The student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 2nd prior to the upcoming academic year (e.g., for the 2007-2008 academic year, the priority deadline is March 2, 2007) to be considered for all types of financial aid. If the student misses the March 2nd priority deadline, he/she may still file the FAFSA but will be considered for remaining available funds only, usually limited to Pell Grant and student loans.
The FAFSA form is the primary application for all types of financial aid including grants, work-study, and loans. However, some types of aid require additional applications; see the chart below for information.
| Aid Programs Available by Classification | Undergraduate | Classified Graduate | Classified Credential1 | 2nd Bachelor's DegreeX |
| Pell Grant | X | X | ||
| Academic Competitiveness Grant | X | |||
| National SMART Grant | X | |||
| Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) | X | |||
| Cal Grant A & B2 | X | |||
| State University Grant (SUG) | X | X | X | X |
| Educational Opportunity Program Grant (EOP) | X | |||
| University Administered Scholarships3 | X | X | X | X |
| Graduate Equity Fellowship3 | X | |||
| Federal College Work Study Program | X | X | X | X |
| Federal Perkins Loan | X | X | X | |
| Federal Direct Student Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) | X | X | X | X |
| Federal Parent Loan (PLUS)3 | X | X | X | |
| Federal Graduate PLUS Loan3 | X | |||
| Unclassified graduate students and most Extended Learning students are ineligible for financial aid. | ||||
Footnotes
1Students enrolled at least half-time in a post-baccalaureate teaching credential program not leading to a graduate degree may be considered for a Pell Grant only for those courses required to complete the teaching credential program.