1. Your Next Steps for 2017-18 Financial Aid
SF State Student Center
Financial Aid Deferment
Understanding Your To Do List
Checking on the Status of Your Paperwork
Verification of 2015 Tax & Income Information
Your Financial Aid Awards
How Your Eligibility is Calculated
Disbursement of Your Financial Aid
SF State Mobile App

2. SF State Gateway Login with your SF State ID Number and Password
Create a Password if you are a first-time user

3. Accessing Your Student Center
Click on Student Center button under Financial Section

4. SFSU Student Center Holds & Alerts To Do List View Financial Aid
Accept/Decline Awards
Drop Down Box:
Account Activity
Charges Due

5. Section 1: Holds & Alerts

6. Financial Aid Deferment
This alert means you may have pending financial aid, and will not be dis-enrolled from your classes.
This occurs because the deferment delays the payment deadline until financial aid funds have disbursed

7. Section 2: To Do List

8. To Do List
Add updated student center screenshot with student that has verification items
If you have items listed, select the More button to view the item instructions and status

9. Status of To Do List Items
Add updated student center screenshot with student that has verification items
Required = Our office has not received the item
Received = Your item is received and being processed
Completed = Item has been processed and will be removed

10. Note: 1040 TAX RETURNS ARE NOT ACCEPTED!
Verifying Your Income
Students are randomly selected by the Dept. of Education to verify household income and family size
FILL OUT Income Verification Sheets AND
SUBMIT Tax Return TRANSCRIPTS
Note: 1040 TAX RETURNS ARE NOT ACCEPTED!
Verification can take 3-4 weeks to process

11. Obtaining a 2015 Tax Return Transcript
ONLINE/MAIL
Go to and choose the option to Get a Tax Transcript
PHONE
Call the IRS at

12. Student Center: Finances

13. Section 3: View Financial Aid
Once you have completed all required To Do List items and you have cleared any holds on your account, you will be awarded financial aid

14. How Is Financial Aid Eligibility Calculated?
Cost of Attendance
Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)
Financial Need
Registration & Fees
Room & Board
Books & Supplies
Transportation
Personal Expenses
Total Cost of Attendance
Student Contribution
+ Parent Contribution (If Applicable)
= Estimated Family Contribution
(EFC)
*The calculation of the EFC is based on the information submitted on the FAFSA, such as income and investments
- EFC
= Financial Need
*Determines a student’s eligibility for Federal & State Financial Aid

15. How to Apply for the Parent PLUS Loan
Please be aware that though the application is available, the Parent Plus Loan To Do List items will not appear until the end of June

16. Section 4: Accept/Decline Awards
Any grants you are eligible for will be automatically accepted, while you must manually accept any loan offers
Additional To Do List items may appear after accepting loans

17. How Financial Aid Works
1. DISBURSEMENT
If financial aid is all in order, financial aid FIRST goes toward tuition and other charges (ie. Housing) on student’s account
2. REFUND
Student and/or Parent receives the extra funds from financial aid awards once all charges are paid for
2. BALANCE DUE
Student does not have enough financial aid to cover charges, so student must pay any remaining balance OR

18. Section 5: Drop Down Box
To access Account Activity and Charges Due, you must access “other financial…” drop down box

19. balance returned to you or your parent.
Account Activity
Payment section: View the disbursement of your financial aid and any out of pocket payments.
Refund section:
balance returned to you or your parent.
*Refunds from the Parent Plus Loan will be sent as a check to parent unless specified otherwise on Plus Loan Application
$$$ to you!

20. Charges Due
If your financial aid was not enough to cover your costs, you can view a breakdown of your remaining balance.
$$$ you owe!

21. SF State Mobile App
The Student Center screens are viewable on the Mobile App!
Step 1: Download the
SF State Mobile App
Step 2: Go to Payments & Aid
Step 3: Login to access your account

22. SF State Office of Student Financial Aid
Questions?
CONTACT US!
SF State Office of Student Financial Aid
Phone: M-F 9:00 to 4:30 ||
In-Person: M-F 9:00 to 5:00 ||
Student Services Building - One Stop