How to apply for Financial Aid

Step 1: Fill Out the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application 

To get started with financial aid:

• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) if you’re an AB540 student.
• If completing a FAFSA:
  • Create a Federal Student Aid account for yourself.
    If you're a dependent student, at least one parent also needs Federal Student Aid account.
  • Complete the IRS Direct Data Exchange.
  • Be sure to include Imperial Valley College’s school code: 001214.
• Don’t forget to sign your FAFSA or CADAA online.

When you complete the FAFSA or CADAA:

• You are also automatically considered for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG), which can waive your class fees if you're eligible.
• To be considered for Cal Grants, be sure to also submit a GPA Verification Form:
  •  If you have fewer than 16 college credits, your high school must submit it.
  • If you have 16 or more college credits, IVC will send it for you if you’ve attended within the past academic year.

You can watch our videos on  how to complete the FAFSA and the California Dream Act Application.
Visit our Financial Aid Programs page to learn more about eligibility requirements for each program.

What You’ll Need to Complete the FAFSA

You’ll need the following information for yourself and your spouse (if you're married) or your parents (if you're considered dependent):

• Social Security Number
• Eligible Non-Citizen information (if it applies)
• Federal tax forms
• Information about untaxed income

Important: If your income—or your parents' income—is high enough that you’re required to file a federal tax return, you must file a federal tax return. If you don’t file when required, we can’t process your application. You can check the rules to see if you need to file taxes on the IRS website.

If you have special circumstances that make it impossible to include your parents’ information or income on the FAFSA, contact the Financial Aid Office for help. 

Step 2: Check your Financial Aid status on WebSTAR

• Log into WebSTAR to see if you have any messages or missing items (called “unsatisfied requirements”).
• Once everything is turned in, your file will be reviewed in the order it was completed.
• If you are eligible for aid, you will get an email, and your awards will be posted in WebSTAR.
• If you are not eligible, WebSTAR will show a message explaining why.

If you're eligible for Federal Work-Study, check WebSTAR for instructions on how to apply for a job. Funding is limited and is given first to students in good academic standing who complete their file early.

You can visit our WebSTAR Financial Aid Navigation Instructions page for detailed steps on how to check your financial aid status

Step 3: Choose How You Want to Get Your Refund

If you have leftover financial aid money after your fees are paid, you might get a refund.

Refunds are sent through BankMobile Disbursements, a service powered by MMTX, Inc.

Go to refundselection.com to choose how you want to receive your refund.

Important: 

• Choosing a refund method does not guarantee you will get a refund.
• If you don’t choose a refund preference, your money will be sent by check to the mailing address listed in WebSTAR.
  
  

Always Check Your IVC Email and WebSTAR

Be sure to check your IVC email and WebSTAR often for updates about your financial aid status. This is how we will contact you about missing items, updates, or awards.