APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

Continuing undergraduate students must meet all deadlines and eligibility requirements to be considered for need-based financial aid.  Students who miss any deadline will be considered for reduced financial aid.

March 2, 2012

• CSS/PROFILE Application
  Complete the 2012-2013 PROFILE Application. This application, along with your FAFSA information, will help determine your eligibility for university need-based financial aid.
  
  • Submit as early as November 1, but by midnight Eastern Standard Time (9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time) on March 2, 2012.
  • Use your best estimates of 2011 parent and student income.
  • Be sure to include your Social Security number.
  • 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.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  Complete the 2012-2013 FAFSA Application. The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for the Federal Direct Stafford Loan and Pell Grant Programs.
• Apply as early as January 2, 2012, but before midnight Eastern Standard Time (9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time) March 2, 2012.
• Use your best estimates of 2011 parent and student income.
• USC’s Federal School Code is 001328.

• California Residents Only:
  Apply for a Cal Grant
  California residents who have completed fewer than 24 units at USC and are not currently receiving a Cal Grant must apply. The Cal Grant equals about $9,708 annually at USC.
  
  
  1. If you are currently receiving a Cal Grant, skip to Step 4.
  2. If you have completed less than 24 units at USC, download the 2012-2013 Cal Grant GPA Verification Form. Fill out the student portion of the form and sign it.
  3. Ask the registrar at the school you attended 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 California Student Aid Commission by March, 2, 2012.
  4. If you have completed 24 or more units at USC, we will automatically upload your GPA information to the California Student Aid Commission.
     

May 4, 2012

• Tax Return Information
  Submit student's and parent's federal tax information as soon as possible, but no later than May 4, 2012.
  
  Student and Parent Federal Income Tax Return Information or Non-Filing Statement Forms

Please visit My Financial Aid & Documents and log in following the instructions provided. You will need your completed, signed tax return, along with schedules and W-2 forms, when submitting this information.

For the fastest processing, submit tax information online. After you submit your tax information, we will update your status and let you know if we need any additional information, including a copy of your tax return for verification purposes.

• USC does not require state tax returns.

Students not legally required to file a 2011 federal income tax return must:

• Submit a completed 2012-2013 Student Non-Filing Statement form.

• are married and filed separately: Submit information both tax returns.
• are divorced or separated: Provide information from your custodial parent's 2011 federal tax return. If your parents filed jointly for 2011, submit information from that return. If your custodial parent has remarried, submit information for him/her and your stepparent. You will be advised if tax information from your non-custodial parent is required.
• are not legally required to file a federal income tax return for 2011: Submit a completed 2012–2013 Parent Non-Filing Statement form.
• file a tax return in another country: Submit a 2012-2013 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. Please also submit a completed 2012-2013 Parent Income and Expense form.

As Soon As Possible, If Applicable:

• Custodial Parent Form
  Submit the 2012-2013 USC Custodial Parent Form, with appropriate documentation, to the Financial Aid Office. For document submission 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 appropriate expected contribution for the custodial parent, the non-custodial parent, and the stepparent.
    
• Special Circumstances
  If your family has special circumstances you would like us to consider, such as job loss, reduction in salary or illness, please submit a detailed letter and supporting documentation.
  

• Business Owners
  Parents who are business owners must also submit a copy of their business tax documents to the Financial Aid Office. Submit a copy of the K-1 statement, if applicable, and a copy of the first five pages of the corporate tax return or partnership tax return, for each business.

• Additional Documentation
  Provide copies of tax returns, or any additional documents or information requested by the Financial Aid Office, within 10 business days of the request.

• Important Notes:
  • Submit any additional documents requested by the Financial Aid Office within 10 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.