Financial Aid

Unfortunately, CSSSA’s financial aid is only available to students residing in California. However, you can consider other financial aid sources such as the Anthony Quinn Foundation scholarships. Visit the Tuition & Financial Aid page on our website for more information.

There are four parts to our financial aid application: 1) Parent/guardian information, 2) Student Aid Index (SAI), 3) Tax return documents and/or supporting document(s), 4) Your signature.

It is possible you can still qualify for financial aid! There are many reasons why a family may not file taxes, such as annual income that falls below the threshold. Instead of tax return documents, you may upload proof of income, such as pay stubs, social security or public assistance award letters, and any other supporting documentation. Please contact us at comments@csssa.ca.gov for further instruction.

We are required to verify your application with the most recently filed taxes. We recommend your parent/guardian contact their tax preparer for copies or the government agency where they are filed.

Your request for financial aid will have NO bearing on the admission process. Your financial aid application will only be reviewed once admission decisions are made. No applicant is denied solely based on inability to pay.

CSSSA financial aid will not influence other financial aid for you or your family members. CSSSA’s financial aid awards are applied directly to your balance for CSSSA’s tuition and do not need to be disclosed on FAFSA applications.

Financial aid is only available to first-time California attendees. If you are a returning student, you will not be eligible for financial aid.

There is no maximum amount. Financial aid is based on many variables, one of which is your household income. By filling out the financial aid forms and providing copies of your parent/guardian’s most recently filed tax returns, we are able to assess your eligibility for aid.

Once you are invited to attend CSSSA, you will be notified via a separate email detailing the financial aid award decisions. Award amounts are for either full or partial (50%) tuition. If you did not receive a financial aid award, you will still be notified.

CSSSA Financial Aid is a scholarship and does not need to be repaid. It is not a loan. Partial scholarship recipients would be responsible for the remaining 50% of tuition.

If the student is claimed as a dependent on their parents’ taxes, then the parents’ financial information needs to be included in the financial aid application. If the student is not claimed as a dependent on anyone’s taxes and they file taxes independently, then only the student’s financial information needs to be included in the application.

The SAI, or Student Aid Index, is an eligibility index number we use to determine whether you qualify for CSSSA’s financial aid. The SAI is not the dollar amount your family is expected to provide.

You only need to include investments that are listed on your tax return.

International students may apply for the CSSSA program but are not eligible for CSSSA’s financial aid. The CSSSA program is subsidized by the State of California through tax dollars, and financial aid is only available to California residents.

Financial aid is determined by household AGI and SAI. If you would like CSSSA to consider additional or extraordinary circumstances you believe are relevant, you may upload a 1-page statement in the Supporting Documents section. Please note, however, that while CSSSA reviews all submitted information, we cannot guarantee that any awards will be granted as a result.

CSSSA offers application fee waivers to California residents in economic need. Applicants qualify for a fee waiver IF they filled out the Financial Assistance portion of the application. Instructions on applying the fee waiver are in the application.