Both the University of California and the California State University applications have questions that ask students to enter family income and family size. These questions are for the sole purpose of determining if a student is eligible for a fee waiver for the application; they are not questions related to financial aid, nor are they an application for financial aid. The income question is NOT REQUIRED for the UC application, so that question can be skipped if you are not hoping for an application fee waiver. The income question IS REQUIRED for the CSU application, however, there is a workaround if you do not want to answer the question. Simply enter 999,999 as your income (this advice comes directly from the CSU application instructions, but it’s embedded in a long document that most people won’t read). Please enter your income if paying for college application fees is a financial burden for your family and you are hoping for an application fee waiver. If granted, the fee waiver covers the fees of up to 4 UC and 4 CSU applications.

Within the Common Application’s Profile section, there is a tab called Common App Fee Waiver. In order for a student to qualify for a fee waiver, they need to meet one of the criteria listed on the Common Application OR be able to provide a statement from a school official. If the student receives a significant amount of financial aid from SFHS, a College Advisor may be able to provide a statement noting financial hardship. Please contact Ms. Austin or Ms. Lee to discuss Common App Fee Waivers if this situation applies to you.