​Community Organizations that help complete Financial Aid applications:
There is a wealth of information regarding financial aid programs and scholarships on the internet. Please be aware that you should not have to pay money to apply for a scholarship or the FAFSA/Dream Act Application. If a site is requesting money, it is a scam!
 
Financial Aid Info
  • FAFSA – apply online for federal financial aid. Launch of new FAFSA application December 1. Refer to individual college websites for deadlines. 
  • ​The CA Dream Act - AB 540 exempts certain students from paying nonresident tuition (higher than resident tuition) and allows them to apply for different types of California Dream Act financial aid. For local information for AB540 students, check out the AB540 Coalition of Santa Barbara. The Dream Act application will open December 1.​
  • California Student Aid Commission - making education beyond high school financially-accessible for all Californians
  • CSS Profile- some colleges may require an additional application to determine student eligibility for state and institutional aid. Use the link to see what institutions use the CSS Profile (in addition to FAFSA/Dream Act). 

Scholarship Lists & Databases​
  • SBUSD Scholarship List - a compilation of various scholarships that SBUSD has received information about
  • Other Scholarship Searches:
    • Fast Web – the largest FREE scholarship database 
    • Going Merry - free scholarship search and application database
    • College Answer - free scholarship information from Sallie Mae
    • Scholarships.com – free national scholarship database
    • Cappex.com -With the most comprehensive scholarship database available, students find national and local scholarships that match their qualifications and can sort them by level of effort or competition.
    • Big Future (College Board) - this tool from College Board helps students explore careers, plan for college and pay for college.
    • MALDEF Scholarship Resource Guide - download this free guide with an extensive list of scholarships, many which do not inquire about immigration status.
 
Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources
  • College Affordability & Transparency Center - start here to find information about how much it costs students to attend different colleges, how fast those costs are going up, and information related to why costs are going up.
  • MyinTuition-  a tool that, in only three minutes, provides a personalized estimate of what it would cost an individual to attend college.
  • Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) -Students who are residents of WICHE states are eligible to request a reduced tuition rate of 150% of resident tuition at participating two- and four-year college programs outside of their home state.
  • Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara  – our wonderful local scholarship source. General Scholarship Program deadline January 31. Scholarship application here.
  • Cal-SOAP - The Mission of the Santa Barbara California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) is to increase the accessibility of the post-secondary educational opportunities for low-income, first-generation college-bound and/or underrepresented junior high and senior high students in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria. Cal-SOAP is committed to advising, informing and exposing students and their parents to post-secondary opportunities and resources.
  • Big Future - find all about how to pay for college with videos, information about scholarships, loans, and tools and calculators to help estimate college costs.