Financial Aid

This following information covers most of the steps necessary to apply for financial aid. Any questions must be directed to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Department at (818) 677-4085, or visit their office on the CSUN campus (Main Lobby, Bayramian Hall).

Please identify yourself as an MPA student by presenting your Graduate Admissions Evaluation Form. (This form will be sent to you by the MPA Office once you are admitted to the program.)

To apply for financial aid, which includes loans, first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). (Our federal school code is 001153.) If you should have any questions regarding financial aid please contact LaJuan Steels, our Extended Learning Financial Aid Counselor, at (818) 677-7523, or by email at lajuan.r.steels@csun.edu.

Based on the information provided on the FAFSA, all MPA students may qualify for Subsidized and or Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, if enrolled in at least four units per term. Other financial aid criteria must also be met.

Call Financial Aid for information regarding filing deadlines. Filing by this deadline improves your chances of having your aid available at the beginning of the fall term. If you apply after the deadline, it is still possible to receive financial aid. Students who do not file early may have to pay tuition in full prior to the start of class.

In approximately four to six weeks after applying, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that should be retained for your records and can be used to make corrections. Make sure CSU Northridge is listed as one of the schools to receive your information. Financial Aid and Scholarships receives your information from the Federal Government electronically. You may then be requested to provide more information. If so, please respond to this request immediately.

Once all required documentation is in, you will be sent an Award Notice and an Acceptance of Financial Aid Award and Loan Activation Request form. This must be submitted to the Financial Aid and Scholarships to receive any aid. The bottom portion of the form must be completed and submitted to activate the loan.

Enrollment will be verified prior to any aid disbursement. Your MPA grades will be reviewed in order to have your Stafford loan funds released in the case of an academic year loan. You must maintain at least half time status (4 units) during the fall term to be eligible to receive a spring disbursement.

University Cash Services disburses all aid. Your funds will be mailed to you using the address you have provided the University. Any disbursement questions should be directed to University Cash Services.

Please contact our financial aid officer, LaJuan Steels (lajuan.r.steels@csun.edu or 818-677-7523) if you have any questions, as well as to ensure that policies and procedures have not changed.