Navigating Student Loans and Financial Aid at Sacramento State

Financing a college education is a significant undertaking. At Sacramento State, various resources are available to assist students and their families in managing the costs associated with higher education. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the financial aid options, student loan programs, and important policies at Sacramento State.

Understanding Financial Aid at Sacramento State

The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office at Sacramento State plays a crucial role in helping students and their families navigate the complex world of financial aid. While the primary responsibility for funding education rests with the student and their family, the university provides support in searching for, applying for, receiving, and maintaining eligibility for various types of financial aid. These include scholarships, federal and state grants, federal work-study programs, and student loans, including parent loans in some cases.

Eligibility and the Student Aid Index (SAI)

Eligibility for financial aid is determined by a formula: Cost of Attendance (COA) minus the Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI, derived from the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), represents the amount a student and their family can contribute towards the cost of attending Sacramento State. Completing either the FAFSA or CADAA accurately is essential, as this single application determines a student’s need for all federal and state financial aid programs available at Sacramento State.

Verification Process

To ensure accuracy, Sacramento State employs a verification process. Using federal and state defined criteria, the university may request additional documentation to support the data reported on the financial aid application. Students are advised to monitor their MySacState Student Center frequently for any outstanding items on their "To Do List" to ensure timely processing of their financial aid.

Enrollment Status and Academic Progress

Before any financial aid disbursement is made, a student's enrollment status and academic progress are reviewed and verified, ensuring that only eligible students receive financial assistance. These factors are reviewed at the time of application for financial aid.

Types of Financial Aid Available

Sacramento State offers a variety of financial aid programs to eligible students:

Federal Pell Grant: Available to eligible undergraduates and students pursuing their first non-degree teaching credential.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): Available to eligible undergraduate students with extreme financial need. Funding is limited, so early application is crucial.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant: For students completing coursework necessary for a career in teaching. Recipients must agree to teach full-time for at least four years within eight years of completing the program as a highly qualified teacher, at a Title 1 school, in a specified subject area. Failure to fulfill this agreement results in the grant converting to a loan.
Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Grant: Available to eligible undergraduate California residents admitted to Sacramento State through the EOP program. Due to limited state funding, not all EOP students receive this grant.
State University Grant (SUG): Available to eligible California residents to assist with tuition fees. Priority is given to students meeting the eligibility criteria and who have filed their financial aid application by the March 2nd priority deadline. A student may only receive one award designated for tuition fees.
Cal Grants (Cal Grant A and B): Available to eligible undergraduate California residents. Eligibility is determined by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) for students meeting the March 2nd priority filing deadline. Cal Grant A is designated for tuition fees and a student may only receive one award designated for payment of tuition fees.

Student Loan Options

Student loans are a significant source of funding for many students. It’s important to remember that all loans are borrowed funds and must be repaid after graduation, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment.

Federal Loan Programs

Sacramento State participates in several federal loan programs:

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan: A long-term, fixed-interest-rate loan for undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need. The government pays the interest while the student is in school and during grace periods.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: A long-term, fixed-interest-rate loan for eligible undergraduate and graduate students. This loan is not need-based, and interest begins to accrue at the time of disbursement.
Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Parent Loans): Long-term, fixed-interest-rate loans for eligible parents of dependent students. The annual loan limit is the student’s cost of attendance minus other financial aid assistance. Repayment of principal and interest begins 60 days following the date of full disbursement.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans: Long-term, fixed-interest-rate loans for eligible graduate students who demonstrate creditworthiness.

For both Federal Direct loans, repayment begins six months after the student graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment. Before receiving loan funds, borrowers must complete the required Direct Loan Entrance Loan Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN).

Nursing Student Loans (NSL)

Nursing Student Loans (NSL) assist eligible nursing students (admitted into the nursing program) with a low-interest (5%) loan. At Sacramento State, NSL are restricted to students in their junior and senior year in school. Awards are not made to pre-nursing students or students in the first and second year of the nursing program. Repayment begins nine months after graduation or dropping below half-time status.

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Alternative (Private) Loans

Alternative loans, also known as private student loans, are available directly from student loan lenders not affiliated with the Financial Aid Office. Eligibility for these loans depends on the student meeting the lender's qualifying criteria, including creditworthiness. Fees and interest rates can be based on your credit score, therefore, you are encouraged to shop different lenders for the best option available. Alternative Loans requiring a School Certification, are specific to students admitted into a degree program.

It is generally advised that students exhaust all federal financial aid eligibility options, including loans, before considering alternative loan programs.

It is important to note that Sallie Mae Bank makes some loans, and Uloop is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of loan customers. Applications are subject to a requested minimum loan amount of $1,000. Current credit and other eligibility criteria apply. Although there is no penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as outlined in your promissory note-first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.

Work-Study Programs

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally funded, need-based employment program that provides eligible students the opportunity to earn funds for their educational expenses through job opportunities. A wide range of choices exists in the University as well as in nonprofit agencies in the metropolitan area, including community service opportunities.

Scholarships

The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office administers Institutional, Departmental, and Community scholarships. Typically, scholarships are disbursed at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters. A student may apply for all available Institutional and Departmental Scholarships by completing the single general application. Scholarship applications are accessible via My Sac State > Student Center. The University offers a wide number of scholarships in diversified categories and majors. Scholarship eligibility, requirements and award amounts may vary from scholarship to scholarship. Other scholarship programs may be available from community organizations and private industry.

