Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for loans and grants?

The FAFSA is your application for both the Federal Pell Grant for undergraduate students and the Federal Stafford Loan for both undergraduate and graduate students. 

Which FAFSA should I file?

If you will start in spring 2010, file the 2009-2010 FAFSA.

If you will start in summer 2010, file the 2010-2011 FAFSA.

If you will start in fall 2010 or spring 2011, file the 2010-2011 FAFSA.

If you will start in summer 2011, file the 2011-2012 FAFSA.

If you will start in fall 2011 or spring 2012, file the 2011-2012 FAFSA.

What if I have already filled one of these out at a different school?

If you did not originally include California University of Pennsylvania as one of your school choices on your FAFSA, you must add Cal U to your record by adding our federal school code to your FAFSA. You will need your PIN number to make any changes. Our federal school code is 003316. 

When will you get my FAFSA?

You file your FAFSA online with the Department of Education, not with the school itself. Each weekend we run reports pulling all FAFSAs into the system. You must be accepted into the program before we will receive your FAFSA. 

Do I need to fill out the Summer Stafford Loan Application each semester?

No, the Summer Stafford Loan Application is only for students who are requesting loans for the summer semester. 

How do I know how much to request on my summer intent form?

This can be determined several ways. Provided you are registered for classes, you can view your bill online to determine how much you owe for the semester. If you would like to be awarded the maximum amount that you are eligible for, indicate "maximum" on the requested amount section of the form

Do summer loans affect my eligibility for loans in the spring and fall?

Yes, borrowing money in the summer does affect how much you are eligible for in the Stafford loan in the fall and spring. View the loan limit chart included with the Summer Stafford Loan Application to determine how much in subsidized Stafford loan money you are eligible for. 

Once you have used your subsidized Stafford loan eligibility, you will then be awarded the unsubsidized loan provided that you meet the qualifications. For more information, visit our undergraduate and graduate loans pages. Note that for most graduate students, the annual Stafford loan limit (both subsidized and unsubsidized) is more than the cost of your program, so very rarely do you surpass your eligibility. 

What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans?

The subsidized Stafford loan means that the government subsidizes the interest until you begin repayment six months after you graduate. The unsubsidized Stafford loan starts accruing interest upon disbursement. You can choose to pay the interest while you are in school when you sign your Stafford Master Promissory Note.

Am I eligible for scholarships?

All accepted students and currently enrolled students are considered for all possible University scholarships. However, selected applicants for some of the scholarship awards may be required to complete additional information for final determination of the award. Typically, online students are not eligible for any of the school-affiliated scholarships. You are free to do your own scholarship searches and any money awarded to you through that provider will be accepted. 

How do I know if I have been awarded any financial aid for the semester?

Once your financial aid has been processed and has been awarded to you, you will be able to view your awards on your student services account. For fall and spring semester awards, you will also receive an award letter in the mail. 

How do I accept my awards?

If you are just beginning your program or this is the first semester you are receiving financial aid, you must complete online entrance counseling and sign your Stafford Master Promissory Note to accept your awards. Each link will redirect you to the American Education Services website. You will choose what lender you wish to use when you fill out the MPN. You will do this once at the beginning of your program and then each semester your awards will be automatically accepted for you. 

Note that no loans will be disbursed until you have completed these two steps.

How do I use financial aid to pay for books?

If your books are available on the Cal U Online Bookstore, you can use your financial aid to pay for your books in the fall and spring semesters only. There will be a box on the online order form for you to check to indicate that you will be using financial aid to pay. When your loan is disbursed to the school, we will deduct what is owed to the bookstore up to $500 before sending any refund check to you. 

If your books are not available on the Cal U Online Bookstore or you choose to purchase them through another venue (such as Specialty Books), you will be responsible for your purchase on your own. You will receive a refund check as reimbursement after the loans are disbursed to the school if you were awarded more aid than you need for tuition and fees.

For the summer semesters, you are not able to use financial aid to directly pay for books. You will need to purchase your books on your own in order to begin classes and wait for the refund check to be sent to you. There is no arrangement made with the Cal U Online Bookstore for the summer semester.

What is my disbursement date?

Your disbursement date is typically during the first week of classes each semester. However, it may vary according to your schedule and how late your financial aid was scheduled. We are not permitted to accept any loan money for you unless you have reached your minimum credit hour requirement (six credits for undergraduates and five for graduate students). If you are only scheduled to take six credits, three in the first session and three in the second session, we cannot accept the loan funds until you have started the credits in semester session two. 

When do summer Pell grants disburse?

In the summer semester, Pell grants will not post until the second session courses begin, usually around the same date that the second session loans post to your account. We are not able to post the Pell grants until all summer drop/add periods are over to be sure that students stay enrolled in the courses they are required to take in order to qualify for the Pell grant. 

How do I get a refund check?

Your financial aid loans are disbursed directly to the school. Once the loan has been disbursed to the school, the Bursar's Office has 14 days from the date the money is posted to your account to send the refund check to you. Your check will be mailed to the billing address on file. 

How do I know if the awards are enough to cover my bill?

You can view your bill on your student services account under the student records tab as well as your award information to determine if your aid covers your costs.

How do I log in to my student services account to view financial aid information?

To access this account, go to http://vip.calu.edu. This will redirect you to your account. Your login is your Social Security Number without the dashes, and your password (unless you have changed it) will be your six-digit birthday. Be sure to change your password if it is the first time you have logged in.