Sonoma State University
The California priority financial aid deadline has been extended! All students in the state have until April 2, 2025, to complete their 2025-26 FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application.

CA Dream Act Process and Aid

California Dream Act

The California Dream Act authorized state-funded financial aid for students who may not have legal immigration status at the time they apply for financial aid. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has developed the California Dream Application for eligible students to use to apply for state-funded financial aid.

Students who can apply for federally-funded financial aid should not complete the California Dream Application. Instead, those students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). See the Dream Act - Who is Eligible page for information on whether you should file the CA Dream Application or the FAFSA.  If you are eligible to file the FAFSA but choose to file the CADAA instead, you will not be eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid, such as a Pell Grant and Federal Work Study.

For Application and Deadline information, see the Dream Act - How to Apply page.

For an overview of the CA Dream Act financial aid process, see the Dream Act - Aid Process page.

A list of the state-funded grant programs and information about a new state-funded loan program can be found on the Dream Act - Aid Programs page.

If you believe you are eligible under the CA Dream Act, please read all of these pages thoroughly. If you are unsure of which financial aid application to fill out, please contact our office at 707-664-2389 or email finaid@sonoma.edu.