFSA rollout delays and glitches with a new application form involving miscalculations to formulas used to determine aid.
“I’m the type of individual who usually gets their FAFSA application in a week or two after the application has opened,” — December 2023 for this academic year, said Hernandez. “But I just submitted my FAFSA last week. It was months and months of stress about how I was going to pay for college. I’d made it this far, I didn’t want to give up. I considered getting loans.”
“I constantly reached out to my institution, and FAFSA and I didn’t hear much back from them other than ‘We’re working on it,’” he continued. “But I reached out to CASC and they walked me through, one-on-one, how to fill out the form. It only took about two hours to get done … It actually was easier than the old form, but many students are struggling with the new language being used — even with translated forms, if specific words don’t translate well to other languages.”
FAFSA and CA Dream Act application help is available in multiple languages through CASC — including Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Armenian and Arabic — by way of resource sheets, online chat, email support under studentsupport@csac.ca.gov and phone support under (888) 224-7268.
“My parents, who never made it to middle school, always say to me, education is the only thing no one can take away from you,” said Hernández. “The California Community College system really changed my life.”
“Especially among undocumented and non-traditional students working full-time and supporting dependents, I see a lot of fear in adjusting back to a classroom, or not having the time to ask for help in-person. But there’s a lot of support available,” he continued. “It’s an investment in the betterment of yourself and your family.
“My message to students is: Sí se puede, sí se pudo, y siempre se podrá,” Hernandez added. “Regardless of challenges you encounter, you can do it, there is always a way.”Students can apply for aid online through FAFSA and CA Dream Act.
