Students wishing to apply for financial aid for California State University campuses for the 2013-14 academic year have less than one week remaining to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The priority deadline for submitting a FAFSA is Saturday, March 2, 2013. Students are strongly encouraged to apply before the priority deadline as financial aid may be limited for submissions after March 2.

“The CSU’s robust and varied financial aid packages allow our campuses to remain among the most affordable institutions in the country,” said Ephraim P. Smith, CSU executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer.  “Systemwide we have committed nearly $600 million through State University Grants alone to provide students with the opportunity to pursue their educational goals.”

The California State University’s broad package of financial aid programs – including federal or state grants, scholarships, CSU system or campus grants, work-study and federal loans – continues to provide students with access to an affordable college education.  During the 2011-12 academic year, 306,000 students – nearly three-quarters of all CSU students – received nearly $3.6 billion in federal and state financial aid. In fact:

* State University Grants (SUGs) delivered $512.6 million to 114,571 students.

* More than half of all CSU undergraduate students have their tuition fees completely covered by grants or waivers.

* More than half of CSU baccalaureate recipients graduated with zero educational loan debt.

For more information about the financial aid options available to CSU students, please visit http://www.csumentor.edu/finaid/steps.

Students wishing to complete the online version of the FAFSA can visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.