To be considered for federal financial aid at COD, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and list College of the Desert's Title IV school code on the application - - 001182.  Students should complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov beginning January 1st of each year.  If students need to apply using a paper application, students may come into the Financial Aid Office to request a printed form.  The FAFSA should be completed and submitted to the processing center as soon as possible after January 1st for the next academic year.  For complete instructions, go to the FAFSA website.

After you have completed your FAFSA, you will receive a notification from the U. S. Department of Education confirming your submission.  Please read this information carefully.  After COD has received your information electronically from the Federal processor, the Financial Aid Office will contact you to let you know if there are additional forms you will need to submit.  Other required forms or documents may be needed to complete your financial aid file; including copies of federal income tax returns and/or verification of untaxed income and other information you reported on your FAFSA.  After all forms and documents are reviewed and processed, you should receive an estimated Financial Aid Award Notification Letter indicating what financial aid you are eligible to receive at College of the Desert.

All financial aid applicants who are California residents and attending a California community college should also apply for both a BOG Enrollment Fee Waiver (application available on this website) and a Cal Grant from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).  The application postmark deadline for consideration for the Cal Grant is March 2nd of every year for the upcoming year and there is an additional deadline date of September 2nd for community college students.  For additional information on Cal Grants, you can stop by the Financial Aid Office or visit CSAC's website at http://www.csac.ca.gov/

The Financial Aid Office will continue to process all financial aid files and make awards as long as funds are available.  If you apply as early as possible , you improve your chances of receiving financial aid from all of the financial aid programs for which you are determined to be eligible.

Click on this link for the "Five Easy Steps for Applying for Financial Aid at College of the Desert."