Important Information

IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID REGULATIONS AND PROCESS 2025-2026

The 2025-2026 FAFSA and CA Dream Act Application CADAA, opened for all applicants on December 1, 2024. Deadline to apply is June 30, 2026.

The March 2nd priority deadline has been extended to April 2nd to accommodate for the delayed rollout of the FAFSA and CADAA.

For the 2025-2026 award, year the maximum award remains fixed at $7,395 for eligible students, the minimum award amount remains at $740.

Previously, students receiving full Pell Grants during fall and spring semesters needed to be enrolled at least half-time (6 units) in the summer to receive Pell Grant funding. However, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, this half-time requirement for summer Pell Grant eligibility is being removed. The Pell Grant amount will be determined by eligibility and the number of units enrolled.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) will remain, replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The big reason behind the change is to create a better reflection on the true cost of colleges. The formula is simple: cost of attendance (COA) minus Student Aid Index (SAI) and other financial assistance equals eligibility for need-based financial aid.

The FAFSA and CADAA require the data for student and contributors for the year 2023.

If you or your family have experienced a significant change in your financial circumstances, submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form as instructed and then notify the financial aid office at the college or career school listed on the FAFSA form. The financial aid office may take these special circumstances into account and adjust your FAFSA information. Your school may ask you to document your special circumstances so that they can consider making an adjustment to your FAFSA information.

FAFSA students are considered for all federal and state aid programs. For the 2025-2026 academic year, FAFSA students in mixed status families may choose to submit the CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) instead of the FAFSA. CADAA students are considered for only state aid programs. You may also read more about what it means for a FAFSA student to submit a CADAA on the California Student Aid Commission  

Eligibility

• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
• Be a U.S citizen or an eligible noncitizen
• For AB540 students: complete the confidential California Dream Act Application. Additional information is available at: the California Dream Act.
• Be enrolled or accepted as a regular student into a degree-granting or eligible certificate program
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward your college educational goal
• Maintain a 2.00 Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Maintain the required unit completion rate according to the Terms of Agreement Satisfactory Academic Progress Regulations for financial aid eligibility.
• Federal regulations require colleges to establish a maximum time frame during which students are eligible to receive financial aid. Porterville College has established a maximum time frame of 150% of the standard timeframe for your program. For example, if you are in a Liberal Arts A.A. program requiring 60 units of coursework, you will need to complete your program within 90 attempted units. Students are no longer maintaining satisfactory academic progress for financial aid after attempting 90 or more units whether financial aid was received.
• Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan or owe money on a federal student grant
• Certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes
• Show you're qualified to obtain a college education by:
• Having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or having passed the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE)
• Completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law.

Denial

You may be denied financial aid for one or more of the following reasons:

• Failure to meet the High Diploma or equivalent requirement
• Your resources meet or exceed allowable expenses
• Ineligible immigration status
• You did not complete satisfactory progress requirements and failed warning
• Funding allotted to eligible aid program has been exhausted
• Financial need falls below minimum aid levels in available aid
• You have earned an associate degree or higher and have exhausted available aid
• Loan in default or other repayment required
• You have not provided sufficient documentation to determine eligibility.

Tuition & Fees

Visit the Admissions tuition and fees page. 

Comparison opportunity: please visit the California State University Campus Costs of Attendance page for information about prospective costs.

Comparison opportunity: please visit the University of California (UC), Davis Undergraduate Cost of Attendance page for more information about prospective costs.

The following charts provides an example of the estimated total cost of attendance for Porterville College:

California Residents

Item(s)	At-Home	Away
Books	549	549
Food	11,493	7,353
Living Expenses	-	16,839
Personal Expenses	4,059	4,968
Supplies, Course Material & Equipment	513	513
Tuition & Fees	1,380	1,380
Transportation	1,791	1,962
Federal Loan origination fees (if applicable)	1.057%	1.057%
**Licensure, Certification, Professional Credential (if applicable)	1st Year / 2nd Year	1st Year / 2nd Year
Total (not including loan fees and/or licensures)	$19,785	$33,564

Out-of-State Residents

Item(s)	At-Home	Away
Books	549	549
Food	11,493	7,353
Living Expenses	-	16,839
Personal Expenses	4,059	4,968
Supplies, Course Material & Equipment	513	513
Tuition	11,250	11,250
Fees	-	-
Transportation	1,791	1,962
Federal Loan origination fees (if applicable)	1.057%	1.057%
**Licensure, Certification, Professional Credential (if applicable)	1st Year / 2nd Year	1st Year / 2nd Year
Total (not including loan fees and/or licensures)	$29,655	$43,434

Advantages of attending a Community College vs University

Cost of Tuition

Attending community college gives students the chance to prepare for the financial demands of a 4-year university if they plan on transferring.

Give Students an Opportunity to Explore Major Options

Instead of spending thousands of dollars at a private university towards a major that you are less than sure of, consider attending a community school while you are making your decision.

Transitional

Attending community college gives students the opportunity to earn college credit while taking the time to select the 4-year institution that is right for them.

Flexible Schedule

Attending community college gives students the chance to prepare for the financial demands of a 4-year university if they plan on transferring.

Net Cost Calculator

Our net cost calculator can also be accessed at PC Net Price Calculator.

Your Rights and Responsibilities

Please note: Your award was determined in accordance with the laws, regulations, and appropriations of the U.S. Congress and Porterville College, and is subject to adjustment or cancellation in the event of changes to these laws or your eligibility.