1. Apply for admission to Orange Coast College if you are not a current Orange Coast College student.  Applications are available January 2 - - Priority deadline is March 2. 
2. Apply for PIN at www.pin.ed.gov - parents and students.
3. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov - OCC’s school code is 001250.
4. Schedule a Financial Aid Orientation online - Make an appointment. 
5. For California residents, in order to apply for the Cal Grant, you must file a GPA verification form with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) by March 2 and/or September 2.  If you have completed 24 college units before the Fall semester, the Admissions Office will submit the GPA verification form for you electronically.
6. Make sure that your address is correct.  If you move, you must submit a change of address to the Financial Aid Office and Admissions.
7. Create an account in eDollar$ - this is how your funds will be sent to you.  Link to eDollar$: http://salliemaebank.com/OCC

If you are requesting loans, please continue the steps below:



8. Complete the Loan Request Form located at: 
   OCC Financial Aid Forms
9. Complete the required loan counseling sessions.  These sessions are  online and located at: 
   OCC Financial Aid Loan Counseling Online Sessions
10. Upon completion of the Loan Request Form and counseling sessions, the Financial Aid Office will determine your loan eligibility and send you a revised award letter with the loan amount. 
11. Students must sign a master promissory note with the Department of Education.  The note is electronic and can be located at:
    https://dlenote.ed.gov/empn/index.jsp

Financial Aid Follow-Up

Approximately 1 week from your FAFSA electronic filing date, you will receive a SAR (Student Aid Report) in your email from the Department of Education.  OCC will receive your information electronically from the Department of Education. Keep your SAR for your records.

It is your responsibility to review your SAR for correctness and to change any information that is not correct. If you receive aid based on incorrect data, you may be placed in an overpayment status and required to repay any funds that you have received.

The Financial Aid Office at OCC will review your application and notify you by e-mail if there are additional documents required. If no additional information is needed, you will receive a notification of aid eligibility - an award letter.

All financial aid funds are disbursed through eDollar$ to all students. Please make sure that you have signed up for eDollar$

Funds Disbursement

Questions regarding your eDollar$ account call
800-239-4211

Prior to disbursement, the Financial Aid Office will do an enrollment verification. Each student’s file will be adjusted according to the enrollment status.

Approximate check disbursement dates for those students who completed their financial aid application prior to March 2:

• SEOG funds: ten days prior to classes beginning. 
• PELL Grant funds: 10% - ten days prior to classes beginning. Remaining funds - 3rd week of school.
• Federal Work Study funds are disbursed to the student on the 10th of each month. 
• Direct Loan Program funds are disbursed to students beginning 30 days into the term for first year students. Second year students' funds will be disbursed on the third week of the term.
  Direct Loan Program funds will not be disbursed until you have completed all required counseling sessions, submitted the Request for Student Loan Form, and signed the master promissory note.  
• Perkins Loan funds are disbursed thirty days into the term.
  Perkins Loans are not complete until you have completed the online counseling sessions, the personal interview, and signed the master promissory note. 
• All disbursements for late files (received after March 2) will be disbursed every Thursday commencing with the third week of the term.