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FAFSA/CADAA Workshops

The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) are now available - the Priority Filing Deadline for California is  March 3rd, 2025!

Have Questions or Need Help Filling out Your FAFSA or CADAA Application?
A Financial Aid & Scholarships representative is available to help. Join us in person or virtually during any of the workshops listed below. Additional assistance is available by contacting us during regular business hours.

Application FAQs


Every student and family has different circumstances and considerations that factor into how you will pursue financail aid. As a California student, here's what you need to know about each application and what they offer:

Comparison of FAFSA and CADAA application eligibility
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
California Dream Application (CADAA)

Who Can File?

  • U.S. Citizens
  • Eligible Non-Citizens (per FAFSA)
  • Mixed-status families (students who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents with undocumented family members) Visa Holder

You (the student) meet AB540 eligibility requirements and are:

  • Undocumented students
  • DACA recipients (valid or expired)
  • U-Visa holders
  • TPS holders

OR you meet AB540 eligibility or are a California Resident and are:

  • Mixed-status families (students who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents with undocumented family members)

What Aid Can I Receive?

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Other Federal Grants
  • Federal Student Loans
  • Federal Work Study
  • Cal Grant
  • Middle Class Scholarships
  • State University Grant
  • Other State / University Gift Aidrams
  • Cal Grant
  • Middle Class Scholarship
  • State University Grant
  • Other State / University Gift Aid
  • CA Dream Loan (Undocumented/DACA students only)

Students from mixed-status families can complete a FAFSA to be evaluated for all federal, state, and CSU funded aid.  Students from mixed status families that complete a CADAA will only be evaluated for state and CSU funded aid.

While the U.S. Department of Education does not currently share contributor information from the FAFSA with any other federal agency, those rules could change. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) assures students and families that information provided on the CADAA is not shared with any federal agency.

When considering which application to complete for 2025-26, keep in mind the following:

  • If you or a family member has completed the FAFSA in a previous year and/or your family member already has a StudentAid.gov account, their information is already in the U.S. Department of Education system. Submission of a new FAFSA may not increase the information that is already accessible to the federal government.
  • If you are completing a FAFSA for the first time, the U.S. Department of Education may not have data on your family member. However, their data may be available through other sources such as federal tax returns or immigration history.

We know that applying for financial aid right now could feel confusing and overwhelming and that there's a lot of information to consider. We're here to help you access resources, like CSAC's website for Mixed Status Families, to help understand your situation and decide which application is right for you.

Be prepared so you can complete your form in one session.  You might need the following documents as you fill out the 2025-2026 form.

Have your Information ready:

  • Your FSA ID
  • 2023 Tax returns
  • Records of child support received
  • Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
  • Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

Have your Contributor Information ready.

Contributor refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent's spouse) required to provide information on your FAFSA or CADAA form.  If filling out the FAFSA, each contributor will need their own FSA ID (StudentAid.gov account).

To invite contributors, you will need to provide their:

  • First and Last Name
  • Date of birth
  • SSN (if they have one)
  • Email address (or mailing address if they don't have an SSN)
Note:  If completing the FAFSA - if a contributor has an SSN, you are required to provide that number when inviting them to contribute to your FAFSA. Do not indicate that a contributor does not have an SSN simply becuase you don't know that number. If a contributor does have an SSN, indicating they don't will cause delays when they try to create an account and contribute the required information on your form.

Cal Poly Pomona FAFSA and CADAA Workshops


Members of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will be available to help complete your FAFSA or CADAA application - or to help with submitting corrections to your application - on the following days (be sure to bring your own laptop/device).

In-Person Workshop Dates, Times, Locations and Registration Information
Workshop Date
Workshop Time
Workshop Location Registration Information
Tuesday, 1/28/2025 11:00am - 1:00pm
SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967 Register on MyBar
Wednesday, 1/29/2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm
SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967 Register on MyBar
Monday, 2/03/2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967 Register on MyBar
Thursday, 2/06/2025
11:00am - 1:00pm
SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967 Register on MyBar
Tuesday, 2/11/2025
11:00am - 1:00pm SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967 Register on MyBar
Wednesday, 2/12/2025 9:00am - 11:00am SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967
Register on MyBar
Monday, 2/17/2025 9:00am - 11:00am SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967 Register on MyBar
Thursday, 2/20/2025 11:00am - 1:00pm SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967 Register on MyBar
Tuesday, 2/25/2025 11:00am - 1:00pm SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967
Register on MyBar
Wednesday, 2/26/2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm SSB Building, 121 - Room 1963 Register on MyBar
Monday, 3/03/2025 9:00am - 11:00am SSB Building, 121 - Room 1967 Register on MyBar
Advance registration is encouraged but not required.

Members of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will be available to help complete your FAFSA or CADAA application - or to help with submitting corrections to your application - during the following virtual workshops (breakout rooms available for one-on-one assistance).

Virtual Workshop Dates, Times, Locations and Registration Information
Workshop Date
Workshop Time Location
Wednesday, 1/22/2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm Zoom. Register on MyBar
Monday, 1/27/2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm Zoom. Register on MyBar
Wednesday, 2/5/2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm Zoom. Register on MyBar
Monday, 2/10/2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm Zoom. Register on MyBar
Wednesday, 2/19/2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm Zoom. Register on MyBar
Monday, 2/24/2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm Zoom. Register on MyBar
Monday, 3/03/2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm Zoom. Register on MyBar
Advance registration is encouraged but not required (direct access by clicking on the Zoom link for the event).

Members of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will be available to help complete your FAFSA or CADAA application - or to help with submitting corrections to your application - on the following Saturdays (computer access is available).

In-Person Saturday Workshop Date, Time, Location and Registration Information
Workshop Date
Workshop Time
Workshop Location Registration Information
Saturday, 2/01/2025 10:30am - 2:00pm
CPP Library, Rooms 2907 and 2913
Register in advance on MyBar
Saturday, 2/08/2025 10:30am - 2:00pm CPP Library, Rooms 2907 and 2913 Register in advance on MyBar
Saturday, 2/15/2025 10:30am - 2:00pm CPP Library, Rooms 2907 and 2913 Register in advance on MyBar
Saturday, 2/22/2025 10:30am - 2:00pm CPP Library, Rooms 2907 and 2913 Register in advance on MyBar
Saturday, 3/01/2025 10:30am - 2:00pm CPP Library, Rooms 2907 and 2913 Register in advance on MyBar
Advance registration is encouraged but not required.

Cash for College Info

Cash for College Workshops

If you are unable to attend one of our Cal Poly Pomona workshops, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is also hosting their annual Cash for College workshops (these are free for any to attend). They are providing Virtual and In-Person workshops state-wide.