After You Apply: Prospective Undergraduate Students

You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) after your application has been processed. The SAR is a summary of the information you entered on your financial aid application (FAFSA or Dream Act Application). You should review this document for accuracy and follow any instructions provided. Be sure to print a copy for your records. 

If, after reviewing your SAR, you find an error in the information you submitted, you can make a correction. Note that your financial aid application is a snapshot in time, so you should only be making true corrections to mistakes, rather than updating information to match a new circumstance. If you are classified as a Dependent student, both you and your parent will need to electronically sign the correction.

California Residents (and AB540 eligible students) only 

First Time Freshman applicants, and Transfer Students Not Currently Receiving a Cal Grant: 

Once you have submitted your application, have the school you currently attend or most recently attended submit your certified GPA to the Cal Grant Program. 

For the fastest, most secure processing, your school may upload GPA information directly to the California Student Aid Commission's system.  If electronic submission is unavailable, request that your school certify a paper Cal Grant GPA Verification form (available at www.csac.ca.gov). 

Transfer Students Who ARE Currently Receiving a Cal Grant: 

If you received a Cal Grant at your previous college, in addition to submitting your FAFSA or DREAM Application by March 2, you will need to transfer the grant to Cal Poly Pomona after you are admitted, by posting a school change at WebGrants for Students.

You may be required to submit additional forms or other documentation to complete your financial​ aid application before your eligibility for aid can be determined, and an official award offer issued. Don’t assume a request for additional information means that you did something wrong.  Cal Poly Pomona is just trying to confirm your eligibility for financial aid.   More information is availble on our Understanding Verification page.
 
This can be a very easy process – as long as you submit the requested documents and forms – as soon as they are requested. 

If additional documents are required, we will send you an email, as well as update your "To Do" list on your MyCPP Student Center account with the requirements.  

Notifications of required documents are sent beginning in mid-March.

Aid Packages are only made once you have been admitted to Cal Poly Pomona. 

Once admitted, your application will be reviewed by our office and you will receive either a Financial Aid Notification or an Estimated Financial Aid Notification.  We typically start sending financial aid notifications in mid-March for Fall admits, and in October for Spring admits. 

We may request additional information from you before we can finalize your offer. Be sure to check your email!

We understand that there may be circumstances that affect your ability to pay for college, which may not be apparent, based on the information collected on your application for aid.  If your or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return (for example, if you’ve lost a job or otherwise experienced a drop in income), you may be eligible to have your financial aid eligibility reviewed.

Complete the application questions as instructed on the application (including the transfer of tax return and income information, if applicable), submit your aid application, then contact our office to discuss how your current financial situation has changed.

Once you have been admitted, our team can help with an appeal process that will allow us to evaluate the impact of your special circumstances on your ability to pay for college. 

DEADLINE: Three weeks before the end of the academic year. Some funding may be limited so try to submit your appeal as early as possible. 

EVALUATION PROCESS: Appeals are typically reviewed in 10-15 business days. During busy processing times (such as the summer), it may take longer for your appeal to be evaluated. Once the review is completed, if your appeal is approved you will receive a revised notification of eligibility on MyCPP reflecting the changes made to the award. If your appeal is denied, you will receive an email to notify you of the reason(s) for the denial. 

Below are some of the most common reasons for an appeal: 

• Change in Income or Resources
• Death of a Parent or Spouse
• Dependent Care Expenses