Story by: Ivan Villa, Staff Writer
Photo by: Viviana Valencia, Edit-In-Chief
Application for financial aid for the 2026-27 school year is now open. Financial aid will cover the fall 2026, spring 2027 and summer 2027 semesters.
Students who are considering applying for financial aid must complete one of the following applications: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application.
Gabriela De La Cruz, director of Financial Aid, said students are encouraged to apply as early as possible to avoid missing deadlines and to maximize aid eligibility.
“The deadline for Financial Aid applications is March 2, 2026,” De La Cruz said. “Students have a secondary priority deadline, which is Sept. 2, 2026. That will fall after the fall 2026 semester begins, so early submission remains best.”
De La Cruz also addressed concerns among students from mixed-status families.
“We understand that students from mixed-status families, whether the student or parent is undocumented, may have concerns about data sharing,” she said.
Although the financial aid office cannot guarantee that information will not be shared under the current administration, De La Cruz encouraged concerned students to speak with a Financial Aid staff member. She added that there are alternative options such as the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) through CCCApply and the California Dream Act Application.
De La Cruz said there is currently no direct impact to federal or state Financial Aid, and the college continues to process aid based on eligibility.
She also noted that a new federal bill signed on July 4, 2025, will introduce significant changes for students taking out federal loans after July 1, 2026. The bill will eliminate economic hardship and unemployment deferments.
Because Cypress College does not offer graduate or professional programs, De La Cruz said “Students planning to attend medical, dental, law or graduate school in the future should note that the new bill eliminates Graduate PLUS loans — a resource many first-generation, low-income students of color have historically relied on.”
There are also proposals to cut or eliminate programs and reduce Pell Grant funding. However, current committee discussions suggest that these changes may not be approved, and the financial aid community is watching the situation closely.
