CET - Financial AidCET school code: 016516

Are You Eligible for Financial Aid?

Don’t let the cost of tuition scare you. The U.S. government offers low interest loans as well as grants and scholarships to help you pay for attending school.

To qualify for Federal Student Aid, you must:

  • Demonstrate financial need. (Except for Unsubsidized and PLUS (Parent) loan programs.)
  • Certify that you’ll use Federal Student Aid only for educational purposes.
  • Have a high school diploma, a General Education Development (GED), or meet Ability-To-Benefit (ATB) guidelines.
  • Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment.
  • Be a citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
  • Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe money on a federal student grant (or have made satisfactory arrangements to repay it.)
  • Be making satisfactory academic progress.
  • If you do not have a high school diploma or GED, you may qualify under the ATB, inquire with your Admissions or Financial Aid Officer.
CET - Financial Aid - How to Apply

 

How to apply for financial aid

Each CET location has a Financial Aid Officer who will help you and your family identify sources of financial aid and fill out the required forms.

Start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid https://www.fafsa.ed.gov or come in to your local CET and speak with your Financial Aid Officer.

CET - Financial Aid Options

 

Financial Aid Options

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants do not have to be repaid. Maximum amounts vary by year, but the amount awarded is based on individual need.

In the 2021-2022 award year, the maximum amount is $6495. Students who were under 24 years old whose parent or guardian died while performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/2001 are granted the maximum amount.

Learn more

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

FSEOG funds are limited and are awarded only to students who have exceptional financial need. Students with exceptional need are those who have an expected family contribution (EFC) of zero toward their education (based on automated analysis of the FAFSA application), and are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant program during the same award year.

The maximum amount is $400. Efforts are made to have funds available for the whole year. Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands are not eligible for FSEOG grants.

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Federal Work Study

Federal Work Study provides part-time jobs for students who are in need of additional earnings to meet education expenses. Earnings from a Work Study job do not have to be repaid.

The program encourages community service work and work related to the course of study. Average Work Study award for CET students is $1,500. Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands are not eligible for Federal Work Study.

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Student Loans

CET participates in the Direct Loan Program (both subsidized and unsubsidized). Interest rates are fixed for the life of the loans and are not awarded based on personal credit history. A Subsidized Loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. The federal government “subsidizes” the interest during the time the student attends school and during grace and deferment periods.

The grace period is the first six months after the student has left school. An Unsubsidized Loan is not awarded on the basis of need, and the student will be responsible for the full amount of the loan plus interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full.

Students begin to repay their loans on a monthly basis after the grace period. The minimum monthly payment is $50. Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau are not eligible for Federal Student Aid loans.

Starting with the 2022-2023 Award Year, student and parent (PLUS) borrowers will be required to confirm they viewed the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement on studentaid.gov before loans can be disbursed to CET. CET must receive the confirmation for each borrower for each award year loans are borrowed before disbursing loan funds. This new process will assist borrowers in understanding the financial responsibility of funding their education. Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement confirmation was to be in effect during the 2021-2022 Award Year but has been postponed due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Note: Students may also be eligible for an American Opportunity or a Lifetime Learning income tax credit, both of which can be claimed when filing taxes. For more information on these tax credits log-on to https://www.irs.gov.

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PLUS – (Parent) Loan

The PLUS (Parent) Loans are for parents of dependent students to help pay education expenses. The maximum loan amount is the student’s cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received.

Unlike federal student loans, eligibility is not based on need. It has a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. The minimum monthly payment is $50. Repayment begins either 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed or six months after the dependent student ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis.

Starting with the 2022-2023 Award Year, student and parent (PLUS) borrowers will be required to confirm they viewed the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement on studentaid.gov before loans can be disbursed to CET. CET must receive the confirmation for each borrower for each award year loans are borrowed before disbursing loan funds. This new process will assist borrowers in understanding the financial responsibility of funding their education. Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement confirmation was to be in effect during the 2021-2022 Award Year but has been postponed due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

The PLUS (Parent) loan requires personal credit history approval. Credit approval will be good for six months.

