For Parents

At CSUEB's Office of Financial Aid, we are here to help guide you through the aid process and answer any questions you might have. Below is some basic information to help parents better understand federal aid eligibility and important timelines to keep in mind throughout the year.

Things to Remember

File the FAFSA Early

Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by applying as soon as possible after October 1st using previous year tax data from 2 years prior (for example, the 2024-25 application will use 2022 tax information). Improvements to the FAFSA application process now allow for direct data download from your IRS return! Follow the prompts while completing the application to authorize this information exchange.

Always remember that there is no fee to apply for federal aid. The priority FAFSA application deadline for CSUEB is May 2nd. This date is used to determine eligibility for some need based aid programs as well as State and Institutional funds, however you may still submit your application after this date. Applications received after the priority deadline will still be eligible for federal aid such as Pell Grant and Direct Loans.

Apply for an FSA Account

The FSA ID (account username and password) allows students and parents to identify themselves electronically to access Federal Student Aid websites.

You and your dependent (student) can each create your own FSA ID to sign student's FAFSA. Students need to create FSA ID to complete their FAFSA online. Parents can also use their FSA ID to electronically sign the Parent PLUS Loan Promissory Note.

For more information about FSA ID, please visit https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch

Parent Contributors

To help guide families to determine which Parent/s are considered contributors on the FAFSA, please review the following:

https://studentaid.gov/help/who-is-parent

FAFSA Parent Wizard Tool - Who Counts as a Parent on the 2025-2026 FAFSA?

https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-apply/parents

Student Confidentiality

According to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) CSUEB cannot release a student’s financial records to anyone without the student’s written consent, regardless of the student’s age, who is paying the student’s bills, or has power of attorney status over the student.

If a student wants someone else to have access to their CSUEB financial aid records, they need to complete the FERPA Authorization to Release Information Form, which is valid until revoked. This form must be submitted in person by the student with a valid photo ID.

Federal Aid Basics

Student Eligibility

CSUEB uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine a student’s financial need and eligibility for various aid programs. A student’s financial aid award is designed to meet as much of their financial need and eligibility as possible, and is determined by the student’s need level and availability of funds. CSUEB offers merit-based scholarships, need and non-need based financial aid. Student aid has both yearly and aggregate limits. See our Federal Direct Loans page for further details.

Student and Parent Contribution

For a dependent student, the FAFSA takes into account the entire family’s financial picture, with allowances for federal and state taxes, college costs for siblings, asset protection, medical expenses, and other factors, and determines how much the student and the family can be expected to reasonably contribute toward their education.

However, even if a student has no financial need as determined by the FAFSA, they may still be eligible to receive a federal unsubsidized student loan offer and a parent may still apply for the Parent Plus loan.

Parent PLUS Loan

The Parent PLUS is a federal loan borrowed by the parent on behalf of a dependent student to assist with educational expenses. Students are awarded the maximum amount they are personally eligible to receive, after which PLUS loans are available to the parents of dependent students to meet the cost of attendance. As with all loans, you are not required to take it.

Parents are required to complete the Parent PLUS Loan application through studentaid.gov to determine their eligibility for the Direct PLUS Loan. Upon approval, parent will be required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN).

The PLUS Loan is a non-need based loan with a fixed interest rate. Interest is charged on the loan from the date the first disbursement is made until the loan is paid in full. Payment can be deferred while the student is attending school at least half-time, but interest will continue to accrue.

For more information about Parent PLUS Loan, please visit studentaid.gov.

Special Circumstances

FAFSA uses tax data from prior years, which may not always be an accurate reflection of your current situation especially in these difficult economic times. The U.S. Department of Education allows for an institution to use professional judgment to change certain elements of the FAFSA application if adequate documentation can be provided.

If you or your family has experienced a loss of employment, change in marital status, or other extraordinary circumstance since you completed the FAFSA, you may appeal to have your situation reviewed by our office. If approved, your federal aid eligibility may be recalculated based on the new information. After you have filed the FAFSA and received your initial aid offer, you may contact the Office of Financial Aid to find out if the Special Circumstances Appeal process would be beneficial.

To get an estimate of how your federal aid might be impacted by changes in income before submitting an appeal, you may use the Estimate Your Federal Student Aid tool.