Domestic Students - Caltech Caltech Financial Aid Office

Domestic Students

Applicants
Continuing Students
Graduate Students

2012-2013 Undergraduate Domestic Applicants

Follow the instructions below if you are applying to Caltech for admission as a freshman, transfer, or 3/2 student for entry in fall of 2012, and are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE Application
Register for the 2012-13 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE after October 1, 2011. Designate "California Institute of Technology" as one of the recipients by using our CSS Code 4034.

February 1, 2012: Applicants must submit the completed PROFILE application.

Note: Early Action applicants must submit the completed PROFILE application by November 15, 2011.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA]
The 2012-13 FAFSA will be available on January 1, 2012. You will need to apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) prior to completing the FAFSA online. Designate "California Institute of Technology" as one of the FAFSA recipients by using our Undergraduate Federal Code Number 001131.
Due Date: March 2, 2012

IRS Data Retrieval Requirement [Not available until 2/5/2012]

This year Caltech is making the IRS data retrieval option mandatory for all 2012-13 financial aid applicants. When completing the FAFSA you will be asked for parent and student tax information, select the option to view and transfer your 2011 Tax Information from the IRS.

Link to the IRS site, view your 2011 tax information and securely transfer your information into the FAFSA. If your information is not available at the time you are completing your FAFSA, you will need to wait until your IRS information becomes available before submitting your FAFSA.

Note: If you recently filed your taxes, your IRS information may not be available yet. If you filed your taxes electronically, it may take 1-2 weeks; but if you filed your taxes via the mail it may take 6-8 weeks.

Once you have transferred your IRS tax information, questions that are populated with tax information will be marked with "Transferred from the IRS." Do not make any changes to the transferred data. We will not process any FAFSA with a code indicating the data was transferred from the IRS, but changed by the student/parent before the application was submitted.

How the IRS data retrieval tool works:

Enter your PIN and click link to IRS
Your FAFSA will be saved and you will be transferred to the IRS website.
On the IRS website, enter the requested information.
Once the IRS has validated your identification, your IRS tax information will display. Transfer your information from the IRS.
Once you transfer your IRS tax information, questions that are populated with tax information will be marked with "Transferred from the IRS."
Do not make any changes to the transferred data.

Important: Your financial aid application will not be reviewed until your FAFSA is completed using the IRS data retrieval option and you have not made any changes to the IRS data.

IRS Data Retrieval Tutorial Video

Exceptions: If your 2011 IRS tax filing status is married filing separately, you filed an amended tax return, or you filed a foreign tax return, you will not be eligible to use the IRS data retrieval tool.

Follow the instructions below if you are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Option. Do not send an IRS transcript if you are eligible to do the IRS data retrieval when completing your FAFSA. It will only delay the processing of your financial aid application.

Request IRS Tax Return Transcript Online

Go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov
In the Online Services section of the homepage, under tools, click "Order a Tax Return or Account Transcript"
Click "Order a Transcript"
Enter the tax filer's Social Security Number, date of birth, street address, and zip or postal code. Use the address currently on file with the IRS. Generally this will be the address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
Click "Continue"
In the Type of Transcript field, select "Return Transcript" and in the Tax Year field, select "2011".
If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address included in their online request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the on-line request was successfully transmitted to the IRS.
IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested online cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.
Once you receive the transcript, use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit it along with the other required documents directly to the College Board. If you have already submitted your IDOC packet, please email your transcript to FinAidDoc@caltech.edu or fax it to 626-564-8136.

Early Action Applicants Due Date: March 2, 2012
Regular Decision Applicants Due Date: March 16, 2012

Cal Grant GPA Verification Form
All California residents must complete and submit the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form to the California Student Aid Commission.
Due Date: March 2, 2012

Verification Worksheet
All students must complete and sign the 2012-13 Verification Worksheet. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit the worksheet directly to the College Board.
Early Action Applicants Due Date: March 2, 2012
Regular Decision Applicants Due Date: March 16, 2012

