To ensure that you receive notification of your financial aid eligibility before the May 1 National Candidates' Reply Date, apply as early as possible. To be considered for USC merit scholarships, apply for admission by December 1. Respond to any additional requests from USC within 30 days. To monitor your status, log on to My Financial Aid & Documents.
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.
Families occasionally experience changes in income and/or resources during the application period (e.g., job loss, death of a parent). If this applies to you, submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office outlining the facts, along with supporting documentation. You will be contacted if additional documentation is required. For additional information, see Appealing Your Financial Aid Award.

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. This application qualifies you for the low-interest Federal Stafford Loan and enables you to be considered for certain grants.
    • Deadline: February 2, 2009. If the deadline has passed, submit the form as soon as possible.
    • 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. This information on this application is used to determine your eligibility for USC student aid funds.
    • Deadline: February 2, 2009. If the deadline has passed, submit the form as soon as possible.
    • 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 must apply for a Cal Grant, worth about $9,700 annually at USC.
    • Deadline: March 2, 2009.
    • Many California schools automatically submit the form for their students, so check with your school before completing the following steps.
    • Download the 2009 Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by visiting 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 currently attend or most recently attended to verify your GPA (grade point average).
    • Make a copy of the form for your records and mail the original to the California Student Aid Commission as soon as possible.
    • Transfer Students: To ensure continued receipt of the Cal Grant, transfer students currently receiving a Cal Grant must transfer the grant to USC. Request a Cal Grant Record Change Form for Students from the California Student Aid Commission at (888) CA-GRANT or complete the form online at https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov.
  • Fax student’s and parents’ 2008 federal tax returns to the Financial Aid Office. For faxing instructions, visit www.usc.edu/contactfao.
    • Deadline: March 2, 2009.
    • Fax complete copies of signed student and parent 2008 federal income tax returns—including all schedules and W–2 forms as soon as possible. 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.
    • USC does not require state tax returns.
If your parents . . .
  • are married and filed separately: Submit both tax returns.
  • are divorced or separated: Attach only your custodial parent's 2008 federal tax return or if your parents filed jointly for 2008 submit that return. If your custodial parent has remarried, submit tax returns for this parent and your stepparent.
  • are not legally required to file a federal income tax return for 2008: Fax a completed 2009–2010 Parent Non-Filing Statement Form.
  • do not live in the United States and do not file a U.S. tax return: Submit a 2009-2010 Parent Non-Filing Statement Form and attach translated documentation of their income, such as a foreign tax return, employer statement, etc. Convert all amounts to U.S. dollars.
  • (If applicable) Fax the 2009-2010 USC Custodial Parent Form, with appropriate documentation, to the Financial Aid Office. For faxing instructions, visit www.usc.edu/contactfao.
    • Completing this form is required only if your custodial parent is currently single, divorced, separated, remarried, or was never married.
    • USC does not require the CSS Non-Custodial Parent Form.
    • USC will determine an expected contribution for the custodial parent, the non-custodial parent, and the stepparent, as appropriate.
  • 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.