Frequently Asked Questions

The Federal School Code for Cerro Coso Community College is: 010111

If you have questions regarding the online or paper FAFSA application process, or if you need information about federal student financial aid in general, you can contact the Federal Student Aid Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)or visit studentaid.gov. For more comprehensive details and assistance, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our Financial Aid Office (FAO) via phone at (760) 384-6221 or use Ask Wiley to connect with a Live Agent in the Financial Aid department.

The Department of Education has done studies which have determined time and time again that verifiable income tax information from the base year is more accurate than projected information when determining and calculating the Student Aid Index (SAI). For example, 2021 income will be utilized for the 23-24 aid year, and 2022 income will be used for the 2024-2025 Aid year.

You should file the FAFSA using the base year's information that is required. However if you or your family has unusual circumstances (such as loss of employment, loss of benefits, death, or divorce) you should talk to the financial aid administrator (FAA) at the school you plan to attend. If you or your parents are facing unique circumstances, such as job loss, loss of benefits, death, or divorce, it is advisable to reach out to the Financial Aid Office (FAO) at the institution you intend to enroll in. In the event that your or your parents' circumstances have changed since the base year, you have the option to request special consideration through your FAO. The FAO will evaluate these requests on a case-by-case basis and may make adjustments to the financial data used for calculating your Student Aid Index (SAI). It's important to note that any adjustments made by the FAO should pertain solely to your specific situation and not apply to a broader group of students.

Please be aware that the FAO's decision is final, and there is no avenue for appeal to the U.S. Department of Education.

A person that did not work during the base year and has no untaxed income to report but received help from family and/or friends must determine the value of that support in a dollar amount. Cash support is support given either in the form of money or money that is paid on your (the student's) behalf. You must report cash support as untaxed income. For example if a friend or relative gives you grocery money, it must be reported as untaxed income on Worksheet B. If the friend or relative pays your electric bill or part of your rent, you must also report those payments. Examples of in-kind support are free food or housing that a person receives, usually in exchange for work or services. You usually don't report such support.

Your response to Question 16 must align with your marital status on the day you finalize and sign your FAFSA. If you select "single" as your status in Question 16 (What is your marital status as of today?) and subsequently marry after submitting your initial FAFSA, you won't be able to modify your answer to Question 16 for that particular academic year.

Report the information of the parent with whom you lived the most during the 12 months preceding the date you completed the FAFSA. It does not make a difference which parent claims you as a dependent for tax purposes. If you did not live with either parent or lived equally with each parent, the parental information must be provided for the parent from whom you received the most financial support during the preceding 12 months or the parent from whom you received the most support the last time support was given.

Report only your mother's income and asset information because you lived with her the most during the past 12 months. Use a W-2 Form or other record(s) to determine her share of the income reported and taxes paid on the tax return.

You should give only your portion of the exemptions, income, and taxes paid.

You must be able to answer "yes" to one of the several questions in Step 3 of the FAFSA to be considered independent.

Yes, the California Chafee Grant program could provide you with free money to learn a trade or go to college. Just log onto https://chafee.csac.ca.gov.

Cal Grants are free money for college awarded to students who meet eligibility, income and academic requirements. They can be used for any UC, CSU, private or California Community College as well as most vocational schools in the state. Cal Grants do not have to be paid back.