Federal Financial Aid Programs
The Federal PELL Grant Program is a federally-funded program, and is the main grant given for those who qualify by completing the FAFSA.
To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate student who can demonstrate financial need. The amount of the award, as determined by the Federal PELL Grant Program, is in most cases based on your (or your family’s) prior-prior year’s income (as in two years before the academic year you need the financial aid) and your (or your family’s) current asset information that you include in the application.
To apply for the Federal PELL Grant and other federal financial programs, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you are a full-time student (12 units or more per semester), the maximum PELL Grant amount for:
2023-24 academic year is $7,395.
Summer Pell: Pell Grants and other financial aid are available for summer school enrollment for eligible students. If you have questions regarding your eligibility, you can contact our office at Financialaid@wlac.edu.
Winter Pell: The Winter session is considered part of the Fall semester for financial aid program purposes. Courses taken during the Winter session are defined as short-term courses. Winter session units count toward the total unit enrollment payment for the Fall semester. If you take a Winter course, you must complete the course in order to be eligible for disbursement. If you withdraw from the Winter course, you may be subject to an overpayment or Return to Title IV (R2T4) regulations.
The FSEOG is a federal grant program designed to supplement other sources of financial aid for students with exceptional need. FSEOG awards are based on financial need and fund availability. Priority is given to students who are enrolled in a minimum enrollment in six financial aid approved units. Students must receive Pell Grant funds in order to receive FSEOG.
Applicants should understand that the FSEOG application process is more competitive than the Federal Pell Grant, and priority funding will always be awarded to those with the greatest financial need. All students that show eligibility for the award are not guaranteed to receive a disbursement due to limited funding.
Are you interested in participating in the federal work study program?
You must meet the following requirements:
- Be a financial aid recipient.
- Enrolled in at least 6 active units at WLAC per semester.
- Be in good academic standing.
Please be advised that each department may have their own requirements.
If you meet all the requirements, please submit your resume to the financial aid office with a copy of your class schedule.
Please be advised, if hired, you will be required to get your fingerprints taken and a Tuberculosis Test.
To expedite the hiring process, you may schedule a fingerprint appointment with Los Angeles City College at (323) 953-4005 or Los Angeles Community College District at (213) 891-2080. You may visit the WLAC health center for your Tuberculosis Test.
Note: Obtaining fingerprints and Tuberculosis Test does not guarantee a position with any department.
Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Any delays on your part (i.e., missing or unsigned documents, missed appointments or documents submitted after the deadline, etc.) will affect your eligibility to be considered.
Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans are federal student loans for eligible students to help cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school. The U.S. Department of Education offers eligible students at participating schools Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans. (Some people refer to these loans as Stafford Loans or Direct Stafford Loans.)
Student Eligibility
- Complete a 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- West L.A. College (WLAC) must be the student's home school within the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD)
- Pursue a financial aid eligible academic program at WLAC
- Satisfy the general student financial aid eligibility requirements
- Have received a 2023-2024 Award Notification or a letter stating you are ineligible for any need-based aid
- Be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) units applicable to your academic program. Students under an Extension Appeal (also known as SAP Contract) must be enrolled in six (6) financial aid approved units
- Comply with Entrance Loan Counseling requirements
- Have an active Master Promissory Note
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
Follow these steps to apply for a Federal Stafford Loan
- 2023-2024 FAFSA: Complete a 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the FAFSA website.
- Award Notification: Complete your financial aid file and receive your award notification or an email indicating that your file was reviewed but you are not eligible for need-based aid.
- Direct Loan Entrance Counseling: New borrowers must go to login on studentaid.gov to complete the Entrance Counseling. Once on the site, click “Complete the Financial Aid Process” and then click on “Complete Entrance Counseling” to access the page. This requirement does not apply to repeat borrowers.
- Master Promissory Note: Borrowers must have an active Master Promissory Note. To confirm status or complete a new Master Promissory Note go to studentaid.gov. Once on the site, click “Complete the Financial Aid Process” and then “Complete Master Promissory Note” to access the page.
Email to @email from your LACCD.edu email account to request a digital loan form.
