Frequently Asked Questions

Financial Aid FAQs

• Are there basic eligibility requirements?

  Yes. To be eligible for financial aid, you generally must show the following

  • Financial need

  • U.S. citizenship, federal status as an "eligible noncitizen" or – for state aid – qualification under the California Dream Act

  • No current defaults on student loans and no outstanding amounts owed to any financial aid office

  • Enrollment or acceptance in an eligible program for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate (or transfer)

  • High school diploma, GED certificate, state certificate of proficiency, home school diploma or previous qualification through testing or completion of degree-applicable units

  • Satisfactory academic progress

  Male students also must satisfy Selective Service requirements for draft registration.  

• How do they determine  financial need?

  Many types of financial aid are awarded on the basis of financial need

  • The information you report on the FAFSA or CADAA is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is then used to determine your eligibility, under this formula:
    (Cost of Attendance) – (EFC)
    = Financial Need

  • A low EFC means you have greater need, and you may be eligible for more aid. However, funds are limited, so your award might fall short. To maximize your award, make sure you apply early.

  • Under some special circumstances – such as unusual debts or expenses, divorce or death – your estimated need may be adjusted by the Financial Aid Office. You will have to provide documentation of your family’s financial situation. For more information, see our "Special Circumstances" web page. 

• What do the Award Messages mean?

  Depending on your situation, your award letter may list one or more types of aid offered. Visit the Types of Aid webpage for more information about the different programs available.

• When does my money arrive?  

  Your award letter will include a Financial Aid Disbursement Date. This is the date when your financial aid funds are "disbursed," which means they are deposited into your student account at De Anza. This money will be applied first to any outstanding charges that you owe to the college. The remaining money will then be “refunded” to you through BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Visit this link for more information:

  https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoicessso/.

  See our Funding Dates page to see when money will be disbursed in each upcoming quarter. 

• What if my financial situation changes?

  We understand that financial circumstances can change. See our Special Circumstances webpage to find out what you can do if this happens. 

• Do I need to remain a full-time student?  

  No, you don’t have to be a full-time student. If you have part-time status (taking fewer than 12 units per quarter), you will receive a  grant that is proportionately less than the amount you would get as a full-time student. However, if you withdraw from school entirely, you may be required to return some or all of the federal aid funds you received. (See below.) 

• What if I withdraw?

  If you withdraw from school, you may be required to return some or all of the federal aid funds that you have received. See our Title IV Repayment  webpage for details.

  If your plans have changed and you decide not to enroll at De Anza for a quarter or academic year, please contact our office in writing to cancel aid. This step is especially important if you are seeking financial aid from another school. 

• Do I need to maintain a certain GPA?  

  Yes! You must meet academic eligibility requirements in order to continue receiving  financial aid. You are responsible for making sure that you are aware of these requirements.

  Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, includes three things:

  • You must successfully complete at least 67 percent of the units attempted each term.

  • You must maintain a minimum 2.0 quarterly and cumulative GPA.

  • You must complete your program of study without taking more than 150 percent of the units required for completion. For example: You may attempt no more than 135 units for an Associate Degree or Transfer program that requires 90 units. After the 135 units, you will be ineligible for further financial aid.

  If you fail to meet minimum SAP standards, you may receive aid for one probationary term on warning status, or you may be suspended from receiving financial aid. If you receive aid while on warning status, you must meet SAP for continued funding consideration.

  See our Maintaining Eligibility webpage for details.