Types of Financial Aid Programs
There are several main types of financial aid (click here for disclosure information about private loans)
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps members serve more than 3,000 nonprofit institutions, public agencies, faith-based and other community organizations to help meet critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. The variety of service opportunities is almost unlimited. Members may tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, or help communities respond to disasters. Upon completion of their service, AmeriCorps members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to help finance their education. For more information click here.
Board of Governors' Fee Waiver (BOGW)
The Board of Governors has adopted the fee waiver for eligible students to assist with enrollment fees. Most students who qualify are awarded through the FAFSA. If no FAFSA is filed, students must complete a Fee Waiver Application or a California Dream Act Application (for AB 540 students or DACA students only). You may apply online using the Los Rios Online BOGW Application or AB 540/DACA Students may apply using the California Dream Application.
To qualify you must be a California resident and meet certain criteria, explained both in the waiver form and on the online application page. Based upon the tuition fee of $46 per unit, a student must demonstrate financial need of at least $1,104.00 from the 2015-2016 FAFSA to qualify for a BOG Fee Waiver "C."
Bureau of Indian Affairs
If you are Native American and have questions about funding based on your ancestry, please contact one of the below agencies:
For Occupational and Vocational programs contact:
Central California Agency -Bureau of Indian Affairs
650 Capitol Mall, Suite 8-500, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone No: (916) 930-3680 | Fax No:(916) 930-3780
For all other programs contact:
Pacific Regional Office - Bureau of Indian Affairs
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825
Phone No. (916) 978-6057
Cal Grant B and C
Cal Grants are one of the smartest ways to get cash for college. For starters, it's money you don't have to pay back. If you are a graduating high school senior or recent graduate who meets academic and financial eligibility requirements, submit FAFSA and GPA Verification Form by March 2 or September 2 to be able to receive a Cal Grant. Students who have a minimum 2.0 GPA and have already completed at least 24 degree-applicable units (or 16 transferrable units for re-established GPA) within the last 8 years in the Los Rios College District will have their GPA automatically submitted to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). For more information about Cal Grant awards and eligibility, please see the CSAC Web site by clicking here.
To apply, submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and submit the GPA Verification Form for the March 2 (or September 2 deadline for continuing Community College students only). AB 540 Students may apply using the California Dream Application. If you meet the income, eligibility, GPA requirements and are approved by the California Student Aid Commission, then you will receive a Cal Grant award. Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards provide low-income students with a living allowance and assistance with tuition fees and other educational expenses. Most first-year students receive an allowance of up to $1,670 for books and living expenses. After the freshman year, Cal Grant B also helps pay tuition and fees in the same amount as a Cal Grant A for those who attend a four-year university. For a Cal Grant B, your coursework must be for at least one academic year. "Census Dates" for the Cal Grant is the second Friday of the semester.
FTSSG (Full Time Student Success Grant) Supplement: CalGrant B recipients who are enrolled at full-time status (12 units for Fall/Spring; 6 units for Summer) at American River College may be eligible for a supplemental grant of $300 per primary semester (based upon availability of funds and file completion dates). Students who qualify will be notified via award notification email. No additional application is necessary for eligibility for the FTSSG fund. The California Student Aid Commission reports all CalGrant B roster information to the Financial Aid Office, and enrollment status is based upon Enrollment Services data at the time of disbursement.
Cal Grant C awards help pay for tuition and training costs at occupational or career technical schools. This $547 award is for books, tools, and equipment. You may also receive up to an additional $2,462 for tuition at a school other than a California Community College. To qualify, you must enroll in a vocational program that is at least four months long at a California Community College, private college, or a career technical school. Funding is available for up to two years, depending on the length of your program.
*Transfer entitlement: Community College students may also apply for and receive a Transfer Entitlement award while attending a community college. However, the award must be activated once you transfer to a four-year college or university. The Cal Grant A Transfer Entitlement Award can be used for tuition and fees at public and private colleges and universities. At CSU and UC schools, this Cal Grant covers system-wide fees up to $5,472 and $12,240 respectively. If you attend a private college or university, it pays up to $9,084 toward tuition and fees.
Chafee Grant
If you are (or were) in foster care and have financial need, you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training for college. You don't have to pay this money back. You may also be able to use your grant to help pay transportation, any potential child care expenses, and living expenses while you're in school. You can use your Chafee Grant at any eligible California college or university, career or technical school, as well as schools in other states.
To qualify, you must be a current or former foster youth and not have reached your 22nd birthday as of July 1 of the award year. The California Department of Social Services will determine your foster youth eligibility status. For more information click here.
