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Financial Aid Welcome
We make it our mission to help you remove obstacles that prevent you from pursuing your educational goals. We will do our best to help you with your college finances—quickly and efficiently.
Have questions? Please contact the Financial Aid Office at: wvfaFREEWEST_VALLEY or you may schedule an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor via Starfish with any questions.
Steps to Apply
There are just a few steps to apply. Need Help?
Weekly Workshop
Since all students wishing to receive federal or state financial aid must complete either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act application (CADAA), we want to make it easy for you. Join one of our weekly Financial Aid workshops offered throughout the semester.
- Tuesdays from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM via Zoom.
- Meeting ID: 734 916 0729
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
Guidance from the US Department of Education and the CARES Act provides additional flexibilities to institutions regarding the calculation of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to receive aid.
Withdrawing from all courses will not negatively affect your Spring 2022 aid and your SAP status for the next term. If you are planning to officially withdraw from your Spring 2022 course(s), please consult with an academic counselor and notify a Financial Aid Advisor. If you have questions about your financial aid status, please email the Financial Aid Office at wvfa@westvally.edu
No, college staff are working hard to make sure that there are no disruptions in payments to students. The Financial Aid office will maintain the scheduled disbursement dates. Please email the Financial Aid Office at wvfa@westvally.edu with any questions or concerns.
Students may be considered for more assistance by providing the Professional Judgement Special Circumstances packet to ensure they are able to stay in school. Please contact the Financial Aid Office at wvfa@westvally.edu to request the packet or with any questions or concerns.
The Financial Aid Office has been given the temporary flexibility to allow students to submit copies of the required verification documents electronically by uploading a photo of the documents (including from a smartphone), PDF, or other similar electronic document through our secure WVC Portal, by email, etc.
We also recognize that forms of identification (such as a driver’s license) may expire with no real and reasonable opportunity for renewal due to social distancing requirements. Institutions may accept a copy of an expired document if it expired after March 1, 2020.
The Financial Aid Office has been given the temporary flexibility to allow students to submit a note with an explanation of why neither of the parents are available to provide a signature.
It is the student's responsibility to drop classes by the state-mandated refund deadline to ensure cancellation of fees and to be eligible for a refund.
Failure to attend class meetings does not constitute withdrawal from the class and does NOT exempt a student from the obligation to pay all enrollment and related fees.
Students must print their class schedule to verify all withdrawals. Student class schedules are available on the WVC Portal.
Refer to the refund policy for more details.
Financial Literacy
The Financial Aid office provides you with multiple resource for help with your money and most importantly; your life. Below you'll find tools you will need to obtain Financial Literacy. Whether it's preventing identity theft or budgeting your financial aid or saving tips. We are here to help.
- View the Financial Literacy PowerPoint
- Download the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Budget Worksheet
- Download the "Practical Money Skills for Life" guides for additional information
Financial Aid Resources
Financial Resources
State
- California Student Aid Commission: Information specific to California financial aid programs.
Federal
- Veterans Affairs Education and Training: Benefits for eligible veterans includes a monthly educational allowance and a tutorial allowance
- Selective Service System Registration and online confirmation
- Internal Revenue Service: Request tax transcripts, account transcripts, or W-2s online
- Federal Student Aid: Read frequently asked questions about financial aid
Other
- I Can Afford College: Promotes financial aid awareness and opportunities, includes community events, newsletters and other helpful tools
- Mapping Your Future: Career exploration, job training, job salary comparisons, school selection techniques, financial aid information
Video Resources
Can I Afford College?
Steps to Apply for Financial Aid West Valley College
Financial Aid TV presents F-A-F-S-A (YMCA Parody)
Assistance with other Financial Aid Advisors is available.
Beginning May 12, all Pell Grant recipients will be able to sign up for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program to receive a $50 per month subsidy to cover the cost of internet and up to $100 for a connected device.
Students can find more information and sign up at GetEmergencyBroadband.org.
Students can verify their eligibility with 1) an email that will be sent to Pell recipients from the U.S. Department of Education informing them of their eligibility for the EBB program; or 2) a screenshot of a student’s studentaid.gov dashboard from this academic year with Pell receipt information shown.