New and Prospective Students
The Financial Aid Office at CSU Long Beach helps thousands of students cover college costs each year. We can help you navigate the financial aid process and assist in identifying options to pay for college. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm in our office, 101 Brotman Hall. You can also call us at (562) 985-8403.
No matter what your family's financial circumstances are, options exist to help you finance your education.
What will it cost to attend CSULB
When considering the cost of college, it’s important to look at the value of the education you will get. CSU Long Beach consistently ranks as one of the top 100 best values in public colleges, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.
The costs you and your family will incur to attend CSULB includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses. The amount of living expenses will vary depending upon your living arrangements: On-Campus, Living at home (Commuter) or Living in an Off-campus apartment or house.
For information about CSULB costs, including a breakdown depending on California Residency status and anticipated living arrangements, review the "Costs" section of our website.
Applying for Financial Aid – FAFSA Eligible Students
Financing your CSULB education is an important process for many CSULB students. College is possible for everyone, and a variety of financial aid options are available to help with the costs. As you consider the value of a CSULB education, the U.S. Department of Education has developed a very useful and informative Web site, College.gov, to help you plot your road to college.
In order to be considered for need-based financial aid---including loans, grants, scholarships and Federal Work-Study ---you must complete the 2013-2014 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To be considered for priority financial aid please make sure you file the FAFSA by March 2, 2013.
The FAFSA is available and completed online. When completing the FAFSA please make sure that you indicate you will be attending CSU Long Beach when listing your schools of attendance; our federal school code is 001139. The FAFSA requests data from 2012 Federal Income Tax returns. If these returns are not completed by our priority deadline, you should report estimated tax figures on your FAFSA. After your FAFSA has been processed you will have the opportunity to correct your estimates once tax returns have been filed.
Be sure to review the FAFSA tips page of our website for helpful information on completing the FAFSA.
Applying for Financial Aid – DREAM Act Eligible Students
College is possible for everyone, and there are now a variety of financial aid options available to help with the costs. The passage of the California Dream Act of 2011 extended eligibility for certain types of institutional and state aid to students who meet AB540 criteria but who are without a valid immigration status. CSU Long Beach and the Office of Financial Aid are highly committed to the success of our Dream Act eligible students, and are proud of those who have been selected to join our campus.
As you consider the value of a CSULB education, be sure to visit the California Student Aid Commission’s website, as it contains useful information on the available types of funding and resources that are available to you.
Students who are able to apply for financial aid through the Dream Act Application will have their eligibility reviewed for Cal Grants and the State University Grant. In order to be considered for California State and CSU Financial Aid, you must do the following:
- Complete the 2013-2014 California Dream Act Application. To be considered for priority financial aid please make sure you file the application by March 2, 2013.
- Complete the Cal Grant GPA Verification (the School Certified GPA must be received by CSAC no later than March 2, 2013).
- Once admitted to CSULB, students should complete and submit CSULB's AB 540 Affidavit (California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request form) in order to begin a review of your eligibility under AB 540.
- Students who received their Social Security Number through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA); should complete a CA Dream Application to be considered for financial aid.
The California Dream Act Application is available and completed online. When completing the application please make sure that you indicate you will be attending CSU Long Beach when listing your schools of attendance; our school code is 001139. The California Dream Act Application requests data from 2012 Federal Income Tax returns. If these returns are not completed by our priority deadline (March 2, 2013), you should report estimated tax figures on your application. After your application has been processed you will have the opportunity to correct your estimates once tax returns have been filed.
Be sure to review the DREAM Act page of our website for helpful information on completing the California Dream Act Application.
CSULB Financial Aid Process – What to Expect Next
Once you have completed your FAFSA you will receive an email notification from our office:
- Financial Aid Award Notice: Once your file is complete and your eligibility has been reviewed, you'll receive an email with information and instructions on viewing your award offer online at MyCSULB.
- Preliminary Award Offer ( FAFSA Eligible Students Only) – If we need to request additional information in order to determine your eligibility, you’ll receive a preliminary award offer by email – with estimates of the financial aid you might expect to receive.
- Additional Documents Request – If additional documents or information is needed in order to determine your eligibility, you’ll receive an email with an overview of the items needed, as well as instructions on how to access any necessary forms.
Admitted students who have already applied for financial aid for Fall 2013 will be able to check their Financial Aid Status online by April 1, 2013. Students will be notified by email with instructions on accessing their award information once financial aid has been awarded, or if there are additional documents required.
Financial Aid Shopping Sheet for Newly Admitted Students (FAFSA Filers Only)
CSULB provides newly admitted students (who have filed a FAFSA) with the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet, a consumer tool that standardizes information about college costs and financial aid. The Shopping sheet allows students and their families to compare costs and aid offers from multiple schools in a common format developed by the federal government, thus helping facilitate informed decisions about institutional choice.
The Financial Aid Shopping Sheet is NOT a final financial aid offer; it is only a representation of the types and amounts of financial aid you may be eligible for – based on the information available at the time you are viewing the sheet.
To view your Financial Aid Shopping Sheet, follow these simple steps:
- Navigate to the “View My Financial Aid page” in MyCSULB (instructions above)
- Click on the “Shopping Sheet” button at the top of the Award Summary page
Your customized Financial Aid Shopping Sheet will be presented for review. You may also print this document to make it easier to compare offers from multiple institutions side by side.
Financial Aid Programs
Your financial aid award or “package” will be comprised of those types of financial aid for which you are eligible. The three main types of financial aid offered at CSU Long Beach are:
Scholarships and Grants
Loans
Student Employment
Other Payment Options
In addition to financial aid, there are several other options available for making payments towards your tuition and fees. CSU Long Beach offers an Installment Plan for those who would like to spread their fees over multiple payments, and there are also a limited number of short-term loans to assist students with registration fees or purchasing books. Contact the Bursar's Office for more information.
Additional Online Resources
The following websites provide additional information on the financial aid process and available funding:
- CSULB Center for Scholarship Information
- Student Aid on the Web (The U.S. Department of Education’s Website for Students)
- FAFSA on the Web
- California Student Aid Commission
- Tax Benefits for Education
Contact Information
CSULB Office of Financial Aid
Phone: (562) 985-8403
In-Person: 101 Brotman Hall
Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm