Financial Aid

Welcome

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Our Federal School code is 014073

 

Welcome to the SCI-Arc Financial Aid Website!
 
As you prepare for college, explore how financial aid works, learn about the types of aid available and find out if you are eligible. It begins with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This is a must if you want to receive federal student aid to help pay for college. If you’re not sure what to expect or how to complete your form, we’ve got you covered. Trying to understand all things student aid can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the vocabulary. Here at SCI-Arc we are committed to assist you throughout this process whether it be before, during and after. 
 
If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to stop by our office, call or send us an email.
 
 
Click the following tabs for more information and to apply for FAFSA Applying for Financial Aid | Financial Aid | My SCI-Arc or visit Federal Student Aid.
 

Financial Aid Office

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Making an Appointment

 → Norma Meza Financial Aid Director

 norma_meza@sciarc.edu (213) 356-5375

Available in-person: Monday through Friday: 9am - 5pm

 

 → Isabella Jimenez Financial Aid Specialist

 isabella_jimenez@sciarc.edu (213) 356-5342 

Available in-person: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9am - 5pm

Available Remote: Monday & Thursday: 9am - 5pm

 

Contacting via Email: When emailing, please remember to include your first & last name and your SCI-Arc student ID number.

Unless we are out of the office, or during periods of heavy student demand, we will typically respond within 1 business day.

 

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Location & Mailing Address 
960 E 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013                                         
 
Email 
 
                                                                  

Important dates to remember

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Important Financial Aid Dates 

 

📅 October 1, 2026 

2027–28 FAFSA Opens October 1, 2026 and is due June 30, 2028.

 

📅March 2, 2027

Cal Grant 2027-2028 Application window Opens October 1, 2026, and closes March 2, 2027. 

 

Financial Aid calendar

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News

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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA/OB3) signed into law on July 4, 2025. The OB3 was signed into law on July 4, 2025, and most federal student aid changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Beginning July 1, 2026, changes to the law will affect the amount graduate students can borrow, the types of loans available, and their repayment options after graduation. 

 

2026-2027 Undergraduate and Graduate Federal Aid Updates

What are the 26-27 Interest Rates for Undergraduate borrowers?
6.52% Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans 

Note: The interest rates shown above are fixed rates for the life of the loan.

 

What are the 26-27 Interest Rates for Graduate or Professional borrowers?
8.07% Direct Unsubsidized Loans 

Note: The interest rates shown above are fixed rates for the life of the loan.

 

For new graduate students enrolling in graduate programs:

  • Unsubsidized Federal Loan annual limit of $20,500 is unchanged from previous years.
  • Students' total aggregate (borrowing) loan limit toward their new program is $100,000 (not inclusive of their undergraduate loan borrowing or any previously paid loan balances)
  • Graduate PLUS loans are not available to new students or students who have not previously borrowed a federal loan within their current program, prior to July 1, 2026.

 

What are the loan fees?
All Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans have a loan fee. The loan fee is a percentage of the loan amount and is proportionately deducted from each loan disbursement. For all Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2020, is 1.057% and loans first disbursed before that date had different loan fees. 
 
How much can you borrow?
Your school (SCI-Arc) determines the amount you can borrow based on federal eligibility, and the amount may not exceed your financial need nor cost of attendance.
 

For more informational visit Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans | Federal Student Aid

 

 

2026–2027 Parent PLUS Federal Loan Updates (for eligible dependent students)

 

Limited Exception

Eligible Parents: You are a parent borrower who qualifies for the limited exception and is subject to the prior Direct PLUS Loan limits if the dependent undergraduate student on whose behalf you are borrowing the Direct PLUS for:

  • was enrolled in a program of study at an institution as of June 30, 2026,
  • borrowed a Direct Loan for such program of study prior to July 1, 2026, (or you borrowed a Direct PLUS Loan on behalf of the dependent student for such program of study),
  • is currently enrolled at the same institution in the same program of study, and
  • has not stopped their enrollment in the same program at the same institution at any point as of July 1, 2026.

 

For Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, and before July 1, 2027, the interest rate is 9.07%. This is a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan.

There is a loan fee on all Direct PLUS Loans which is a percentage of the loan amount and is proportionately deducted from each loan disbursement. For all Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2020, is 4.228%. Loans first disbursed before that date had different loan fees.

 

Loan Amount Limits

Parents eligible for the limited exception

The maximum PLUS loan amount you can borrow is the cost of attendance at the school your child will attend minus any other financial assistance your child receives. The cost of attendance is determined by the school.

Parents NOT eligible for the limited exception*

The maximum amount of all Direct PLUS Loans that you (and all other parents) may borrow on behalf of each dependent student may not exceed $20,000.