Credit criteria is as follows:

  • You will be denied if you have one or more debts that are 90 or more days delinquent or that are in collection or have been charged off during the two years preceding the date of your credit report, but only if the total combined outstanding balance of those debts is greater than $2,085.
  • If a parent borrower has an adverse credit history, but qualifies for a PLUS (Parent) loan due to extenuating circumstances or by obtaining an endorser, the parent borrower will be required to complete PLUS (Parent) Loan Counseling.

Parent borrower extenuating circumstances are as follows:

  • Has been or is delinquent for 180 days or less on mortgage loan payments or medical bill payments for the applicant or the applicant’s family; and
  • Does not have any other adverse credit history finding.

For a more detailed explanation from the Department of Education, refer to the brochure Direct Loan Basics for Parents, at: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/plus/parent

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Cal Grant C Award

The Cal Grant C program provides FREE MONEY to students pursuing an occupational or technical program. Students must apply for FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application to apply. No GPA requirement.

The California Student Aid Commission provides State financial aid for those who meet certain income, asset, and other financial aid standards to attend college.

How To Apply:

Cal Grant C: (limited number of awards offered after the March 2nd deadline)

  • For low to middle inome students
  • No GPA requirement
  • For Occupational or Technical trainingprograms of least 4 months in length
  • Offers an award amount to assist with tuition and fees, also includes an additional annual book and supplies amount.

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Chafee Foster Youth Grant Award

The Chafee Foster Youth Grant Program is a federal and state funded grant subject to yearly availability of funds. This program is administered by the Commission through an interagency agreement with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Chafee provides current or former California foster youth up to $5,000 per year for education expenses at an eligible California or out of state college. Awards may be used for postsecondary education including career and technical training.

To qualify you must:

  • Be a current or former foster youth. To qualify, foster youth dependency of the court must have been established between the ages of 16 and 18. KinGap youth who are or were eligible to receive Independent Living Program services, guardian placements and voluntary placements may not be eligible for the California Chafee Grant unless court dependency was established between the ages of 16 and 18.
  • Not have reached your 26th birthday as of July 1 of the award year.
  • Not have participated in the program for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive).

How do I Apply?

You must submit California Chafee Grant Program Application, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Forms are year-specific. Be sure to complete the applications that correspond with the academic year you will be attending school.

What happens after I apply?

  • The Commission will review your FAFSA or CADAA and Chafee Grant Application.
  • The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will verify your foster status. If CDSS is not able to verify your foster status, please complete the Foster Care Eligibility Certification Form and mail it.
  • Once all of the above is completed, the Commission will send you a letter if you are selected for an award.

What is required to recieve your Chafee funds? Your school will verify that you are:

  • Enrolled in an eligible public or private college or university or technical school.
  • Enrolled at least half time.
  • Enrolled in a program at least one academic year long.
  • Maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
  • The school will verify payment eligibility and disburse the check to you.

Learn more

Access Cal Grant and Chafee information and manage your account 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.webgrants4students.org. You can also update your e-mail address, mailing address, telephone number, or school of attendance.

You can also call the Commission at (888) 224-7268, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (PST)

FAQ

CET is here to help you through the process from the beginning to end! Come in today and we’ll walk you through it. Most students’ questions about Federal Student Aid fall into two main categories:

