Financial Aid

Affordable Education

At Sierra College, we’re proud to offer an affordable education close to home. With financial aid, scholarships, and two years free, Sierra College can fit your budget.

FAFSA Application

CA Dream Act Application

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Financial Aid Events/Workshops

Steps for Victims of Identity Theft or Fraud

63%

Percentage of Sierra College students who receive financial aid

Estimate cost to attend Sierra College

140+

Scholarship
opportunities

Apply for scholarships

6,133

Students who have qualified for two years of free tuition since 2018

Learn more about Two Years Free

New Financial Aid Government ID Verification Requirement

In collaboration with the California Community Colleges (CCC), and in response to changes in federal legislation, Sierra College is changing its financial aid processes in order to verify and protect student applicant identities.

By verifying your identity, you’re protecting your information from being used by others to apply for financial aid – using your name.

For most requests to verify your identification, you will need to show ONE of the following unexpired government issued photo IDs:

Driver’s license
State-issued ID card
Passport from any country

Unacceptable IDs

The following types of identification cannot be used to verify your identity:

School-issued ID cards
Military IDs

Steps to Verify Your ID

If you have been identified by the U.S. Department of Education or the Financial Aid office to provide identity verification, then you will need to verify your identity. To do so:

Visit the customer service window of the Financial Aid office for an in-person review of your unexpired, government-issued photo ID.
Note: Expired identification, screen shots, student IDs and copies of identification will not be accepted.

How to Request Student Loans Using Accepted ID

Complete the Loan Request Form on the Loans page in full and leave the signature section blank. Submit online.
Print the completed application and bring it to the Financial Aid Office. You must present one of the following valid forms of identification: an unexpired REAL ID or an unexpired U.S. Passport. (Note: Free printing is available in the Learning Commons Lab (Building LR, 2nd Floor) on the Rocklin Campus.)
You are required to sign this form in person at the time of submission to the Financial Aid Office.
- Forms signed in advance will not be accepted.
- Forms must be delivered to the Financial Aid Office in person within 30 days of the application being finished/submitted, or the application will be rejected.

Be in the Know

Identity Verification Protects You: This process helps protect against fraud and ensures you receive your aid correctly.
Do Not Share Your FSA ID: Your FSA ID is your legal signature for federal student aid and should not be shared.
Check for Other Requirements: Beyond a government-issued ID, you may also need to provide other documents, such as tax returns, W-2 forms, or other income verification documents if selected for FAFSA verification. View FAFSA verification frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid Government ID Verification

Why is the Financial Aid office requesting my original ID?
Our Financial Aid offices are required to ensure that we are protecting students’ data. Before a Financial Aid professional provides any information, they must request an in-person review of a valid government-issued ID.

I am only requesting a student loan, and I know I must pay this back. Do I still need to provide my ID?
Yes, federal student loans require an additional level of scrutiny.

Can students still email questions to the Financial Aid office?
Yes, students can submit questions by emailing financialaidquestion@sierracollege.edu. We will be able to respond to emails that are originated from the Sierra College issued email account.

Can students call if they have financial aid questions?
Yes, if the information being asked is student-specific. A Financial Aid professional will ask a series of questions that only the student would know before releasing any personal information.

What questions and/or support can be given to students without having to have their ID scanned?
Our Financial Aid offices will provide public information about process and eligibility. Specific information about a student’s financial aid will not be provided without authenticating their ID.

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Your Financial Aid: Why It Matters

If you receive financial aid, you must meet certain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards by keeping a Good Academic Standing. Not meeting the standards can prevent you from continuing to receive financial aid. Watch the video to learn more about the importance of keeping your academic progress in good standing and resources to help you bump up your standing. For more details, visit Required: Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Watch this video to learn more about Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Mire este video para obtener más información sobre el Progreso Académico Satisfactorio.

Tools

Find out if you qualify for financial aid. Before you apply for financial aid, use the:

Visit I Can Go to College to learn how we can help you achieve your educational goals.
Federal Student Aid Estimator to help you understand your options for paying for college.
Sierra College Net Price Calculator to learn the estimated costs of attending college.
Financial Aid disbursement calendar. Learn more about disbursements and refunds to help with your financial planning.