Application Steps

The following are important steps that you need to follow to apply for financial aid:

  1. Complete your FAFSA with your legal name as it appears on your Social Security Card.
  2. Complete the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA using the actual figures from your prior-prior year Federal Income Tax Return, annual statements you receive from Social Security, TANF and/or Child Support, and any other documentation of other sources of income. Accuracy is very important when completing this step of the FAFSA, especially these items. Accuracy can be maintained by using the IRS data retrieval option in place of your Income Tax Return:
    1. Adjusted Gross income from the IRS 1040, IRS 1040A, or IRS 1040EZ.
    2. Income tax paid from the IRS 1040, IRS 1040A, or IRS 1040EZ.
    3. Income received from other sources, such as gift money from family, private sources, housing, food and other living allowances paid to members of the military, clergy and others (including cash payments and cash value of benefits).
    4. Household size should reflect only those family members who are being supported by the student or the student's parents.
    5. Number of family members from the household who are in college (do not include your parents).
    6. Cash and savings.
    7. Investment and other real estate net worth (do not include the value of the house in which you or your family live).
    8. Dependent student's income.
  3. After completing the FAFSA online, submit the application electronically and either mail the signature page within 10–14 days or utilize the FSA ID which serves as an electronic signature.
  4. About a week after filing your FAFSA electronically, you should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. If you provided an email address, the SAR will be emailed to you. If you listed Del Mar College on your FAFSA (DMC federal school code 003563), you are not required to bring the SAR to Financial Aid Services. Although we will receive an electronic Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) with your information, you must still contact Financial Aid Services for any other missing information.
  5. The following documentation may be requested to complete your file:
    1. Prior-prior year IRS tax transcripts for parent and/or student (if IRS data retrieval option was not used).
    2. Verification Status Worksheet provided by Del Mar College located in the Financial Aid Forms section of the Del Mar College website (https://www.delmar.edu/finaid_forms/forms).
    3. Academic transcripts from all colleges attended.
    4. High School transcript with graduation date.
    5. High School Equivalency Program (GED, HiSET & TASC).

Failure to complete any of these steps, or if any of the information is inaccurate or missing, may cause a delay in the processing of your file. If you would like additional assistance in completing the steps for application, please call or visit Financial Aid Services.

You may request to schedule a personal interview with financial aid personnel.