  • Eligibility and Application
  • FAFSA forms and Federal Student Aid Payments
Q. How do I apply for Federal Student Aid?
A. Find out by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. https://www.fafsa.ed.gov or come into your local CET Financial Aid Office and we’ll walk you through it.
Q. I probably don’t qualify for aid. Should I apply for aid anyway?
A. Yes! Many families mistakenly think they don’t qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving Federal Student Aid by failing to apply for it. In addition, there are a few sources of aid such as Unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS (Parent) Loans that are available regardless of need. The FAFSA form is free. There is no reason not to apply.
Q. What is Center for Employment Training’s School Code for the FAFSA?
A: The school code is: 016516
Q. Can I apply for Federal Student Aid if my parents are undocumented immigrants?
A. Yes. All U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens are eligible for Federal Student Aid, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. If you are a citizen or eligible non-citizen but your parents are undocumented immigrants, you should fill out the FAFSA and include their financial information.
If you fill in the parental information using a social security number that was not assigned to them or one that is only valid for work purposes, the application will be rejected. If your parent (s) does not have a social security number, use 000-00-0000 as his or her social security number.
Q. Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for Federal Student Aid at CET?
A. No. You can apply for Federal Student Aid any time on or after October 1. To actually receive funds, however, you must be admitted and enrolled at CET.
Q. What kind of Federal Student Aid is offered at CET?
A. CET offers grants, scholarships, work study (student employment), Federal Stafford Student Loans and Federal PLUS (Parent) Loans. Each program requires specific eligibility and application procedures. Please meet with a CET Financial Aid Officer to become familiar with these requirements. No matter what Federal Student Aid program you are applying for, all programs require students to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards in order to maintain Federal Student Aid eligibility. Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards are available on the CET Student Catalog at https//:www.cetweb.edu/catalogs or by your Instructor. It is the responsibility of the student who receives or wishes to receive Federal Student Aid assistance at CET to become familiar with this policy.
Q. Why can’t I submit my FAFSA before October 1?
A. The need analysis process for Federal Student Aid uses the family’s income and tax information from the 2019 tax year (the base year) to judge your eligibility for need-based Federal Student Aid during the upcoming academic year (the award year).  Submit the form as soon as possible on or after October 1. If you wait too long to submit the FAFSA, you might miss the deadline for state aid. Most states require the FAFSA to be submitted by March 2.
Q. Since Federal Student Aid is based on my income from the 2019 tax year, can I receive more Federal Student Aid if I lose my job?
A. You may come to the Financial Aid Office and complete a Professional Judgment form. This form along with all of the documentation submitted with it will be evaluated and any adjustments that fall into federal guidelines will be approved.
Q. Do I have to reapply for Federal Student Aid every year?
A. Yes. Most financial aid offices require that you apply for Federal Student Aid every year. If your financial circumstances change, you may get more or less aid. After your first year you will receive a “Renewal Application” which contains prefilled information from the previous year’s FAFSA. Note that your eligibility for Federal Student Aid may change significantly, especially if you have a different number of family members in college or household size.
Q. How do I apply for a Pell Grant and other types of need-based aid?
A. Submit a FAFSA. To indicate interest in student employment (Work-Study), you should check the appropriate box. Checking this box does not commit you to accepting this type of aid or any other type of aid. You will have the opportunity to accept or decline each part of your aid package later. Leaving this box unchecked will not increase the amount of grants you receive.
Q. Can my parents get a loan to help pay for my career training?
A. Yes, parents of dependent students can apply for the PLUS (Parent) Loan. These loans are the responsibility of the parent. Parents can get more information on how to help their students pay for college from the www.mappingyourfuture.org web site or from the CET Financial Aid Office.
Q. How do my parents apply for a PLUS (Parent) Loan?
A. To be eligible to receive a PLUS (Parent) loan, your parents will be required to pass a credit check. They will need to complete a PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.studentloans.gov or they can meet with a CET Financial Aid Officer. For a more detailed explanation from the Department of Education, refer to the brochure Direct Loan Basics for Parents, which is available online at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/Files/direct-loan-basics-parents.pdf. For additional information, refer to “Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid” at https://www.studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/plus and also Mapping Your Future at https://www.mappingyourfuture.org/downloads/plusguideprint.pdf.
Q. Are my parents responsible for my educational loans?
A. No. Parents are, however, responsible for the Federal PLUS (Parent) loans. In general, you and you alone are responsible for repaying your educational loans. You do not need to get your parents to cosign your federal student loans, even if you are under age 18, as the ‘defense of infancy’ does not apply to federal student loans. (The defense of infancy presumes that a minor is not able to enter into contracts, and considers any such contract to be void. There is an explicit exemption to this principle in the Higher Education Act with regard to federal student loans.) If your parents (or grandparents) want to help pay off your loan, you can have your billing statements sent to their address. Likewise, if your loan servicer provides an electronic payment service, where the monthly payments are automatically deducted from a bank account, your parents can agree to have the payments deducted from their account. But your parents are under no obligation to repay your loans. If they forget to pay the bill on time or decide to cancel the electronic payment agreement, you will be held responsible for the payments, not them.
