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.