Undocumented students may apply for financial aid by completing the California Dream Act Application. Please check out the links below for additional resources and information:

• CA Dream Act - Steps to apply
• CA Dream Act - list of potential awards
• AB540 Checklist
• Frequently Asked Questions
• DVC Dreamers Webpage

If you have any questions about financial aid programs for undocumented students or the status of your California Dream Act application, please contact Harry Do, Financial Aid Specialist, at hdo@dvc.edu.

Current or former foster youth who are attending DVC are highly encouraged to join the START Program. START is a Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) support program designed to increase access, retention, and graduation rates for current or former foster youth at DVC. Our goal is to provide a warm and welcoming environment, create a support network, and empower foster youth students to make progress towards self-sufficiency, professional success, and community leadership. 

If you have any questions about financial aid programs for foster youth or the status of your Chafee Grant application, please contact Lyle Fullmer, Financial Aid Specialist, at lfullmer@dvc.edu.

In addition to educational benefits earned through military service, veterans may also qualify for federal and state grants, privately funded scholarships, and low-interest student loans to help with educational costs. While VA benefits may cover tuition and fees completely, in some cases veteran students may have a need for additional funds. This could be for living expenses, additional education costs, or if you are pursuing additional degrees but have already exhausted VA benefits. Veterans, like any other college student, are eligible to apply for these programs through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you have any questions about financial aid programs for veterans or the status of your application, please contact Zuhal Rahmani, Financial Aid Specialist, at zrahmani@dvc.edu.

• Financial Aid Tips for Veterans
• DVC Veterans Resource Center

If you are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness, please check out the links below for additional resources and information:

• DVC and community resources for homeless youth
• DVC Basic Needs Webpage

If you have any questions about financial aid programs for homeless youth or the status of your application, please contact Lyle Fullmer at lfullmer@dvc.edu.

LGBTQ+ students and their families face unique obstacles in obtaining financial aid. Below are common examples you may encounter. If you have questions or need assistance with the financial aid process, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

• Same sex marriage and the FAFSA: Same-sex couples must report their marital status as married if they were legally married in a state or other jurisdiction (foreign country), without regard of where they live or where the student will be going to school.

• Name discrepancies: When filling out the FAFSA, you must enter your name as it appears on your social security card, even if you are recognized by your preferred name at DVC. If you have recently changed your name legally, you must bring the court documentation to any Social Security Administration office to receive an updated social security card.

• Dependency override: In some cases, LGBTQ+ students may be cut off from their families after coming out, which makes it difficult to complete the FAFSA without the required parental information for dependent students. However, students who are estranged from their parents due to extenuating or unusual circumstances which can be documented by objective third party may be eligible for the Dependency Override appeal. For more information about this process, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

Occasionally special circumstances arise that make the FAFSA data an inaccurate picture of a family's ability to pay for college expenses. The Reduction in Income Appeal is available for students whose financial circumstances have drastically changed since the FAFSA tax year and would like to request that the Financial Aid Office re-evaluate their eligibility based on their current financial status. Reduction in Income Appeals take 4-6 weeks to process and must be submitted before the last date of the student's enrollment for the academic year.  For more information about the Reduction In Income Appeal, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@dvc.edu.

The Dependency Override Appeal Petition is for dependent students who do not meet the federal criteria for “independent” status as outlined on the FAFSA but who would like to have their unique circumstances reviewed in order to be considered an independent student for financial aid purposes. Students who are estranged from their parents due to unusual circumstances which can be documented may qualify. A Dependency Override Appeal must be submitted before last date of enrollment for the academic year to be considered and may require 4-6 weeks to process.   If you have had a dependency override appeal approved within the Contra Costa Community College District in a prior year, you are not required to submit another dependency override appeal.  However, you are still required to renew your FAFSA. For more information about the Dependency Override Appeal, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@dvc.edu.

Financial aid is available to students that qualify and enroll during the summer. You may be eligible to receive grants, work-study, or loans.