Q. I got an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the Financial Aid Office?
A. Yes. If you are receiving any kind of financial aid from an agency or government source, you must report the scholarship to the Financial Aid Office. CET will adjust your Federal Student Aid package to compensate. Outside scholarships will have some beneficial effects; they can assist in paying down tuition so that you borrow less in student loans.
Q. Where can I get information about Federal Student Aid?
A. You can contact your local CET Financial Aid Office at 1-800-533-2519. You can also access free resources at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/resources.
Q. How is my eligibility determined?
A. Federal Student Aid is awarded on the basis of financial need. Financial need is the difference between what it costs to attend school and the amount you and your family can afford to pay, as determined by a standard Department of Education formula. This amount is called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Q. How do I apply for a Federal Work-Study position?
A. You will need to go to the Financial Aid Office to complete a job application and make sure the Financial Aid Office has your completed FAFSA on file.
Q. Are Federal Work-Study earnings taxable?
A. The money you earn from Federal Work-Study is subject to federal and state income tax, but exempt from FICA taxes (provided you are enrolled full-time and work less than half-time). Federal Work-Study earnings during the calendar year should be included in the totals for Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
Q. What is the maximum loan amount I can apply for?
A. The yearly maximum for a first-year undergraduate dependent student is $5500 (maximum $3500 subsidized). The yearly maximum for a first-year undergraduate independent student (and dependent undergraduate whose parent cannot borrow a PLUS (Parent) loan) is $9500 (maximum $3500 subsidized). After your education is completed, the loan(s) are repaid at an interest rate set by the U.S. Congress. Students are encouraged to borrow loans wisely and to protect their future credit rating by borrowing responsibly. Financial Literacy sessions are offered by CET, students are required to attend these sessions. Loans are pro-rated based on the student’s chosen program length in clock hours.
Q. What are the requirements to maintain my eligibility for Federal Student Aid?
A. To continue to receive Federal Student Aid, a student must make satisfactory academic progress. Both competencies passed and hours attempted and completed are considered. For more detailed information on satisfactory academic progress, please refer to the CET Student Catalog.
Q. What is the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement?
A. This new acknowledgement has been added tthe Master Promissory Note (MPN) process to assist borrowers to understand the financial responsiblity of funding their education.
The Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement will provide the borrower with vital information such as:
  • Prior student/parent (PLUS) loan balance before borrowing additional loans to pay for training.
  • Explain loan concepts such as interest accrual and capitalization on principal balance.
  • Understanding the borrower’s obligation on the monthly repayment amount and the median salary expected after graduation.
Starting with the 2022-2023 Award Year, students and parents (PLUS) borrowers will be required to confirm they viewed the Annual Statement Loan Acknowledgement on studentaid.gov before loans can be disbursed to CET.  CET must receive confirmation for each borrower for each award year loans are borrowed before disbursing loan funds. Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement confirmation was to be in effect during the 2021-2022 Award Year but has been postponed due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19.
Q. What happens if I withdraw from my program?
A. First and foremost, withdrawing from your program may result in you owing a portion of your Federal Student Aid back to the Department of Education. In addition to having to repay your Federal Student Aid, you may also have to repay your tuition previously paid by your Federal Student Aid. Please consult with a CET Financial Aid Officer before you withdraw from your program. For the effects of program withdrawal see the “How an Incomplete/Withdrawal Could Impact Your Financial Aid“.
Q. How does the financial aid refund process work if I do withdraw?
A. If a student receiving financial aid withdraws from school, the school and the student share responsibility for returning Federal Student Aid (financial aid) funds. The amount of Federal Student Aid funds to be returned depends on how much financial aid the student “earned” before withdrawing.
• The amount of earned financial aid depends on the percentage of the Period of Enrollment the student completed before withdrawing.
• The amount of financial aid the student received but did not earn, that is, the amount of “unearned” financial aid disbursed, must be returned to the appropriate financial aid program (for example, Pell Grants, Loans, etc.).
• The amount of financial aid the student earned that was not disbursed must be provided as a post-withdrawal disbursement to the student within 45 days.
Refer to the “How an Incomplete/Withdraw Could Impact Your Financial Aid” notice for a sample refund calculation.
Q. What would disqualify me from financial aid?
A. Any student who is subject to an involuntary civil commitment as defined in HEA Section 104(b)(7) after completing a period of incarceration for a forcible or non-forcible sexual offense is ineligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.
Q. How else would I be eligible for the Pell Grant?
A.The HEOA provides maximum Pell Grant eligibility for a student whose parent or guardian was a member of the armed forces and died as a result of performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/2001, provided that the child was under 24 years of age.

