FAFSA vs. CADAA

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid https://studentaid.gov/

FAFSA Eligible students/applicants:

US Citizens
US nationals
- American Samoa or Swains Island
US Permanent Residents
- Form 1-551 or 1-51
- Also known as Green Card holders
Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) holders:
- "Refugee"
- "Asylum Granted"
- "Cuban-Haitian Entrant
- "(Status Pending)"
- "Conditional Entrant" (valid only if issued before 4/1/1980)
- T-visa (T-2, T-3, or T-4, etc.) holder, Victims of human trafficking
- "Parolee" (paroled into the United States for at least one year and must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that they are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and intend to become a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

CADAA: California Dream Act Application https://dream.csac.ca.gov/

CADAA Eligible students/applicants:

Undocumented students (no SSN)
DACAmented students - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
U Visa holders, victims of criminal activity
Have Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Meet the non-resident exemption requirements AB 540, SB 2000, SB 68

Resources:

Understand the Differences: In-State Tuition vs. CA Dream Act vs. DACA

FAFSA vs. CA Dream Act: Apply to the Correct Financial Aid in CA

CADAA Option for Mixed-Status Families: CADAA Now, FAFSA Later

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has once again enabled the CADAA as an option for first-time and renewal FAFSA-eligible applicants in 2025-2026. More info

FSA ID and CADAA Accounts

Who needs an FSA ID? Student FAFSA filers plus at least (1) parent if dependent

Review: Do I Have to Provide My Parents’ Information on the FAFSA Form?

Why are FSA IDs needed? Why Do My Contributors and I Need Our Own StudentAid.gov Accounts for the FAFSA® Form?

Which parent(s) needs an FSA ID? Parent Contributors.pdf

What do I need to create an account? FSA ID-CADAA Acct Info Needed.pdf

Does a parent need their own CADAA account? NO, only the student

Creating FSA ID Accounts.pdf	Creating CADAA Accounts.pdf
How to Create a Federal Student Aid Account (FSA ID).pdf	California Dream Act Application: Accessing the Application
How to Create an Account and Username (FSA ID) for StudentAid.gov

Elementary

Middle

High

K-8

Other

San Diego Unified School District

College (FAFSA/CADAA)

FAFSA/CADAA Opens October 1, 2025!