When is my Spring 2025 bill due ?

How do I know how much I owe?
How does my financial aid pay my bill?
When will the refund come?
How does my parent get a refund from their PLUS loan?
My family has had a change in its financial situation that isn't reflected on the FAFSA. Is there anything I can do?
How long do I have to accept my loans?
Why is my aid package different from the previous year?
What will happen to my aid if I enroll less than full-time?
How much does it cost to attend Cal Maritime?
Will financial aid pay for my sea bag?
Do my parents have to apply for a PLUS loan every year?
Where can I get more scholarships?

How can I give access to my parents/spouse regarding my financial aid?
Where can I find information about the average loan indebtedness and the most current loan default rate at Cal Maritime?
How do I apply for financial aid?
Where does my FAFSA go once I submit it?
How do I apply for the Cal Grant?
Do I have to file my FAFSA every year?
What is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?
How do I receive my financial aid award letter?
I got selected for "verification." Did I do something wrong?
How do I get to my "to do" list to find out what I need to submit for verification?
Is there a deadline for me to submit the verification documents?

What is Satisfactory Academic Progress and how does it affect my financial aid eligibility?

When is my Spring 2025 bill due?

Bills for the Spring 2025 term will be available December 2, and are due December 20, 2024.

You can view your bill in your Student Center through PeopleSoft-Student Systems at your Student Center. If you have financial aid, it will show as "Pending" on your bill under "Account Summary." The actual financial aid (grants, scholarships, and "accepted" loans) will not be credited to your student account until the first day of classes, and if applicable, refunds will be sent out by the Cashier's Office later that week. Please plan to pay for your books out-of-pocket. If you are receiving a refund from your financial aid, you can reimburse yourself when refunds are available. View more information on Billing and Payments.

If your aid is not reflected on your bill, you may need to check your "to do" list to see if you have outstanding items that need to be taken care of. 

Summer aid

Summer Sea Term is considered the last term of the academic year for financial aid purposes. Aid eligibility will be based off the 2024-2025 FAFSA or CADAA application. The aid options will typically consist of any aid that was not exhausted during the academic year. Summer aid will automatically be determined once students enroll for summer term, a separate application is not required.

To be considered for financial aid during the summer, students must meet basic eligibility requirements. However, other factors such as FAFSA data and availability of funds will contribute to a student's eligibility and amount awarded.

1. Have a 2024-2025 FAFSA or CADAA on file with Cal Maritime (school code 001134)
2. Enroll in at least 6 undergraduate units
3. Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards

Types of aid available to qualified students include:

• Federal Pell Grant
• State University Grant
• Summer Enrollment Grant
• Federal Direct Student Loans
• Parent PLUS loans
• Private Loans

Please note – if you will be participating in International Experience a deposit must be paid before you register for the summer class. You can use your spring aid refund if you have one or pay out-of-pocket. You cannot use potential summer aid for your deposit.

How do I know how much I owe?

Based on your enrollment in classes, you will be assessed charges. To view your bill, please visit your Student Self Service (PeopleSoft-Student Systems) under "Account Activity" to view all charges and fees. To view your "Balance Due" and "Pending Financial Aid," click on "Account Inquiry." You can contact the Cashier's Office at (707) 654-1031 for further questions regarding your bill.

How does my financial aid pay my bill?

Students are charged tuition and fees and room and meals. All financial aid is divided, half for fall and half for spring. Your financial aid disbursement will credit your Student Account and apply towards any charges you have incurred for the term. If you have more charges than financial aid, you will need to pay the difference. If you have more aid than charges, you will get a refund.

When will the refund come?

Students will not receive refunds until after the start of the term. After the term begins, refunds are generated once a week. Refunds that are mailed directly to student home addresses will take five to seven days, depending on the mail delivery service. Students with Direct Deposit set up through the Cashier's Office will find that refunds take two to three days. You can sign-up for Direct Deposit using Self Service through PeopleSoft-Student Systems. Questions concerning refunds should be directed to the Cashier's Office.

How does my parent get a refund from their PLUS loan?

If your parent wants the refund sent to them based on their PLUS loan they must do this at the time they apply for the loan through the Department of Education PLUS Loan site. Please note refunds will be issued based on the order of payments received. For example, if the PLUS loan is received last resulting in a refund, the refund will be issued to the parent. If a student's payment is received subsequent to the PLUS causing a refund, the student will receive the refund.

My family has had a change in our financial situation that isn't reflected on the FAFSA. Is there anything I can do?

If you or your family has unusual circumstances (such as loss of employment, loss of benefits, death, or divorce), let us know! If your family circumstances have changed from the tax year 2022, we may be able to take that into consideration when determining eligibility for aid. You will be asked to document the changes, but we can help you along the way. View the Parent Income Appeal form or the Student Income Appeal form.

How long do I have to accept my loans?

Student loans are available each year but there are time-based limitations to the loans. You must accept the loans at least three weeks before the end of the semester as it is a multi-step process for the Financial Aid Office to disburse loans. We cannot pay the loans once the academic year (end of the spring term) has ended.