More Financial Aid FAQ

CET - Financial Aid Resources

 

Additional Resources

CET provides the following resources and links for students to explore different avenues for paying for school. These represent only a small portion of the opportunities that exist. Be sure to check out all your local resources!

Federal Financial Aid Links:

www.studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus
Coronavirus and Forbearance Info for Students, Borrowers, and Parents

www.fafsa.ed.gov
Free Application for Federal Student Aid application online as well as information about eligibility and deadlines for applying.

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
College Navigator is a free consumer information tool designed to help students, parents, high school counselors, and others get information about nearly 7,000 postsecondary institutions in the United States – such as programs offered, retention and graduation rates, prices, aid available, degrees awarded, campus safety, and accreditation.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Benefits-for-Education:-Information-Center
An education credit helps with the cost of higher education by reducing the amount of tax owed on your tax return. If the credit reduces your tax to less than zero, you may get a refund. There are two education credits available: the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit.

www.studentaid.gov
Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, is responsible for managing the student financial assistance programs under Title IV Financial Aid. These programs provide grant, work-study and loan funds to students attending college or career school. Federal Student Aid offers free assistance to students, parents and borrowers throughout the entire financial aid process. Recipients of financial aid can access and inquire about their financial aid loan and grant information by accessing their student account on Federal Student Aid.

www.finaid.org
FinAid – Find information on all aspects of Federal Student Aid, from grants and loans, to education tax benefits.

http://www.finaid.org/questions/glossary.phtml
Glossary of Federal Student Aid Terms.

http://www.finaid.org/questions/faq.phtml
A comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions.

http://www.fastweb.com/
Fastweb is a free searchable database of available scholarships.

http://www.hsf.net/
Hispanic Scholarship Fund. In addition to scholarship opportunities for deserving Latino students, HSF offers a broad range of outreach and educational programming to help students and their families navigate through the rigors of college life.

http://www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/vocational-school.htm
Vocational School Scholarships contains a database of Federal Student Aid and eligibility to assist with vocational school tuition.

https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx
Selective Service Registration: To obtain Federal Student Aid, men born on or after January 1, 1960 will require a Status Information Letter from Selective Service documenting that they have registered for the draft. Register on-line for the U.S. Selective Service at this site.

https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/do-you-need-money.pdf
Do You Need Money for College or Career School? Apply is a comprehensive resource on Federal Student Aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans, and work-study are the three major forms of aid available through the Department’s Federal Student Aid office. Do You Need Money for College or Career School? Apply for Federal Student Aid tells you about the programs and how to apply for them.

More Federal Financial Aid Links

California Financial Aid Links

www.calgrants.org
Provides information about California State grants. Ask the CET Financial Aid Officer whether or not Cal Grant is currently available at CET California branches.

www.cash4college.csac.ca.gov
Cash for College – Provides dates and locations of free workshops that provide line-by-line hands-on help to complete the FAFSA.

www.sbscholarship.org
The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara inspires, encourages, and supports Santa Barbara County students in their pursuit of college, graduate, and vocational school education through financial aid advising and the granting of scholarships.

 

If you have any questions, or require additional information on Federal Student Aid assistance, you may contact the CET Financial Aid Officer at the center that you plan to attend, or the Federal Student Aid Information Center.

Federal Student Aid Information Center
1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
This is a toll-free number.