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Glossary & Terms

Award Year

The period of time that begins with the fall semester, includes the following spring semester and ends with the following summer session at IVC.

Cost of Attendance (COA)

The calculated cost to attend Irvine Valley College. This amount includes enrollment fees, books, food, housing, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses.

Default

Failure of a borrower to repay a student loan.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

FIRST STEP: Free Application for Federal Student Aid

To be considered for federal and state financial aid at IVC, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and add Irvine Valley College's Title IV School Code 025395 on the application. The FAFSA should be completed and submitted to the processing center as soon as possible after October 1st and before the March 2 deadline of each year for priority consideration for the next academic year.

Chafee Grant

The California Chafee Grant Program provides financial assistance to current and former foster youth to use towards vocational training or a degree program. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units and are awarded $2,500 each semester. The Chafee Grant Program, also known as the Educational and Training Voucher (ETV), is a federally and state-funded program and therefore subjected to the availability of funds each year.

Federal Direct Loans

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are long-term, low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education.

To apply for a Federal Direct Loan, you must complete a Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please note that there are other required steps in this process other than completing a FAFSA form. (See the Federal Direct Loan Process below.)

Federal Pell Grant

​The Federal Pell Grant is available to assist students in meeting educational costs and does not have to be repaid. It is intended to assist those students with high financial need. Students can only receive a maximum of 6 years of full-time Pell Grant towards their undergraduate education, including study at a four-year college or university.​

Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG)

Formerly the Full-Time Student Success Grant and the California Community College Completion Grant, the Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG) was created by California Senate Bill 85. The 2017 Budget Act Education Trailer Bill was signed by the Governor on June 27, 2017 and includes language initiating a new grant program for California Community College students as of Fall 2018.