The 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) opens October 1, 2023. Your FAFSA or CADAA must be submitted by March 2, 2023 for Cal Grant consideration. 

When completing the FAFSA or CADAA, applicants no longer need to estimate income and tax information and will be able to retrieve data using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, beginning the first day the FAFSA or CADAA is available. By submitting the FAFSA or CADAA early, students will have information about their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) earlier, helping them as they go through the college application and selection process.

Each student and parent will need to create an FSA ID number in order to access the Federal Student Aid's online system and to electronically sign your FAFSA application.  NOTE: Remember do not share your FSA ID with anyone. The security of your FSA ID is important because it can be used to electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents, access your personal records, and make binding legal obligations. To create your FSA ID please click here. For answers to frequently asked questions regarding FSA IDs, click here. 

FSA Instruction Video 

FAFSA Resources

▪ Federal Student Loan Programs (in English)              ▪ Federal Student Loan Programs (in Spanish)      

 ▪ FAFSA for Undocumented Students (in English)         ▪ FAFSA for Undocumented Students (in Spanish)

CAL Grants

Cal Grant Awards are free money provided by the State of California to help pay for the cost of college.  If you are a graduating high school senior who meets academic, financial and eligibility requirements, your child may qualify to receive a Cal Grant. 

Madera Unified will electronically submit your CAL GRANT GPA verification for every senior in the district to the California Student Aid Commission so they may be considered for a Cal Grant award, but you must submit your own FAFSA to complete the application.

Cal Grant Information

Videos