APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

If you applied for financial aid as a freshman or entering transfer student, you will see that the deadlines and notification date are different for continuing students. Otherwise, the procedure is the same, with one exception—if you received a Cal Grant last year, you don’t need to reapply this year.

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online by midnight Eastern Standard Time March 2, 2009. This application qualifies you for the low-interest Federal Stafford Loan and enables you to be considered for certain scholarships.
    • Use your best estimates of 2008 parent and student income.
    • USC’s Federal School Code is 001328.
    • Apply on or after January 1, 2009.
  • Register for and complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE® online by midnight Eastern Standard Time March 2, 2009. This application determines your eligibility for USC student aid funds.
    • Use your best estimates of 2008 parent and student income.
    • USC’s CSS School Code is 4852.
    • USC does not participate in the CSS IDOC program.
    • USC does not require the CSS Non-Custodial Parent form or the CSS Business Supplemental Form.
  • (Only for California residents who did not apply for a Cal Grant last year. If you did, skip to Step 4.) Apply for a Cal Grant, worth about $9,700 annually at USC. Deadline: March 2, 2009.
    • If you have completed less than 24 USC units, download the 2009 Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by visiting http://www.csac.ca.gov/ and clicking on the name of the form. Fill out the student portion of the form and sign it.
    • Ask the registrar at the school you previously attended to verify your GPA (grade point average) on the form.
    • Then make a copy of the form for your records and mail it to the California Student Aid Commission as soon as possible.
    • If you have completed at least 24 USC units, USC will submit your GPA information electronically to the California Student Aid Commission.
  • Fax student’s and parents’ federal tax returns or Non-Filing Statement Forms to the Financial Aid Office by May 5, 2009.
    • Fax complete copies (all pages, schedules and attachments) of signed student and parent 2008 federal income tax returns. (For faxing instructions, visit www.usc.edu/contactfao.)
    • Copy W-2 forms on a separate page (not covering page 1 of the return).
    • Write your name and USC ID number on your parents' federal income tax return.
    • If you are not legally required to file a federal income tax return for 2008, fax a completed 2009–2010 Student Non-Filing Statement Form.
    • If your parents are not legally required to file a federal income tax return for 2008, fax a completed 2009–2010 Parent Non-Filing Statement Form.