For more informational visit Parent PLUS Loans | Federal Student Aid 

Important FAFSA Updates 

 

🔄 Student Aid Index (SAI) Replaces EFC

  • The Student Aid Index (SAI) continues to be used instead of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

  • A lower SAI still indicates a higher level of financial need.

📊 Tax Data Automatically Transferred via Direct Data Exchange (DDX)

  • Students and parents must consent to have their tax data transferred directly from the IRS using the FSA’s DDX system.

  • Manual entry of tax data is no longer allowed. If consent is not given, the FAFSA cannot be processed.

🧍‍♂️ Contributors Defined More Clearly

  • Any person required to provide information (student, parent, spouse) is considered a Contributor.

  • Each Contributor must create an FSA ID and provide consent for data exchange.

  • If any required Contributor does not participate, the FAFSA remains incomplete.

💰 Pell Grant Eligibility Expanded

  • Pell Grant eligibility continues to be tied more closely to family size, income, and the federal poverty level.

  • Students from low-income families may automatically qualify for the maximum Pell Grant.

  • Pell eligibility also considers parental marital status more accurately, especially in cases of separated or divorced parents.

👪 Parent on FAFSA Clarified for Divorced/Separated Families

  • The parent who provides the most financial support (not necessarily who the student lives with more) is now used on the FAFSA.

  • This helps clarify situations with joint custody or financial splits.

🧮 Number in College No Longer a Factor

  • The number of family members in college no longer affects the Student Aid Index (SAI).

  • This has reduced aid eligibility for some families with multiple college students.

 

🎓Federal Pell Grant 2026–2027

Detail Amount / Info
Maximum Award $7,395 for the full academic year
Minimum Award Varies (based on enrollment & SAI)
Award Type Grant – does not need to be repaid
Eligibility Based on Student Aid Index (SAI), family income, household size, and federal poverty level
Enrollment Must be undergraduate, pursuing first degree
Enrollment Status Award is prorated based on enrollment (full-time, 3/4, half-time, less than half-time)
Lifetime Limit Equivalent of 6 full-time years (600%)
 

🧮 Types of Financial Aid

📌 Important Reminders

  • Students must submit a FAFSA to be considered annually for federal and state aid.

  • Pell eligibility is automatically determined — no separate application needed.

  • Can be used for tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

Notice to Students

An individual may contact the Bureau for Private Post-secondary Education for review of a complaint.  The Bureau may be contacted at 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400 Sacramento, CA 95833, http://www.bppe.ca.gov, Telephone (916) 431-6924 Fax (916) 263-1897.

Tips for Success

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💲Tips on Student Loans and other Financial Aid Resources

💵How To Prepare for Student Loan Payments This article from the Federal Student Aid site highlights the ways for borrowers to prepare for their upcoming federal student loan payments. 

 

💵Compare Repayment Plans With Our Repayment Calculator – Federal Student Aid : This article explains how students can use Loan Simulator—student loan repayment calculator—to figure out which loan repayment plan is right for them. 

 

Did you know that the average student loan balance has doubled (from $15,000 to $30,000) in the last decade? We crafted this guide to help students and their parents better understand their college financing options, how to use student loans responsibly, and how to avoid the all-too-common problem of insurmountable student debt. Key elements of the guide include:

 - A step-by-step guide to applying for federal student loans

 - Information about loan forgiveness for students pursuing various service-oriented careers

 - Comparison of federal and private student loans: pros and cons, common pitfalls, and how to apply

 - Tips on managing and repaying loans post-graduation

 

Please view the form below to view our Preferred Lender Arrangement Code of Conduct.

FERPA

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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Pending updates...

Register to Vote

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Are you Registered to Vote?

Find voter eligibility requirements and information on registering to vote in person, early and absentee.

What's on This Page

Register to Vote

If you need to register to vote, visit Vote.USA.gov. Depending on your state’s voter registration rules, the site can help you:

        Start Your Voter Registration

Voter Registration Requirements and Deadlines

Basic Requirements

You are eligible to vote in U.S. federal elections if:

  • You are a U.S. citizen.
  • You meet your state’s residency requirements.
  • You are 18 years old. Some states allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries and/or register to vote if they will be 18 before the general election.

Voter Registration Deadlines

In all states except North Dakota, you must register before you can vote. Registration deadlines vary. Some states close registration 30 days before the election, while others allow voters to register up to and on Election Day.

Constitution Day

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  • Constitution Day

    Naturalization Test
    Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.
     

    Several members of the SCI-Arc community (students and staff) have recently become naturalized citizens.  In order for them to become citizens, they had to take a test.  Do you think you could become a citizen too?
    Required
    Constitution Day Naturalization Test.ppsx
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