Child Development Grants
The Child Development Grant Program is a need-based grant designed to encourage students to enter the field of child care and development in a licensed children's center. Students who plan to enroll in at least half-time in coursework leading to a Child Development Permit as teacher, master teacher, site supervisor or program director, may apply through the college Early Childhood Education department they plan to attend. To receive funding, students must sign a Service Commitment Agreement stating they will provide one year of full-time service in a licensed children's center for each year they receive the grant. For more information click here.
Federal Work Study (FWS)
Under the FWS Program, you can work part-time to earn money for your education. The FWS Program: provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school, helps pay your educational expenses, is available to undergraduate and graduate students, is administered by schools participating in the FWS Program, and encourages community service work and work related to your course of study, whenever possible. For more information click here.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
FSEOGs are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need - those with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by Department of Education. Federal Pell Grant recipients receive priority for FSEOG awards. FSEOG awards range from $100 to $400 a year. The amount of the award is determined by the Financial Aid Office. You must complete the FAFSA and be Pell Grant eligible to qualify.
Pell Grant
Pell Grants are the foundation of federal student financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students - those who haven't earned a bachelor's or graduate degree. Amounts can change yearly. The Consolidated Appropriations Act (2012) limits lifetime Pell grant usage to 600% (equivalent to 12 full-time semesters). You must complete the FAFSA.
Scholarships
Scholarships are forms of aid that help students pay for their education. Unlike student loans, scholarships for college are financial gifts and therefore do not need to be paid back. The best source of scholarship information is contained on the internet through a variety of scholarship directory sites.
The American River College Foundation's scholarships are provided by the college, alumni, and private donors, and are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and promise of future achievement. Financial need is a factor for some awards, but not for all. Additionally, students who have acquired particular skills may be awarded for their talents. Click here for scholarship information.
Federal Direct Loans
Student loans, unlike grants and work-study, are borrowed money that must be repaid with interest, just like car loans and home mortgages. Loans cannot be cancelled on the basis of dissatisfaction of education received, lack of available jobs in one's field of study, or the experience of financial difficulty. Loan forgiveness or debt release from a Federal Direct Loan is not allowable in almost circumstances, and default on a Federal Direct Loan can have significant negative impact on credit, employment opportunities and garnishment of wages, federal/state benefits (including SSI), assets, etc. Loans are to be recognized as bearing legal obligation and must be repaid with interest, so students are instructed to borrow wisely, with repayment options in mind.
Annual Direct Loan Limits at American River College*
| Dependency Status | Year in School | Subsidized Limit | Un-Subsidized Limit | Total |
| Dependent Student | *1st Year (<30 units) | $3,500 | $2,000 | $5,500 |
| *2nd Year (>30 units) | $4,500 | $2,000 | $6,500 | |
| Independent Student | *1st Year (<30 units) | $3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
| *2nd Year (>30 units) | $4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
* Students are ALWAYS counseled to avoid student loan debt at the Community College level. Students with a bachelor degree (or higher) or who do not meet SAP standards are not eligible for federal direct student loans at ARC. Direct loans should only be acquired as a last resort when all other options for financial support have been explored. Students should borrow the least amount necessary to cover educational expenses. Loan requests that exceed the amounts above (see chart above) will not be processed for more than the allowable limit, per category.
All subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan requests from ARC are issued under the Federal Direct Loans program effective July 1, 2010. Students should consider a Federal Direct Loan (when eligible) instead of credit card debt, alternative (private) loan debt or other debt accruing programs. Click here for information on how to apply for a Direct Loan at American River College (2015-2016). Click here for information on how to apply for a Direct Loan at American River College in the 2016-2017 award year.
Alternative (Private) Student Loans (click here for disclosure information about private loans)
We strongly encourage you to complete a FAFSA and apply for the Federal Direct Loans over any private alternative student loans. Repayment options and loan forgiveness options are much better than private loans. However, in the event that you do not meet eligibility requirements for the Federal Direct Loans, the option of the private alternative student loan is available. ARC has historically assisted students to access private student loans through the following lender (however, students may establish an alternative private loan through any banking institution of their choice):
The above lender is only a common lender and is not recommended or endorsed by American River College. Students may apply for a loan with any lender of their choice. Private loans are credit-based, accrue interest, have fixed and variable rates which are typically higher than Federal Direct Loans, and do not generally offer the same repayment protections that are provided with federal Direct Student Loans. Disbursements are typically made via check and are facilitated through Elm Net.
For information regarding private alternative loans or additional lenders, go to: http://www.finaid.org/loans/privateloan.phtml.