Financial Aid

Welcome

Our FAFSA Title IV code is 014073

Welcome to the SCI-Arc Financial Aid Website!
 
The process of applying for aid can seem complicated and time consuming, and our goal is to make it go as smoothly as possible for you. SCI-Arc participates in a wide variety of financial aid programs to assist our students and their families in paying for their education. This is the place to find information about the various financial aid programs available at SCI-Arc as well as our policies and procedures. Financial aid policies and procedures can change due to changes in federal regulations or campus decisions regarding aid; you should check this site regularly to get the most up-to-date information.
 
If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to stop by our office, call or send us an email.
 
Please view the form below to view our Preferred Lender Arrangement Code of Conduct.
 
 

Financial Aid Office

Making an Appointment

Appointments are available Monday - Friday, 9:30am – 4:30pm, as schedules permit.

To schedule an appointment:

→ Email Financial Aid Director Marisela De La Torre at Marisela@sciarc.edu

→ Call at (213) 356-5376

OR

 → Email Financial Aid Specialist Isabella Jimenez at isabella_jimenez@sciarc.edu

Contacting via Email

When emailing, please remember to include your first & last name and your SCI-Arc student ID number. Unless I am out of the office, or during periods of heavy student demand, I will typically respond within 24 hours.

 

=====================================

 
Mailing Address 
960 E 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
 
Location                                                                                 
255 S Santa Fe Avenue #103                        
(Corner of 3rd & Santa Fe)                                           
 
Email 
 
Fax Number                                                                      
213-403-6700                                         
 

GradReady

Tips on Student Loans and other Financial Aid Resources

 

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

 

Check out this great resource to help you be a wise student loan borrower. 

 

ttp://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/student-loan-guidebook/

Financial Aid Calendar

Register to Vote

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.

News

2025-2026 FAFSA CHANGES

✅ Continued FAFSA Simplification

  • The streamlined FAFSA form remains in place, reducing the number of questions and improving user experience.

  • Most students will answer fewer than 40 questions (down from over 100 in older versions).

🔄 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.

Summary of What's New or Different for 2025–2026:

Feature Change
FAFSA Format Streamlined version from 2024–25 continues
EFC Replaced by SAI
IRS Data Required via Direct Data Exchange
Number in College No longer included in SAI calculation
Pell Grant Eligibility tied to FPL, income, and household size
Parent on FAFSA Based on financial support, not residence
FSA ID for Parents Required for all Contributors (even non-citizens with ITINs)

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.

Computer Budget Increase Policy

Students may request a computer budget increase to expand their financial aid budget if they need to purchase a new computer for the current academic year. Please review the following guidelines before submitting your request:

📅 Deadline for Requests

  • Requests must be submitted within the first 30 days of each semester to be considered.

  • If submitting after the 30-day window, additional documentation is required (see below).

📝 Required Documentation (Initial Requests)

To be eligible for a budget increase, students must provide:

  1. An itemized statement listing the planned computer equipment to be purchased, and/or

  2. A receipt that includes:

    • Purchase date

    • Itemized list of equipment

    • Specifications of the computer

Students must first submit all documentation to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for approval. Once approved, the request can be forwarded to the Financial Aid Office.

⏳ Requests After 30 Days

If the request is made after the 30-day period, the following must also be submitted:

  • A written statement from the student's instructor confirming that a new computer is necessary for the student to successfully complete the semester.

📩 Final Submission

In all cases, students must submit a copy of the actual purchase receipt to the Financial Aid Office once the computer has been purchased.

2025-2026 Direct Loan Information

What are the interest rates for federal student loans?

📚 2025–2026 Federal Student Loan Interest Rates

Loan Type Interest Rate (Fixed) Borrower Type
Direct Subsidized Loan 6.53% Undergraduate students
Direct Unsubsidized Loan 6.53% Undergraduate students
Direct Unsubsidized Loan 8.08% Graduate/Professional students
Direct PLUS Loan (Parent/Grad) 9.08% Parents & Graduate/Professional students
 

💸 Origination Fees (unchanged from prior year):

Loan Type Fee (deducted from disbursement)
Direct Loans (Subsidized/Unsubsidized) 1.057%
Direct PLUS Loans 4.228%
 

🔍 Notes:

  • These are fixed interest rates for the life of the loan but change annually for new borrowers.

  • Interest accrues immediately on Unsubsidized and PLUS loans.

  • Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time.

Let me know if you'd like a visual flyer or email version of this information for students or parents.

Private Loan Information

 
   This link above will lead you to our Preferred Lender List. 
   We have compiled a list of private loan lenders who have the best quality of products and services.
 
NOTE:  If you wish to use another lender who is not on our list, you have the right to do so.
 

Federal Pell Grant 2025-2026

🎓 Federal Pell Grant 2025–2026

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%)
 

🧮 Eligibility Highlights (2025–2026)

  • Automatic maximum Pell Grant for students from households at or below 175%–225% of the federal poverty level, depending on family size and structure.

  • Based on 2023 income information (from the FAFSA).

  • Pell is calculated using the new Student Aid Index (SAI) – not the old EFC.

📌 Important Reminders

  • Students must submit a 2025–2026 FAFSA to be considered.

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

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

Constitution Day

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Constitution Day

Title Description File type
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?
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Free-form Content

Cal Grant Deadline

How to Apply

All students start the application process by completing and submitting either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Whether a student is completing a bachelor’s program, associate’s program, a credential program, or a career technical education program, there’s money available to help.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

If a student is a US Citizen, permanent resident, or other qualifying non-resident then they must submit a FAFSA by the March 2 Cal Grant Deadline to be eligible for the most opportunities. Students attending California Community Colleges can submit a FAFSA through September 2 of each year to be considered for a community college Cal Grant award. To start the FAFSA a student will need to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID so they can login and sign the completed application. The FAFSA is used to apply for state financial aid, like Cal Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship, federal financial aid programs like Pell Grant, and institutional aid from colleges like the Blue and Gold Scholarship or the State University Grant (SUG).

All students should create a WebGrants 4 Students (WG4S) Account

Students should create a WG4S account to monitor and manage their state awarded financial aid. 

After a student’s FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application is processed, they will receive an email from CSAC letting them know it’s time to create their WebGrants 4 Students account.  WebGrants 4 Students (WG4S) will let students check the status of their state grants, and take necessary steps to secure their aid. It’s important to note that a student’s WG4S account does not replace their school or FAFSA accounts and they may need more than one account to successfully apply for financial aid.

Stay up-to-date on deadlines and requirements by reading all correspondence from CSAC, FAFSA and your school of attendance.

 

Make sure a Grade Point Average (GPA) has been submitted to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)

All students will need to ensure their GPA has been submitted to CSAC.

The best way to do this is by creating a WebGrants 4 Students account and logging in to confirm we have a GPA on file. All students must ensure CSAC has their GPA on file by the March 2 deadline.


 

 

Cal Grant FAQ

Cal Grant B Recipients

Cal Grant B recipients may elect to receive the full disbursement of their “Access” or “Book and Supplies” awards to use towards educational expenses or have it applied to any outstanding balances on the student’s account. By choosing the first option, Cal Grant B recipients are responsible to resolve any account balances with their institution. Please see your financial aid office for more information.

1. Applying the “Access” or “Books and Supplies” portion to outstanding balances on the student’s account.

2. Request personal receipt of the funds prior to disbursement. (The recipient must understand that he or she is responsible for any remaining balance on the recipient’s account.)

3. Student has the ability to rescind option at any time.