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 – The FAFSA
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 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To be considered for priority financial aid please make sure you file the FAFSA by March 2, 2012.
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 2011 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.
FAFSA Instructions
Below are instructions for completing the FAFSA.
- Request a PIN (Personal Identification Number) at www.pin.ed.gov. The FAFSA allows you to sign your FAFSA on the Web electronically using your PIN. If you do not already have a PIN, you may obtain one online. Parents of dependent students must also have a PIN to sign electronically. If you have forgotten your PIN, you may request a duplicate online. After your application is complete, you may choose to view your PIN online or have it emailed to you. If you and your parents do not sign electronically with a PIN, you MUST print and mail a signature page to the Federal processor, which will result in extended processing of your application by one to two weeks.
- Complete the 2012-2013 FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.gov as soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Approximately two weeks after you submit your FAFSA on the Web, you will be sent a Student Aid Report (SAR) through a secure link to the email address you provided on your application. If you do not receive your SAR, you may check the status of your application online at www.fafsa.gov or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID.
- Review your SAR for accuracy, ensuring that CSU Long Beach is listed as a college you plan to attend. CSU Long Beach will not receive your application unless our federal school code 001139 is listed. Print a copy of the SAR for your records. If you need to make corrections to any information on your SAR, please follow the instructions and submit corrections online immediately.
NOTE: Both the student and parent MUST sign the SAR with a PIN if corrections are submitted online. - Cal Grant information and application process: To be considered for a Cal Grant, students must complete the FAFSA by March 2nd.
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 – 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 2012 will be able to check their Financial Aid Status online by April 1, 2012. 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 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