2011 Parents’ and Student Federal Income Tax Return (including all schedules and W-2s). You will need to provide a copy of your parents’ most recent tax return before your eligibility for financial aid can be determined. Once you have been admitted, you will be sent an email from the College Board with instructions on how to submit your tax returns using the Institutional Documentation Service [IDOC]. Login to the IDOC site, download and complete the IDOC Cover Sheet and submit your 2011 federal income tax return, all schedules, W-2 forms and all other required documents directly to the College Board. If you or your parents own corporations, partnerships or trusts, please include copies of those tax returns (Forms 1041, 1065, 1120, 1120S, K-1). All copies need to be sent directly to the College Board along with your IDOC Cover Sheet.
Early Action Applicants Due Date: March 2, 2012
Regular Decision Applicants Due Date: March 16, 2012

Parent Certification of Non-Filing
If your parent(s) did not and will not file a federal income tax return, please complete the Parent Certification of Non-Filing. Please attach copies of W-2 or 1099 forms (if applicable) to the Parent Certification of Non-Filing. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit this form and all other required documents directly to the College Board.
Early Action Applicants Due Date: March 2, 2012
Regular Decision Applicants Due Date: March 16, 2012

Student Certification of Non-Filing
If you did not and will not file a federal income tax return, please complete the Student Certification of Non-Filing. Please attach copies of W-2 or 1099 forms (if applicable) to the Student Certification of Non-Filing. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit this form and all other required documents directly to the College Board.
Early Action Applicants Due Date: March 2, 2012
Regular Decision Applicants Due Date: March 16, 2012

Child Support Paid Verification Statement
Complete this form if either of your parents reported paying child support in 2011 on the 2012-13 FAFSA. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit this form directly to the College Board.
Early Action Applicants Due Date: March 2, 2012
Regular Decision Applicants Due Date: March 16, 2012

Important Reminder: All documents must be submitted to the College Board as one complete packet and must have an IDOC cover sheet. Tax returns must be signed.

Caltech Scholarship Data Form
Complete the 2012-13 Caltech Scholarship Data Form to be considered for named and endowed scholarships. Note: Entering students will not be issued a Caltech ID number -required for the form- until sometime in June 2012.
Due Date: July 15, 2012

2012-2013 Continuing Domestic Students

Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA]
The 2012-13 FAFSA will be available on January 1, 2012. File the FAFSA and designate "California Institute of Technology" as the recipient by using our Undergraduate Federal Code Number 001131. Due Date: March 2, 2012

IRS Data Retrieval Requirement [Not available until 2/5/2012]

How the IRS data retrieval tool works:

Enter your PIN and click link to IRS
Your FAFSA will be saved and you will be transferred to the IRS website.
On the IRS website, enter the requested information.
Once the IRS has validated your identification, your IRS tax information will display. Transfer your information from the IRS.
Once you transfer your IRS tax information, questions that are populated with tax information will be marked with "Transferred from the IRS."
Do not make any changes to the transferred data.

Important: Your financial aid application will not be reviewed until your FAFSA is completed using the IRS data retrieval option and you have not made any changes to the IRS data.

IRS Data Retrieval Tutorial Video

Request IRS Tax Return Transcript Online

Go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov
In the Online Services section of the homepage, under tools, click "Order a Tax Return or Account Transcript"
Click "Order a Transcript"
Enter the tax filer's Social Security Number, date of birth, street address, and zip or postal code. Use the address currently on file with the IRS. Generally this will be the address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
Click "Continue"
In the Type of Transcript field, select "Return Transcript" and in the Tax Year field, select "2011".
If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address included in their online request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the on-line request was successfully transmitted to the IRS.
IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested online cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.
Once you receive the transcript, use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit it along with the other required documents directly to the College Board. If you have already submitted your IDOC packet, please email your transcript to FinAidDoc@caltech.edu or fax it to 626-564-8136.

