We use the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for federal and state financial aid. 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the national application that all schools require to apply for financial aid. The FAFSA allows us to determine your eligibility for state and federal grants, loans, and work programs. This application is free and available online here

Both  you and your parent  must have an FSA ID in order to log-in,  sign,  and submit your FAFSA. Unsigned FAFSA applications will be considered  incomplete  and may delay the review process.

Students who complete a FAFSA without completing the CSS Profile will be considered for federal and state financial aid only.

Avoid Common Errors

  • The application must be electronically signed using an FSA ID by the student and a custodial parent whose information appears on the application. Your custodial parent will be the parent who provided the most financial support in the 12 months prior to completing your FAFSA.
  • Double check that essential information is entered correctly (i.e., social security number, date of birth, name as it appears on a social security card).
  • Answer all questions asked— most errors occur when a question is skipped or left blank.
  • Need help with your FAFSA? Visit the Federal Student Aid website for common questions and useful tips.

Selected for Verification?

After your FAFSA has been processed you will receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) via e-mail. Review your SAR for accuracy and check if you were selected for verification. If you were selected for verification by the Department of Education, you will need to submit additional forms to complete your file.

We will request a Verification Worksheet (Dependent or Independent)  AND  a signed income federal tax return for you and your parent(s) if you filed  OR  a Verification of Non-filing Letter for your parent(s) if they did not file. For more information on verification, please visit Verification Requirements.

*You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader XI, which you may download for free, to read, fill, save, and print this .pdf document.

Contact Financial Aid
Office of Financial Aid

AGC Room 119
Occidental College
1600 Campus Road F-35
Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314