Why is my aid package different from the previous year?

There are many reasons your aid might be different from the previous year(s). Your financial aid is based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) derived from your FAFSA each year. If your family's financial situation changed from previous the prior year it may be reflected in the amount of aid you qualify for. You may have more or less siblings in college or your household size changed. You also have a limited amount of financial aid; in particular, the Pell Grant, Cal Grant, and State University Grant and Loan Programs all have varying time limits for eligibility. All of these factors can contribute to a change in your aid eligibility.

What will happen to my aid if I enroll less than full-time?

If you are enrolled less than full-time for the term, your grants will be adjusted (prorated based on the number of units). If you are at least half-time (six units) for the term, you may still receive the full amount of your student loans. Please check with your Financial Aid Counselor to see how enrollment affects your aid eligibility.

How much does it cost to attend Cal Maritime?

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is used to estimate the costs to attend Cal Maritime for the academic year. The COA includes tuition and fees, food and housing, books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation costs.

The only "direct billed" costs (items that the University will charge you for directly) are tuition and fees, food and housing (if living on campus) and your uniform/dress code fee. Other expenses, such as books and supplies, travel and miscellaneous expenses, and food and housing for off-campus students are estimates and your actual costs may be higher or lower. This can be useful in budgeting your monthly/term/yearly costs. View the Estimated COA for 2024-2025.

Will financial aid pay for my Corps of Cadets Uniform or Dress Code fee?

Your financial aid does include a Corps of Cadets Uniform or Dress Code  allowance for your first year in your Cost of Attendance and may provide funding to help cover those additional costs based on students taking student loans and/or parents taking out a PLUS loan.

Do my parents have to apply for a PLUS loan every year?

Yes, the PLUS loan is based on your parent's current credit score, therefore they must apply every year. Please make sure to start this process well before the fall payment is due in early August. It usually takes a minimum of seven business days to complete the credit check and promissory note needed to secure the loan. Apply on the Student Aid website and click on "Parent" to complete the online application.

Where can I get more scholarships?

Please visit our Scholarships, Outside Scholarship Resources, and Maritime Specific Scholarships webpages for scholarship resources.

How can I give access to my parents/spouse regarding my financial aid?

View the instructions on setting-up access (PDF). Be specific as to the name(s), relationships, and any limitations of access you wish to give.

How do I apply for financial aid?

Students apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) . The priority deadline (for the academic year 2025-2026) to complete the FAFSA is March 3, 2025. Our federal school code is 001134.

Where does my FAFSA go once I submit it?

Your FAFSA information is shared with the colleges you list on the FAFSA application. The financial aid office uses your information to determine how much federal, state, and campus aid you may receive.

How do I apply for the Cal Grant?

Your FAFSA information is transmitted to the California Student Aid Commission, the state agency responsible for determining initial eligibility for the Cal Grant. Entering students should also complete a GPA Verification Form found on the Commission's website. The deadline to submit your GPA Verification Form is March 2, 2024.

Do I have to file my FAFSA every year?

Yes, in order to be considered for any financial aid (including loans) you must file every year. You can file for the 2025 - 2026 FAFSA beginning December 1, 2024 and the Priority Deadline is March 3, 2025.

What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need. 

Your SAI is not

• a dollar amount of aid you’ll receive,
• what your family is expected to provide, or
• your final financial aid offer. 

How will I receive my financial aid award letter?

You will receive an email notification telling you to go online to your Self Service in PeopleSoft-Student Systems.

Where do I access my award letter?

Please check your Student Portal and log-in to your PeopleSoft-Student Systems account. You can view your award letter at your Student Center by clicking "View Financial Aid." If you have been selected for verification, we will notify you of your financial aid awards when you have submitted all requested verification documents and we have had a chance to review them.

How do I accept my financial aid awards?

Grants will be automatically accepted for you. If you want to accept the loans offered, you can do so through Self Service in PeopleSoft-Student Systems. Parents wishing to borrow the PLUS loan should visit the Federal Student Aid website and click on "Parent" to complete the online application.

I got selected for "verification." Did I do something wrong?

No, you did not do anything wrong! The Department of Education determines who is selected for verification. In this process, Cal Maritime will compare the information you provided on your FAFSA with information submitted to the IRS and/or other forms. If selected, you will need to submit verification documents to the Financial Aid Office. The most common requests are income verification forms, tax transcripts, and household size verification forms. For more information about this process, visit the Financial Aid Process web page.

How do I get to my "to do" list to find out what I need to submit for verification?

View the verification (PDF) for an easy-to-follow guide on how to navigate to your "to do" list found in Self Services in your Student Portal (through PeopleSoft-Student Systems).

Is there a deadline for me to submit the verification documents?

The priority deadline to submit your Verification documents and to complete your financial aid file for 2024 - 2025 is August 1, 2024. We cannot provide you with an offer of aid until you have submitted any and all verification documents to the Financial Aid Office. The sooner you complete your file, the sooner we can provide you with an offer of aid!