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Alan Pattee Scholarships

Section 68120 outlines eligibility for surviving spouses or children of deceased California residents who were employed by a public agency or were a contractor (or employee of a contractor) performing services for a public agency, or was a firefighter employed by the federal government whose duty assignment involved the performance of firefighting services in this state. The deceased person's principal duties consisted of active law enforcement service or active fire suppression and prevention, and was killed in the performance of active law enforcement or active fire suppression and prevention duties (referred to as Alan Pattee Scholarships). Additionally, a person who qualifies for the waiver under this section as a surviving child of a contractor, or of an employee of a contractor, who performed services for a public agency, must be enrolled as an undergraduate student at the California State University and meet the applicable income restriction requirement with supporting documentation (i.e.

Section 68120.3 outlines eligibility for surviving spouses (until January 1, 2033) or surviving children (until attaining the age of 30) of a deceased California resident who was a licensed physician or licensed nurse employed by or under contract with a health facility regulated and licensed by the State Department of Public Health to provide medical services, or a first responder employed to provide emergency services as described in Section 8562 of the Government Code. The deceased person's principal duties consisted of providing medical services or emergency services during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency (started March 4, 2020, until the Governor lifts the state of emergency), and the deceased person died of COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency.

Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility

To maintain eligibility for financial aid each year, students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward their degree. SAP is reviewed annually each spring after grades have posted.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Students who have completed 120 percent of attempted coursework will receive a probation warning. All graded coursework are counted, including transfer units, repeats, in-progress and withdrawals.
The satisfactory pace standard measures progress for the prior academic year measuring units earned in comparison to units attempted. All graded coursework are counted, including repeat coursework, in-progress and withdrawals. SAP review also incorporates all unsuccessful coursework attempted at Sacramento State (i.e. “F”, “I”, “NC”, “W”, “WU”).

Students who disqualify from receiving financial aid will be notified via MySacState Student Center and provided instruction on the appeal process. Students who disqualify due to exceeding 150% of the required units for their program must submit an Academic Plan with their appeal and indicate required courses needed to complete undergraduate degree.

Impact of Dropping Courses or Withdrawing

Students who receive financial aid funds should consult with the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office prior to dropping a course or withdrawing from the University to determine the impact on the financial aid received for that semester. Students can meet with an advisor at the Student Service Center during office hours to discuss their file. A student who receives aid and drops units, withdraws, drops out, is expelled, etc., during or after the first day of instruction will be reviewed in accordance with the Federal Title IV Return of Title IV Policy to determine percentage of aid they have earned based on number of days they attended during the semester. As a result, student may be required to return portion of financial aid they received for that academic term.

Return of Title IV Funds

Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 establishes general rules that apply to federal student financial assistance programs. Title IV funds are awarded to students under the assumption they will attend school for the entire semester for which the federal financial aid is given. Federal regulations require the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office to calculate a Return of Title IV Funds for students who withdraw during the semester.

Within 45 days from when you discontinue enrollment, Financial Aid and Scholarships must calculate the amount of financial aid you have earned prior to the date the action was filed. Any aid received in excess of the earned amount is considered unearned. The unearned financial aid must be returned to the respective federal programs no later than 45 days from when the student separated from Sac State. The calculation is based upon only the amount of Title IV Aid for which you were eligible. The amount of earned financial aid is calculated on a daily basis from the first day of classes. The process uses calendar rather than business days. Return policies apply to students that withdraw on or before the 60% point of the term.

Once the earned and unearned aid percentages are determined, the next step is to calculate the dollar amount of unearned aid that must be returned. The amount of unearned aid that must be returned by Sac State is a percentage of the institutional charges for the semester. Once the dollar amount of the school portion of the Return is determined, it is compared to the total amount of all unearned aid. If the school portion is less than the total unearned aid, then Sac State must return the amount of the school portion. Financial aid will be returned to the aid program from which it came. If returned to a loan program, your outstanding balance will be reduced by the amount of the return.

Students may be eligible for a late or post-withdrawal disbursement if they have accepted aid that did not disburse at the time of withdrawal from Sac State. If eligible, Sac State Financial Aid and Scholarships will send notification of the action required to either accept or decline a portion, or all, of the late disbursement.

If a student owes a repayment, the debt is turned over to the U.S. Department of Education for collection and the University may withhold permission to register, to use facilities, or render services. Until the repayment issue is resolved, the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) record will be “flagged” every time a student files for aid. A student in repayment is ineligible for Financial Aid at any other institution in the nation until it can be verified the student is in repayment.

Students who find it necessary to withdraw from Sacramento State after enrolling for any academic term are required to follow the official withdrawal procedures. Sac State Financial Aid and Scholarships reviews posted grades every semester. If a student receives all non-passing grades, and there is no record of academic activity they are determined to have unofficially withdrawn. In order to reevaluate this determination, documentation must be provided to support attendance in all courses for the term.

Cost of Attendance (COA)

Student budgets, also known as Cost of Attendance (COA), are designed to provide students with a projection of reasonable costs to attend school for a 9 month period. The students COA includes direct costs which are actual tuition and fees charged and, if applicable on campus housing charges. Indirect costs included in the total COA are as follows: an allowance for books and supplies, food and housing for those living off-campus or with parents, transportation costs and an allowance for personal items. Misc. Budget figures are subject to change without notice.

The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, the CSU must reserve the right, even after initial payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees, without notice, until the date for a particular semester or quarter has begun. The room and board at Sacramento State is $7226 and the cost of meals is $4630.

Tuition and Fees

The stated tuition for out-of-state students at California State University-Sacramento is $19190 while in-state students pay $7310. Assuming there are two semesters at Sacramento State and you are an in-state student, you will pay $3655 per semester.

Additional Considerations

Open University Students: Open University students are not eligible for financial aid.
Free Tuition: In theory, it is possible to attend Sacramento State for free, particularly with a full scholarship.

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