Applying for Aid
Cal Maritime offers a variety of financial aid programs to students needing assistance financing their education. Funds are made available by the U.S. Department of Education, the State of California, the California State University (CSU) System, the California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), and private lending institutions.
Types of financial assistance include scholarships, grants, loans, and employment opportunities. Assistance may come in the form of need-based or non-need-based sources of financial aid.
To apply for financial aid, students should submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the basic application required for most federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Applications can be submitted beginning December 1, 2024 for the 2025-2026 academic year. Deadline to apply is March 3, 2025. Federal school code for Cal Maritime is 001134
California Dreamers
For students applying for financial aid under the AB540 Dream Act you can go to this link for the CADAA application
The federal school code for Cal Maritime is 001134.
Personal Circumstances
Your dependency status determines whose information you must report when you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
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If you’re a dependent student, you will report your and your parents’ information.
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If you’re an independent student, you will report your own information (and, if you’re married, your spouse’s).
If students have questions regarding their personal circumstances and the FAFSA application such as being Dependent or Independent for financial aid eligibility they should contact our office directly. The Financial Aid Staff have authority to review and evaluate special circumstances using Professional Judgement regarding aid eligibility and Cost of Attendance adjustments.
Additionally, the Department of Education states the following reasons a student may be considered Independent and therefore would not be required to provide their parent(s) financial information on the FAFSA:
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Were you born before Jan. 1, 2002?
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Yes
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No
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As of today, are you married? (Answer “No” if you are separated but not divorced.)
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Yes
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No
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At the beginning of the 2025–26 school year, will you be working on a master’s or
doctorate program (such as an M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., graduate certificate,
etc.)?
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Yes
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No
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Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other
than training? (If you are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee, are you on active
duty for other than state or training purposes?)
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Yes
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No
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Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?
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Yes
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No
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Do you have children or other people (excluding your spouse) who live with you and
who receive more than half of their support from you now and between July 1, 2025,
and June 30, 2026?
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Yes
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No
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At any time since you turned age 13, were you an orphan (no living biological or adoptive
parent)?
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Yes
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No
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At any time since you turned age 13, were you a ward of the court?
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Yes
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No
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At any time since you turned age 13, were you in foster care?
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Yes
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No
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Are you or were you a legally emancipated minor, as determined by a court in your
state of residence?
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Yes
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No
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Are you or were you in a legal guardianship with someone other than your parent or
stepparent, as determined by a court in your state of residence?
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Yes
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No
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At any time on or after July 1, 2024, were you unaccompanied and either (1) homeless
or (2) self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
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Yes
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No
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