Determining Financial Need

Most financial aid awards are based on demonstrated financial need, which is the difference between the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). EFC is the amount that the government believes you and your family can be reasonably expected to contribute toward your college costs this year and is based on your FAFSA information (or California Dream Act Application for AB 540 students).

FATV Video: What does the term EFC stand for? (Watch the Video)

Cost of attendance (COA)

FATV Video: What is Cost of Attendance?

In order to treat all students equally, standardized budgets are established and applied to all applicants. This means all students with similar circumstances will receive the same allowance for tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing, personal expenses, and transportation.

Other expenses may include, but are not limited to: dependent care, vocational/technical, and disability related expenses. Exceptions may be made to the budget in cases where need can be shown and documented.

The Cost of Attendance (COA) includes direct costs and indirect costs. Here is a breakdown of these costs:

Direct Educational Costs (paid directly to the college)

Enrollment and mandatory fees
Tuition
Books and Supplies*

Indirect Educational Costs (NOT paid to the college)

Living Expenses
Transportation
Personal Expenses

*Costs vary depending on course, new, used, rental and e-books.

Cost of Attendance (COA) – Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need.

Estimated Cost of Attendance

Current Academic Year

Direct Cost (paid to the college)	Fall and Spring	Summer
Tuition and Fees	$1,238	$616
Books & Supplies*	$938	$469
*Total Direct Cost =*	$2,176	$1,085
Cost NOT paid directly to the college	Fall and Spring	Summer
Living Expenses	$10,125	$3,375
Transportation	$1,611	$537
Personal Expenses	$3,609	$1,203
*Total Indirect Cost =*	$15,345	$5,115
Total Direct and Indirect Costs =	$17,521	$6,200
*Costs vary depending on course, new, used rental

Direct Cost (paid to the college)	Fall and Spring	Summer
Tuition & Fees	$1,238	$616
Books & Supplies*	$938	$469
Total Direct Cost=	$2,176	$1,085
Cost NOT paid directly to the college	Fall & Spring	Summer
Living Expenses	$19,431	$6,477
Transportation	$1,764	$588
Personal Expenses	$4,428	$1,475
*Total Indirect Cost =*	$25,623	$8,540
Total Direct and Indirect Costs =	$27,799	$9,625
*Costs vary depending on course, new, used rental

In order to treat all students equally, standardized budgets (COA) are established and applied to all applicants. This means all students with similar circumstances will receive the same allowance for tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, personal expenses, and transportation.

Other expenses may include, but are not limited to: dependent care, vocational/technical, and disability related expenses. Exceptions may be made to the budget in cases where need can be shown and documented.

Students can apply for one or more of these programs by filing a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additional information can be found on the LACCD Financial Aid page.

CODES U.S. Dept. of Education’s Central Registry number: 1952587353A7 FICE code: 001227 U.S. Dept. of Education’s IPEDS number: 117724

HOW FINANCIAL AID IS PACKAGED

Once the student’s financial aid eligibility is established, a “package” of aid is provided which may be a combination of grants, work-study, and loan funds.

Grant eligibility is based on the number of units a student is enrolled in at the time of disbursement. Full-time is considered 12 or more units per semester; three quarter time is considered 9-11 ½ units per semester; half-time is considered 6-8 ½ units per semester; less than half-time is 1-5 ½ units per semester.

Federal Pell Grants are scheduled for payments twice a semester. FSEOG and Cal Grants are scheduled for payment once per semester for students enrolled in six (6) or more approved units. Federal Work-Study is paid twice a month. Loans are disbursed twice per loan period.

THE FINANCIAL AID AWARD

FATV Video: What is an Award Letter?

The campus processing the student’s aid produces an Award Letter and Award Guide. These are made available online. The Award Letter lists the COA, the EFC, Total Awards, Resources, and Unmet Need amounts applicable to the academic year. Students may receive revised versions of the original Award Letter throughout the academic year. The revisions may reflect additional fees or allowances added to the cost of attendance, educational resources which must be accounted for, semesters of enrollment (partial year vs. full year and vice versa) changes, and addition or deletion of specific awards. Award letters can be viewed online through the LACCD Student Information System.