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Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid & Scholarships Introduction

On this page, you will find information on the following topics:

  • Understanding the Financial Aid Process and Scholarships
  • Federal Student Aid & Grants at a Glance
  • General Scholarship Information
  • LGBTQ Students' Scholarship Websites
  • International Scholarship Websites
  • General Scholarship Search Engines
  • Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) - Information and Video
  • California Dream Act - Information and Video
  • Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Program Information and Brochure

For more information on financial aid, scholarships, and assistance when completing your FAFSA, please contact the College and Career Specialist or your School Counselor.

Understanding Financial Aid & Scholarships

Choosing how to pay for college or vocational school is one of the first major financial decisions you will make as a young adult because it is likely the most expensive thing you have had to pay for at this stage of life. This is why it requires significant planning and support from family. Remember - every student can attend college and there is financial help available to you!

When talking with your family about the costs of college, consider the five main categories of college expenses:

  • Tuition fees: the price colleges charge for classes, usually based on number of units you are taking.
  • Room and board: housing, on or off campus, food and utilities.
  • Course costs: books, supplies, equipment, etc.
  • Personal expenses: laundry, cell phone bill, dining out, clothing, etc.
  • Transportation costs: gas for driving to campus or visiting home, vehicle maintenance like oil changes, on-campus parking, or public transportation.

College costs vary depending on what college you go to and how much financial aid you receive. Although the average college tuition ranges from $3,440 - $32,410 depending on the type of school you select, the amount you pay may be much lower due to grants, scholarships, and other federal student aid awarded to you.

To learn more about Financial Aid, if you qualify, and how to apply, please review the document* below. You may also download this resource at:

studentaid.gov - Do You Need Money for College? (opens in new tab)

* Information provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Financial Aid Process

There are multiple ways to apply for financial aid. Below this section, you will find more detailed information about financial aid options. Please note this information is subject to change. For the most current information, please visit the specific application websites below.

Note: All documents and presentations offered above are for reference and informational purposes.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Completing the FAFSA is the first step toward getting federal financial aid and state financial aid for college, vocational training, or graduate school. Many states and colleges use the information you provide on the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for state and school aid.

Some private financial aid providers may also use your FAFSA information to determine if you qualify for financial aid they offer. Important: If you do not complete the FAFSA, some schools will not even consider you for academic and non-academic scholarships that they offer.

For more information about FAFSA, please visit:

studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa (opens in new tab)

California Dream Act (CADAA)

It can feel overwhelming to figure out how to pay for college as an undocumented student. However, you have access to financial aid options that help reduce the financial barriers to pursuing your educational goals.

Financial aid refers to scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans that help students pay for college. Undocumented students who qualify under Assembly Bill (AB) 540 criteria can apply for financial aid by submitting the California Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (Dream) Act Application.

As a state law, the California Dream Act is separate from the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Undocumented students in California can still apply for financial aid without DACA status. Please note: If you qualify under AB 540, you must complete the application as soon as possible or before March 2nd of your senior year.

For more information about the California DREAM Act, please visit:

dream.csac.ca.gov (opens in new tab)

Scholarship Information

General Scholarship Information*

A scholarship is money awarded to a student to help pay for his/her college education expenses. Scholarships, like grants, are monetary gifts that do not need to be repaid. Where grants are monetary gifts from public sources (from federal and state governments), scholarships generally come from private sources.

There are a wide variety of scholarships offered in varying amounts and for various purposes. For example, a scholarship may cover the entire cost of your tuition or it might be a one-time award of a few hundred dollars. Either way, scholarships are worth applying for because they can help reduce the cost of your education. Use the websites below to search for scholarships.

Feel free to review some financial aid and scholarship information in this article from Madison Trust (opens in new tab) .

LGBTQ Student Scholarship Websites*

International Scholarship Websites*

General Scholarship Search Engines

Resource Name Website Link
Federal Student Aid Scholarship Search studentaid.gov (opens in new tab)
Naviance College Organizer student.naviance.com/delmar (opens in new tab)
Fastweb Scholarship Search www.fastweb.com/ (opens in new tab)
Unigo Scholarship Finder www.unigo.com/ (opens in new tab)
College Board Scholarship Search bigfuture.collegeboard.org (opens in new tab)
Peterson's Scholarship Search www.petersons.com (opens in new tab)
Sallie Mae College Scholarships salliemae.com (opens in new tab)
Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation www.cksf.org/ (opens in new tab)
Scholly Scholarship Finder (Mobile App) myscholly.com/ (opens in new tab)

* External links are provided for convenience. Del Mar High School is not responsible for the content of third-party websites.

WUE - Western Undergraduate Exchange

WUE is the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a program coordinated by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).

Through WUE, students in Western states may enroll in participating two-year and four-year public college programs at a reduced tuition level—up to 150% of the institution’s regular resident tuition. WUE tuition is considerably less than standard nonresident tuition. (Source: wiche.edu/wue)

To search for participating schools and learn more, please visit:

www.wiche.edu/wue (opens in new tab)

* Disclaimer: Campbell Union High School District and Del Mar High School cannot be responsible for the content, accuracy or accessibility of external informational flyers and link sites referenced on this web page. Informational flyers and external link sites are offered for public benefit and not supervised by or within the control of CUHSD or Del Mar High School.

 
For more information and answers to all your important financial aid questions, please contact the College and Career Center or your Guidance Counselor.