Applying for financial aid seems like a daunting task, but the Office of Financial Aid is here to help.
Eligibility for Aid
The amount of financial aid you can receive depends on several factors, which can include things like your level of enrollment, whether you live on- or off-campus, and if you have financial need.
The FAFSA
The application process for financial aid begins with the submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA helps Dominican determine a student’s eligibility for grants and loans by asking for income and asset information for the student, their parents or spouse (if applicable).
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Create a FSA ID
If you're new to FAFSA, you will first need to create a FSA ID. The FSA ID is used to login to the FAFSA web portal, as well as all other federal student aid websites. -
Complete the FAFSA
On October 1, students may begin submitting the FAFSA for the next academic year. The FAFSA must be submitted before March 2 in order for students to be eligible for several types of financial aid. You will complete this form through the FAFSA web portal or the myStudentAid app. Download the app in the Apple or Google app store. Dominican's school code is 001196.
Please note — you should never pay a fee to file a FAFSA or pay someone to submit a FAFSA on your behalf. There are no costs associated with filing a FAFSA.
California Dream Act
Much like the FAFSA, the CA Dream Act helps Dominican determine a student’s eligibility for grants and loans by asking for income and asset information for the student, their parents or spouse (if applicable).
Important Dates
| October 1 | FAFSA and CA Dream Act submission for the following academic year begins. |
| March 2 | Dominican's FAFSA priority deadline. Cal-Grant and California Dream Act Application deadline. |
| June 1 | Priority deadline for all financial aid forms and documents. |
Applying for Aid Instructions
Here you will find specific instructions for applying for aid and what to expect after you've submitted your application.
After submitting the FAFSA or CA Dream Act, you will receive an award notification by mail that details the amount of financial aid for which you are eligible. There are two types of award notifications may receive:
- Official Award Notification: Awards are finalized based on the information in the FAFSA or CA Dream Act.
- Preliminary Award Notification: Awards are estimates based on the information in the FAFSA or CA Dream Act. Additional documentation may be required in order to make the award official
Please note — Adult Degree Completion Students will also need to complete the Dominican Financial Aid Application.
If you receive a Preliminary Award, additional forms will be included in the letter. Please complete and return these forms by April 1. Please note — you may also need to provide income tax documents when submitting your materials to the Office of Financial Aid. You may securely upload and submit any requested items through Dominican’s Financial Aid Portal.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact us.
After submitting the FAFSA or CA Dream Act, you may or may not need to submit additional forms and documents to create your financial aid awards for the next year.
If you need to submit additional forms and documents, you will receive an email request from DUrForms.
Login to DUrForms to upload and submit any requested items. Only students who have been requested to submit items should access DUrForms.
Returning Adult Degree Completion Students will also need to submit a Dominican Financial Aid Application. This item will not appear in DUrForms.
When all requested items have been received and reviewed, an award notification will be sent by email.
Graduate students should complete a Dominican Financial Aid Application. If you are not applying for Federal Aid, Dominican’s Office of Financial Aid will send your financial aid award notification.
Federal Unsubsidized Loans
Most graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 each academic year in Federal Unsubsidized Loans and are eligible to apply for additional loans if needed. To apply, please complete the FAFSA or CA Dream Act.
After you submit the FAFSA (and the Dominican Financial Aid Application), Dominican’s Office of Financial Aid will send your financial aid award notification.
Learn more about specific loan types on the Graduate Loans page.
Financial Aid Resources
The following resources can help you through the financial aid process:
- FAFSA
Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid. - WebGrants 4 Students
Cal Grant recipients can manage their Cal Grant profile here. - California Dream Act Application
Students who are undocumented, DACA, or have U Visa or Temporary Protected Status can apply for aid from the State of California. - Dominican’s Net Price Calculator
Estimate your net cost to attend Dominican University of California. - StudentAid.gov
Complete documents and learn more about federal student aid programs. - Dominican’s Financial Aid Portal
Securely upload requested aid documents and forms. - DUrForms
Securely upload requested aid documents and forms. - National Student Loan Data System
The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for federal student loans.
