The Financial Aid Office at Thomas Aquinas College is updating its process for applying for financial aid for the 2025-26 academic year. Our new procedure, with links to the appropriate forms, will be posted by December 31, 2024. Please check back at that time. Thank you. (The information shown below remains from the 2024-25 school year.)
A student requests assistance from the Financial Aid Office by completing the following steps.
The same financial aid steps apply whether you will be attending the California campus or the New England campus. Thomas Aquinas College has a single Financial Aid Office that processes all of the financial aid applications for both campuses. That office is located at the California campus. Financial aid is processed in the same manner for both campuses.
(International students have different forms to complete than students from the U.S. See our webpage for international students for more information).
As a preliminary step, get organized. Be sure you and your parents have your financial documents at hand, including your 2022 federal tax return(s), 2022 W-2s or other wage statements, bank account balances, etc. You will need this information as you complete the following steps.
1. Complete the 2024-25 FAFSA
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online by March 4, 2024*. The FAFSA is used to determine a student's eligibility for federal and state grants and federal loans. It is also required of all U.S. citizens and permanent residents seeking institutional aid from the College. Both the California campus and the New England campus use the same school code on the FAFSA (023580).
Thomas Aquinas College requires that parental financial information be included on the FAFSA not only for dependent students but also for older independent students, unless the Director of Financial Aid has specifically instructed otherwise.
Additional resources that provide more information about the FAFSA can be found on our Forms and Publications webpage.
2. Complete the 2024-25 Confidential Financial Aid Application
Complete Thomas Aquinas College's Confidential Financial Aid Application (CFAA) by March 4, 2024*.
The Confidential Financial Aid Application (CFAA) is Thomas Aquinas College's own application for students from the U.S. seeking need-based institutional aid (work-study and grant aid provided by the College). After completing the CFAA, you will need to upload the document through the Financial Aid Office's Secure File Upload Portal.
The Confidential Financial Aid Application replaces the CSS Profile that was used in prior years.
3. Submit 2022 tax documents
All institutional aid applicants must submit a signed copy of parents' 2022 federal tax return through the Financial Aid Office's Secure File Upload Portal. by March 4, 2024*
Sign the copy of the tax return (or make a copy of the previously signed return). Be sure to include the following:
- All W-2s;
- All schedules and attachments sent to the IRS; and
- All SSA-1099s ("Social Security Benefit Statements") for parents and all dependents within the family (if applicable).
4. Apply for the Cal Grant by March 4, 2024* (California residents only)
California residents may be eligible for a $9,358 Cal Grant award. The application filing deadline is March 4, 2024 (postmark deadline). File early in order to have time to correct any problems. It takes TWO forms to apply for a Cal Grant: a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form and a 2024-25 FAFSA. (If your high school submits your GPA directly to the California Student Aid Commission on your behalf, you do not have to complete a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form.)
If you currently have a Cal Grant, there is no need to submit a new GPA form to renew your Cal Grant; you must, however, file a FAFSA to document your continued need.
Incoming Freshmen and returning Sophomores in 2024-25: Since you have fewer than 24 college credits from Thomas Aquinas College as of March 2024, you must submit a high school GPA or a qualifying GPA from a prior college. Some schools will do this electronically for you. Check with your school to see if they will be submitting your GPA for you.
Homeschooled students: see How to Apply for the Cal Grant to see whether you need to submit a test score report in lieu of a GPA.
Thomas Aquinas College Juniors and Seniors in 2024-25: Since you have more than 24 college credits as of March 2024, Thomas Aquinas College will submit your college GPA electronically on your behalf by March 4, 2024.
Not sure if your GPA was submitted? The status of your Cal Grant application can be checked at WebGrants for Students.
Questions? See How to Apply for the Cal Grant for more information or contact the Financial Aid Office at Thomas Aquinas College. We will be happy to help you.
Massachusetts residents are not eligible to receive a MassGrant at our Northfield campus, but if a Massachusetts resident would have been eligible for a MassGrant, it is likely that his need-based aid from Thomas Aquinas College will fill any need that would been filled by the MassGrant.
Noncustodial Parents: If a student’s parents have separated or divorced, the noncustodial parent must complete a Noncustodial Parent Statement (NPS) by March 4, 2024 and upload a signed copy of the noncustodial parent's 2022 federal tax return with all schedules and W-2s through the Financial Aid Office's Secure File Upload Portal.
If an international student’s parents are separated or divorced the noncustodial parent would complete a Noncustodial CSS Profile and submit 2022 tax information.
Other Information: The College may require additional information of applicants to satisfy verification requirements of state or federal agencies or to clarify unusual circumstances. You will be notified if this sort of additional documentation is needed.
*Deadlines for Incoming Freshmen: Incoming freshmen must submit the FAFSA and CFAA and tax documents by March 4, 2024, or 15 days after acceptance, whichever is later. All California residents, however, must complete the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by March 4, 2024, as well as the FAFSA, in order to be considered for a Cal Grant. This is a firm deadline for the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form. (The California Student Aid Commission has extended the FAFSA deadline to April 2, 2024 due to the delayed availability of that form. The Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, however, must be submitted by March 4, 2024.)