Deadline to submit student loan form:
- For Fall 2023 term only: November 10, 2023
- For Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 terms, or for the Spring 2024 term only: April 26, 2024
State Financial Aid
To qualify for the Cal Grant program, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or AB 540 student
- Be a California resident (or eligible nonresident)
- Be attending at least half-time (6 units or more per semester) at a qualifying California college
- Have financial need at the college of attendance as shown in your FAFSA or CADAA
- Be making Satisfactory Academic Progress as determined by the college
- Have not already earned a bachelor’s or professional degree, or the equivalent
- Completed the FAFSA or CADAA each year you wish to receive a Cal Grant
Types of Cal Grants:
- Entitlement Grants
- Cal Grant A – provides grant funds to help pay for tuition/ fees at qualifying institutions offering baccalaureate degree programs. If you receive a Cal Grant A but choose to attend a California community college first, your award will be held in reserve for up to three years until you transfer to a four-year college.
- Cal Grant B – provides cost-of-living payments for new recipients in the amount of $1,648 for a full-time, full-year award. Payments are reduced accordingly for three-quarter (9-11 units per semester) and half-time (6-8 units per semester) enrollment for each payment period. Cal Grant B recipients who transfer to a tuition/ fee-charging school after completing one or two years at a community college may have their grant increased to include tuition and fees, as well as living expenses.
- Cal Grant Transfer Entitlement Award is for eligible California community students who are transferring to a four-year college and are under age 24 as of December 31 of the award year.
- Competitive Grants
- Cal Grant A and B awards are used for the same purpose as the A and B entitlement awards, except they are not guaranteed and the number of awards is limited. This is why we highly recommend you submit your FAFSA or CADAA as soon as possible to get the maximum funding available to you!
- Cal Grant C recipients are selected based on financial need and vocational aptitude. You must be enrolled in a vocational program at a California community college, independent college, or vocational college, in a course of study lasting from four months to two years. Cal Grant C awards may not be used to pursue a four-year degree program, graduate study, or general education.
Deadline date: The first deadline is March 2. A second deadline for community college applicants is September 2, but we highly recommend you meet the March 2 deadline when more funding is available, as these grants are on a first-come, first-served basis. AB540 students must apply by March 2.
Grade Point Average (GPA) Verification is required for Cal Grant A and B awards. You must submit a GPA Verification form by March 2 to the California Student Aid Commission. If you are enrolled at LASC or within the Los Angeles Community College District and meet the Cal Grant criteria, your GPA verification will be electronically sent to the Commission by the deadline date. Contact the Financial Aid Office to see if you meet the criteria to have your GPA electronically sent and for other possible options.
Cal Grant students with dependent children attending a University, or California Community College campus may be eligible for an access award of up to $6,000 for qualifying Cal Grant A and B recipients and up to $4,000 for eligible Cal Grant C recipients.
➢Dependent children must be under 18 years of age and receive more than 50 percent of their support from the student.
➢The student must complete a self-certification on the California Student Aid Commission website, mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov.
➢Our office must resolve conflicting information regarding your eligibility prior to disbursement.
The SSCG is offered by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) as a supplement to students receiving the state Cal Grant B (Entitlement or Competitive), or Cal Grant C. Students must be enrolled full-time and have received a full-time Cal Grant disbursement at a California Community College. The award amount is currently $1,298 per semester for 12-14.5 units and $4,000 per semester for students enrolled in 15 or more unit. The SSCG is limited by the availability of state funding during the academic year.
The California Chafee Grant Program provides free money to foster youth and former foster youth to use for college courses or a vocational school training. If you are or were in foster care between the ages of 16 and 18 as a dependent or ward of the court and have financial need, you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college.
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Student Aid). If you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), submit the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) online. SSN or Dream Act ID is required to submit a Chafee Grant Application.
- Provide documents confirming that you are a current or former foster youth who is or was a dependent or ward of the court, living in foster care, between the ages of 16 and 18.
- Submit the California Chafee Grant Application online at www.chafee.csac.ca.gov
How to Qualify
You need to be enrolled in at least six (6) units, meet SAP standards, and have not reached your 22nd birthday as of July 1st of the award year (typically, this is the summer before your enrollment begins).
The EOP&S Program is designed primarily for the recruitment and retention of students affected by social, economic, education, or language disadvantages.
EOP&S services include grants and book loans; educational, personal, and career counseling; personal development courses; college survival skills; cultural awareness activities; career workshops; and field trips to four-year colleges and universities.
You can view more information on the eligibility requirements at https://www.wlac.edu/student-services/spr/eops.
The California College Promise Grant (CCPG), formerly known as the Board of Governor’s (BOG) Fee Waiver, is offered by the California Community Colleges system. Under this program, per-unit tuition fees are waived for students who qualify.
There are several methods to qualify for this grant. You can view the eligibility requirements here.