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The California Community Colleges system is urging students to complete their financial aid forms by the priority deadline of September 2 to overcome financial barriers to higher education and maximize the resources available to them. This includes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the California Dream Act application.
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While limited federal, state and institutional aid may still be available after the deadline has passed, students will only be eligible for Cal Grants — the state’s main financial aid program that does not need to be paid back — if they submit their FAFSA or CADAA applications by Sept. 2 for the 2026-2027 academic year.
“Our message is simple: Complete the FAFSA and CADAA before the deadline and explore all opportunities available to you,” said Chancellor Sonya Christian. “In alignment with our Vision 2030, we are working to ensure that students across California, in every corner and every rural community, know they are not alone and that support is available to help them take the next step toward a brighter future, whether that means earning a degree, gaining new skills or launching a meaningful career.”
FAFSA is operated by the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Federal Student Aid and can be filled out by U.S. citizens, permanent residents and some eligible non-citizens. It allows students to qualify for federal, state and institutional financial aid.
The CADAA is California’s state financial aid application operated by the California Student Aid Commission. It can be filled out by undocumented students, those from mixed status families and students with temporary protected status. It allows students to qualify for state and institutional aid.
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Approximately 79% of first-time, full-time students at California community colleges receive some form of financial aid. So far, the number of financial aid forms submitted statewide is higher this year than it was in mid-August in 2023, 2024 and 2025, per CSAC data. By Aug. 11, more than 915,000 applications had been submitted statewide by community college students.
The state allocated $5.1 million in 2025 to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to boost financial aid access. The money is distributed to community-based organizations across the state to provide students with support in filling out FAFSA and CADAA forms. They will conduct workshops as well as one-on-one sessions to ensure applications are completed accurately and on time in 2026 and 2027. The selected organizations include Cal-SOAP Sacramento, Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation and College Access Plan, among others.
To get assistance with their applications before the Sept. 2 deadline, students can visit their local community college financial aid office and find additional resources at ICanGoToCollege.com.
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