Pay close attention to deadlines, and respond to any additional requests from USC within 30 days. If you meet all deadlines and eligibility requirements, and promptly submit any additional requested documentation, you will be notified of financial aid eligibility in late June.

You can monitor your award status at My Financial Aid & Documents. Award notification will also be mailed to your permanent address. Any future changes to your award can be viewed online only.

To receive financial aid, students must: be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, be admitted to USC, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, and not be in default on prior loans.
E-mail the Financial Aid Office, detailing the reasons for your late application, and attach any documents missing from your file. Your financial aid eligibility is likely to be less than for previous years. Depending on the date of your application, you may be eligible only for federal or private loans.

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

  • 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 grants.
    • Deadline: March 2, 2009.
    • 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. The information on this application is used to determine your eligibility for USC student aid funds.
    • Deadline: March 2, 2009.
    • 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.
  • California residents not currently receiving a Cal Grant who have completed fewer than 24 USC units must apply for a Cal Grant, worth about $9,700 annually at USC. If you are current receiving a Cal Grant, skip to Step 4. 
    • Deadline: March 2, 2009.
    • If you have completed less than 24 USC units, download the 2009 Cal Grant GPA Verification Form at http://www.csac.ca.gov/. Fill out the student portion of the form and sign it.
    • Ask the registrar at the school you attend prior to USC to verify your GPA (grade point average) on the form.
    • Make a copy of the form for your records and mail it to the California Student Aid Commission by March 2, 2009.
    • If you have completed 24 or more USC units, USC will automatically 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.
    • Deadline: 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.
  • Important Notes:
    • Submit any additional documents requested by the Financial Aid Office within 30 days.
    • Documents submitted to the USC Financial Aid Office become the property of the university and cannot be returned to the student or duplicated for any purpose.