Due Date: April 20, 2012

2011 Parents’ and Student Federal Income Tax Return (including all schedules and W-2s). You will need to provide a copy of your parents’ most recent tax return before your eligibility for financial aid can be determined. You will be sent an email from the College Board with instructions on how to submit your tax returns using the Institutional Documentation Service [IDOC]. Login to the IDOC site, download and complete the IDOC Cover Sheet and submit your 2011 federal income tax return, all schedules, W-2 forms and all other required documents directly to the College Board. If you or your parents own corporations, partnerships or trusts, please include copies of those tax returns (Forms 1041, 1065, 1120, 1120S, K-1). All copies need to be sent directly to the College Board along with your IDOC Cover Sheet.
Due Date: April 20, 2012

Parent Certification of Non-Filing
If your parents did not and will not file a federal income tax return, please complete the Parent Certification of Non-Filing. Please attach copies of W-2 or 1099 forms (if applicable) to the Parent Certification of Non-Filing. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit this form and all other required documents directly to the College Board.
Due Date: April 20, 2012

Verification Worksheet
All students must complete and sign the 2012-13 Verification Worksheet. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit the appropriate worksheet directly to the College Board.
Dependent Verification Worksheet
Independent Verification Worksheet
Due Date: April 20, 2012

Caltech Supplemental Application
All students must complete the 2012-13 Caltech Supplemental Application. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit this form directly to the College Board.
Due Date: April 20, 2012

2012-13 CSS Noncustodial Parent's Statement
If your parents are divorced, separated or never married, your noncustodial parent will need to complete the 2012-13 CSS Noncustodial PROFILE Application. You will receive an email from the College Board with instructions on how to submit this form and other required tax documents using the Institutional Documentation Service [IDOC]. Login to the IDOC site to get your IDOC Cover Sheet. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit this form and all other required documents directly to the College Board.
Due Date: April 20, 2012

2012-13 CSS Business/Farm Supplement
If either of your parents is self-employed or owns a business/farm, you will need to submit the 2012-13 CSS Business/Farm Supplement. You will receive an email from the College Board with instructions on how to submit this form and other required tax documents using the Institutional Documentation Service [IDOC]. Login to the IDOC site to get your IDOC Cover Sheet. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit this form and all other required documents directly to the College Board.
Due Date: April 20, 2012

Caltech Scholarship Data Form
Complete the 2012-13 Caltech Scholarship Data Form to be considered for named and endowed scholarships.
Due Date: April 20, 2012

Important Reminder: All documents must be submitted directly to the College Board as one complete packet and must have an IDOC cover sheet. Tax returns must be signed.

2011-2012 Graduate Domestic Applicants (loans only)

Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA]
The 2011-2012 FAFSA will be available on January 1, 2011. File the FAFSA and designate "California Institute of Technology" as the recipient by using our Undergraduate Federal Code Number 001131.

Student’s 2010 Federal Income Tax Return
If you filed a 2010 Federal income tax return, please submit a signed photocopy to our office, including photocopies of your W-2 and 1099 forms plus all schedules and attachments. Submit all copies directly to: Financial Aid Office, MC 20-90, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.

Student Certification of Non-Filing
If you did not and will not file a federal income tax return, please complete the Student Certification of Non-Filing. Please attach copies of W-2 or 1099 forms (if applicable) to the Student Certification of Non-Filing. Submit all forms directly to: Financial Aid Office, MC 20-90, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.

Verification Worksheet
All students must complete and sign the 2011-2012 Verification Worksheet. Submit form directly to: Financial Aid Office, MC 20-90, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.

2011-2012 CSS Business/Farm Supplement
If either you or your spouse is self-employed or owns a business/farm, please submit the 2011-2012 CSS Business/Farm Supplement. Submit form directly to: Financial Aid Office, MC 20-90, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.

Caltech Graduate Student Loan Application
Complete the 2011-2012 Caltech Graduate Student Loan Application. Fax, email or submit form directly to: Financial Aid Office, MC 20-90, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.

Caltech Graduate Notification Request
Complete the 2011-2012 Graduate Notification Request. Submit to Option Administrator for completion and signature. Fax, email or submit form directly to: Financial Aid Office, MC 20-90, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.

Rental/Lease Agreement
Submit a copy of your current Rental or Lease Agreement. Submit form directly to: Financial Aid Office, MC 20-90, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.

The forms listed in each section provide us with essential information about your family's financial status and enable us to determine your eligibility for Federal, state, and/or Caltech funds. We encourage you to keep copies of all forms submitted for your records.

NOTE: All recipients of financial aid must apply for aid each year.