Financial Aid
What's new in Financial Aid!
Find out how to contact Financial Aid staff
Learn more about the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)? It can affect your Financial Aid!
The Board of Governors' Fee Waiver (BOGFW) is now the California College Promise Grant! Learn More & Apply
Time to submit the new FAFSA!
The 2023-2024 FAFSA is now available, so you should complete it as soon as possible. Not sure which FAFSA applies to what semesters? The 2022-2023 FAFSA covers fall 2022, spring 2023, and summer 2023. The 2023-2024 FAFSA covers fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024. We also require the 2023-2024 FAFSA for summer 2023.
FAFSA/Dream Act application workshops now available
Do you need help with completing your FAFSA or Dream Act application? The Southwestern College Office of Financial Aid is now hosting special Zoom virtual workshops where financial aid professionals will be available to help you complete your FAFSA or Dream Act application.
Workshops are held on Thursdays from 11am to 1pm. To sign up please log into MySWC and Zoom Meeting Sign up. If you are not a current SWC student and would like to sign up for a Super Thursday workshop, please email the financial aid office at financialaid@swccd.edu for assistance. Please include your name, current school, and type of FAFSA help you need on Zoom.
For our workshops you will need to come prepared with your FSA ID and password, income documentation, and a completed application “student demographic” section. If you are dependent student for the FAFSA or Dream Act application, please make sure you bring income documentation for the parent section also. If you are unable to attend a workshop during our normal scheduled dates and times, please contact the SWC Financial Aid Office for additional options.
Why was I offered a student loan?
We include estimated subsidized and unsubsidized loans when we determine a student’s eligibility for financial aid. If you see loan(s) on your offer, that means we determined you are eligible to borrow the indicated loans if you so desire. If you do not want the loans, you can select "decline” to have the loan offer cancelled. Go to the Loans page to read more about student loans, and contact us if you have any questions.
Why was I offered Work/Study?
The Federal Work/Study (FWS) Program gives eligible students the opportunity to earn part or most of their remaining federal financial aid need by working on campus, or in a pre-designated off-campus community service job. It is a need-based Federal Financial Aid Program that’s offered at Southwestern College (SWC). This type of part-time work can add to the student’s educational experience and can be a valuable asset when seeking employment after graduation. Go to the Student Employment page to read more about Work/Study, and contact us if you have any questions.
Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP)
The Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) offers eligible students at public colleges and universities the opportunity to earn money to help defray their educational costs while gaining education-aligned, career-related employment. LAEP allows a participating student placement in an educationally beneficial position that relates to the student’s area of study, career objective, or the exploration of career objectives. The program includes and emphasizes positions for students with employers that are capable of providing them with full-time employment opportunities after graduation, or opportunities to connect with other employers that are capable of providing them with full-time employment opportunities after graduation, within their areas of study.
Money earned from this program is considered income and therefore will have to be listed as income earned in your future Financial Aid applications.
To request an application for LAEP, please contact Sergio Soriano, Student Employment Services Specialist at ssoriano@swccd.edu
How do I actually GET the money I'm eligible for?
Southwestern College partners with BankMobile® to offer students a secure and flexible method to receive their financial aid funds. You will need to tell BankMobile how you want to receive any financial aid that is disbursed to you (direct deposit, paper check, BankMobile "Vibe" debit card). You can go to Refund Selection and choose your disbursement method. If you do not yet have a personal code to input, click the link at the bottom titled "NEED A CODE?" Check our Disbursements page for more details.
Has your family income decreased since it was reported on the FAFSA?
When you completed the 2023-2024 FAFSA, you reported you and your family’s income for tax year 2021. Since then, many students and/or their parents have lost jobs or otherwise had a loss of income. The SWC Financial Aid Office may be able to help. If you or your parents’ income has decreased since 2021, you can submit a Projected Year Income Appeal, to show why your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) may be higher than it should be. Go to our Appeals & Special Circumstances page to obtain the appeal today!
Student Loan repayment pause will END on August 29, 2023
See the Loans page for more information
Federal Emergency Relief aid
Financial Aid is as easy as 1-2-3!
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Step 1
Applying for Financial Aid
Find information on submitting your FAFSA or CA Dream Act application, as well as resources, FAQs and videos to make the process easier. Also get information on the different types of financial aid programs that are available.
Step 2
Getting Financial Aid
After you apply, there are things you can do to speed the process along. Check your status, submit required documents, activate your BankMobile choice, view our disbursement schedule, and learn about the impact of the Freeze Date.
Step 3
Keeping Financial Aid
Keeping your aid is as important as getting it. Get information on Satisfactory Academic Progress, the impact of withdrawing from classes, monitoring the amount of Pell eligibility you have, and more! Also learn financial literacy skills to better manage your money.