San José State Financial Aid: A Comprehensive Guide
5 mins read

San José State Financial Aid: A Comprehensive Guide

San José State University (SJSU) is committed to providing financial assistance to students who demonstrate financial need and have the academic potential to succeed in college. The university offers a variety of financial aid programs, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.

How Long Until June 27? Countdown to June 27 Time Zones FAQs

Grants

Grants are free money that does not have to be repaid. SJSU offers a variety of grants, including the Pell Grant, the Cal Grant, and the SJSU Grant.

san jose state financial aid

The Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program for low-income undergraduate students. The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2022-2023 academic year is $6,895.

San José State Financial Aid: A Comprehensive Guide

The Cal Grant is a state-funded grant program for California residents who meet certain income and academic requirements. The maximum Cal Grant award for the 2022-2023 academic year is $13,080.

The SJSU Grant is a university-funded grant program for SJSU students who meet certain financial need and academic requirements. The maximum SJSU Grant award for the 2022-2023 academic year is $1,000.

Scholarships

Scholarships are free money that does not have to be repaid. SJSU offers a variety of scholarships, including merit scholarships, need-based scholarships, and athletic scholarships.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Merit scholarships are awarded to students based on their academic achievement or other accomplishments. Need-based scholarships are awarded to students based on their financial need. Athletic scholarships are awarded to students who participate in intercollegiate athletics.

Loans

Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid. SJSU offers a variety of loans, including federal student loans and private student loans.

Federal student loans are loans that are made by the U.S. Department of Education. Federal student loans have low interest rates and flexible repayment options.

Grants

Private student loans are loans that are made by banks or other private lenders. Private student loans have higher interest rates and less flexible repayment options than federal student loans.

Work-Study Programs

Work-study programs allow students to earn money to help pay for college expenses. SJSU offers a variety of work-study programs, including on-campus jobs and off-campus jobs.

On-campus jobs are jobs that are located on the SJSU campus. Off-campus jobs are jobs that are located off the SJSU campus.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is a form that collects information about your family’s income and assets. The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal and state financial aid.

You can complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov. The FAFSA is available on October 1st for the following academic year.

Tips for Getting Financial Aid

Here are some tips for getting financial aid:

  • Apply for financial aid early. The earlier you apply for financial aid, the more likely you are to receive it.
  • Complete the FAFSA accurately and completely. Make sure that you answer all of the questions on the FAFSA accurately and completely.
  • Provide all of the required documentation. If you are asked to provide documentation, such as a tax return or a bank statement, be sure to provide it promptly.
  • Follow up with the financial aid office. If you have any questions about your financial aid, be sure to contact the financial aid office.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when applying for financial aid:

  • Not applying for financial aid. Many students do not apply for financial aid because they think they will not qualify. However, many students who qualify for financial aid do not apply for it.
  • Applying for financial aid late. The earlier you apply for financial aid, the more likely you are to receive it.
  • Not completing the FAFSA accurately and completely. Make sure that you answer all of the questions on the FAFSA accurately and completely.
  • Not providing all of the required documentation. If you are asked to provide documentation, such as a tax return or a bank statement, be sure to provide it promptly.
  • Not following up with the financial aid office. If you have any questions about your financial aid, be sure to contact the financial aid office.

Additional Resources

Tables

Table 1: Grants

Grant Maximum Award
Pell Grant $6,895
Cal Grant $13,080
SJSU Grant $1,000

Table 2: Scholarships

Scholarship Criteria
Merit scholarship Academic achievement or other accomplishments
Need-based scholarship Financial need
Athletic scholarship Participation in intercollegiate athletics

Table 3: Loans

Loan Interest Rate Repayment Options
Federal student loan Low Flexible
Private student loan High Less flexible

Table 4: Work-Study Programs

Program Location
On-campus job SJSU campus
Off-campus job Off SJSU campus