Frequently Asked Questions

The Pasadena City College federal school code is 001261.

Our mailing address is:

Office of Financial Aid
1570 E. Colorado Blvd., L-114
Pasadena, CA 91106

Yes, you can apply for financial aid even if you haven't been admitted to PCC yet. However, to receive financial aid, you must meet all eligibility requirements.

PCC does not offer federal or state financial aid to international students. You are not eligible for financial aid if you hold any of the following visa types:

• F1 or F2 student visa
• J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa
• G series visa

For more details and support resources, please visit the PCC International Students website. 

You will receive notifications via your Pasadena Go email address on file with Admissions and Records. The email will direct you to log in to LancerPoint to view your financial aid status and any required actions.

Once all of the requested documents have been submitted, your financial aid application is typically processed within 3 to 4 weeks. Processing times may vary depending on the time of year and the volume of applicantions. To learn more about what happens after you apply, visit the Financial Aid Process page.

Yes, you may qualify for a fee waiver if you are a California resident and have submitted either: the FAFSA or CADAA, or the California College Promise Grant (Fee Waiver) application. If approved, this waiver allows you to register for classes without paying enrollment fees. However, it does not cover the Associated Students Fee, Student Representation Fee, or Student Health Fee.

You are responsible for any remaining or outstanding fees. For a complete list of fees, visit the Admissions & Records website.

The cost of attending Pasadena City College depends on your residency status and the number of units you take. For a full breakdown of current fees and estimated student budgets, visit the PCC Fees and Tuition page.

You cannot receive federal financial aid from more than one school for the same enrollment period. However, you may still qualify for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) fee waiver at multiple schools, even if you're receiving federal aid at another school.

You can access your 1098-T form online through your LancerPoint student portal by following these steps:

1. Log in to your LancerPoint account
2. Locate the Billing and Payments card
3. Click on Tax Forms
4. Select 1098-T Tax Notification
5. Enter tax year in the “Enter a Tax Year” field
6. Click Submit

Please note: If you received the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) for all semesters you were enrolled, you will not receive a 1098-T form.

For more information, please visit the Student Business Services website.

If you are considered a dependent student, you are required to submit parental information on your financial aid application. However, if there are special circumstances preventing you from doing so, you should speak with a Financial Aid Advisor. They can help determine if you qualify for a dependency override or offer guidance on next steps. 

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of the total expenses a student may incur during a school year. It includes standardized allowances for: tuition and fees, housing and meals, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. Your total financial aid—including grants, scholarships, loans, Federal Work-Study, stipends, and third-party sponsored fee waivers—cannot exceed your school’s COA.

Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number used to help PCC determine how much financial support you may need. It's calculated using the information you (and your contributors, if applicable) provide on your FAFSA/CADAA.

The SAI helps determine your eligibility for various types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.

A financial aid overpayment happens when you receive more aid than you were eligible for. This can occur for several reasons, including:

• A change in your enrollment status (e.g., dropping from full-time to part-time or withdrawing from all classes)
• Updates to your financial information after aid has already been disbursed
• Receiving aid from multiple sources that exceeds your Cost of Attendance (COA)

If you receive an overpayment, you may be required to repay the excess funds. For help understanding or resolving an overpayment, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

The priority filing period for the FAFSA is from October 1 through March 2 each year. Filing during this window gives you the best chance to qualify for state and institutional grants.

If you miss the priority deadline, you can still submit the FAFSA until June 30 of the following year. However, late filers may not be considered for certain types of aid that have limited funding.

Yes, you must renew your FAFSA each year to continue receiving financial aid. The application opens on October 1st, and it's recommended to complete it as early as possible to maximize your eligibility.

To update or renew your FAFSA, visit studentaid.gov.

If your income has changed significantly from what you reported on your FAFSA, you may be eligible for a special circumstances review. This process allows the Financial Aid Office to reassess your financial need based on your current situation.

To explore your options, contact the Financial Aid Office and speak with a staff member. They can guide you through the steps and let you know what documentation may be required.

To transfer your FAFSA information to Pasadena City College:

1. Log in to your FAFSA at studentaid.gov
2. Select “Make FAFSA Corrections”
3. Go to the School Selection section
4. Add PCC’s federal school code: 001261
5. Make sure PCC is listed as your top choice
6. Submit your updated FAFSA

This ensures PCC receives your financial aid information and can begin processing your application.

If you've forgotten your FSA ID username and password, you'll need to submit an Account Recovery Request through the Federal Student Aid website.

To begin the recovery process, visit: Recover Your Account | Federal Student Aid. 

Follow the prompts to reset your login credentials and regain access to your FAFSA application.

The FAFSA uses specific criteria to determine whether a student is considered dependent or independent. Even if you live on your own, support yourself, or file your own taxes, you are still considered dependent unless you can answer “Yes” to at least one of the dependency questions on the FAFSA.

If you believe you have unusual circumstances that prevent you from providing parental information, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at PCC to discuss your options.

You may be required to submit IRS Tax Return Transcripts if you did not or could not use the FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX) when completing your FAFSA or CADAA. These transcripts help verify the financial information you provided on your application and are necessary to determine your eligibility for financial aid.

For assistance with obtaining your transcripts or using FA-DDX, contact the Office of Financial Aid.

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges to verify the accuracy of information submitted on the FAFSA. Each year, a percentage of financial aid applicants are randomly selected for this process.

If you are selected for verification, you must submit all requested documents before your financial aid eligibility can be determined. This helps ensure that aid is awarded fairly and accurately.

For assistance, contact the Office of Financial Aid.