Can I get FAFSA for a certificate program while on leave from my MA degree?

i did something kinda like this before covid hit - not exactly the same but I was in a bachelor's program and took leave for family issues then did a certificate at community college. they told me I had to formally withdraw from the 1st school or they'd consider it \

Thanks for sharing! Did you have to cancel your original FAFSA completely or just update it? I'm worried about having to start the whole application process over again.

The short answer is: it's complicated. Financial aid eligibility for certificate programs while on leave from another degree program depends on several factors:\n\n1. You need to check if you're still considered \

This is really helpful information. I didn't know about consortium agreements - I'll definitely ask about that. The certificate program website specifically says it qualifies for federal financial aid, so I'm hoping that part is straightforward at least.

One important thing no one mentioned!!!! The financial aid year matters too!!! If your leave of absence from CSUSB and the certificate program at Long Beach would happen in different aid years, it might be simpler. The FAFSA 2025-2026 just opened up, so if your leave ends in Spring 2025 and certificate starts Fall 2025, you could potentially qualify for both without the dual enrollment issue.

This is an excellent point about the financial aid years. The 2025-2026 FAFSA is significantly different from previous years with the new FAFSA Simplification Act changes. Your Pell Grant eligibility and Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation would be determined separately for each aid year, so the timing could make a big difference in your situation.

I hadn't even thought about the aid year aspect! My leave is supposed to end after Spring 2025, so maybe I could time the certificate program to start in the new aid year. I'll check if CSLB offers summer or fall start dates.

I went through a kind of similar situation last year and honestly it was a NIGHTMARE trying to reach anyone at FSA who could give me a straight answer about my eligibility. I kept getting different answers from the schools vs the federal student aid people, and I wasted weeks trying to get through on the phone. Eventually I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual FSA agent in under 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nThe agent I talked to confirmed I could receive aid for my new program as long as I officially withdrew from the previous one. Getting that definitive answer directly from FSA saved me so much stress.

does that service cost money? seems sus that you'd need to pay to talk to someone at financial aid

Yeah it does cost something but for me it was worth it after spending literally hours on hold getting disconnected. I was about to miss deadlines and needed answers. But totally get being skeptical!

I'm a financial aid advisor at a different CSU campus, and this question comes up more than you'd think. Here's what you should know:\n\n1. From a FAFSA perspective, you can only have one school receiving your federal aid information at a time\n\n2. For certificate programs specifically, they must be Title IV eligible (sounds like this one is)\n\n3. With the CSU system specifically, you'd need to complete a

Thank you so much for this expert advice! I didn't know about the Change of Program/Campus form - that's super helpful. Do you know if there's a specific deadline for submitting that? And will I need to update my FAFSA immediately after submitting that form?

My friend was in almost the exact situation (different CSUs though) and she had to completely withdraw from the first program before they would process aid for the certificate. Something about federal regulations not allowing \

That's concerning... I definitely want to return to my MA program eventually. Did your friend have any trouble getting back into her original program after completing the certificate?

she had to reapply but got back in no problem. just make sure you leave on good terms and keep in touch with your program advisor!

Several important points to consider about your specific situation:\n\n1. Certificate vs. Degree Program: The financial aid rules treat these differently. Certificate programs must be Title IV eligible and meet minimum requirements for clock/credit hours to qualify for federal aid. Based on your description, it sounds like this one does.\n\n2. Leave of Absence status: Most institutions have specific policies about how long you can maintain a leave of absence status before being administratively withdrawn. Check your CSUSB student handbook for these details.\n\n3. Aggregate loan limits: If you've already borrowed federal loans for your MA program, be aware that certificate programs often have different (usually lower) aggregate loan limits. The financial aid you've already received counts toward your lifetime eligibility.\n\n4. California-specific aid: Beyond federal aid, California has unique programs like the Cal Grant that have their own rules about certificate programs and continuous enrollment requirements.\n\nFor the most definitive answer, I'd recommend getting written confirmation from both financial aid offices after explaining your full situation. Financial aid advice given verbally is sometimes inconsistent between advisors.

I appreciate the detailed response. I haven't reached my aggregate loan limits yet, but that's good to keep in mind. I'll definitely get any information in writing from both financial aid offices. Do you know if there's a specific form I should request from them to document their approval?

Ask for their policy on \

one other thing nobody mentioned - check if theres different deadlines for the fafsa for certificate programs vs regular degrees. i almost missed out on aid once cuz the certificate program had an earlier priority deadline than what i was used to for my regular classes.