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

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.