As first-year students began receiving their on-campus housing exemption decisions this year, some were surprised and frustrated by denials they had not expected. In previous years, exemption criteria was broader and allowed for appeals once a decision was made, but this year Cal Poly University Housing changed the process. University Housing now requires a FAFSA […]
Tag: financial aid
Posted inMonday Manure - Satire
Student receives financial aid but immediately returns it to seem poor and relatable
After receiving her financial aid check for spring quarter, journalism junior Chella Garbanzo immediately returned the full amount, referencing a desire to maintain her identity as “a struggling college student with authentic vibes.”
Posted inFeb Print 2025
Cal Poly’s mandatory fees rank first amongst Cal State campuses
Cal Poly has been a dream school for Jocelyn Vasquez since her freshman year of high school. But two quarters into the computer engineering program, she is rethinking following her dreams. Vasquez had to pay $10,000 out of pocket to attend Cal Poly, and her parents are not helping her cover the costs of attendance. […]
Posted inTop Stories
How Trump could impact California’s student financial aid and curriculum
This story is featured in the Jan. 2025 print edition. Kendall Taylor will graduate this June at Cal Poly with an English degree. His dream is to work in education as a high school teacher. However, Taylor believes the recent presidential election poses a risk to the privilege of education in America. When the Associated […]
Posted inFeatures
What do Latinx students want to see as Cal Poly prepares to become an HSI? Mustang News asked them.
The Spanish version can be found here. Cal Poly is closing in on the 25% Latinx undergraduate enrollment criteria eligible to receive the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) federal designation. As of 2023, Hispanic or Latinx undergraduate students comprised 22.92% of the student body, according to Cal Poly enrollment data last updated Jan. 4, 2024. In […]
Posted inen Español
¿Qué quieren ver estudiantes Latine/x mientras Cal Poly se prepara a volverse en un HSI? Mustang News les preguntó.
translated by Kathryn Hutchinson Cal Poly está acercando al criterio de al menos 25% de la matrícula de estudiantes universitarios siendo hispanos para recibir la denominación de Instituciones de Servicio a Hispanos (HSI). A partir de 2023, estudiantes universitarios Hispanos o Latine/x constan 22.92% del cuerpo estudiantil, de acuerdo con el data matrícula, actualizado por […]
Posted inNews
Is Cal Poly addressing the lowest Pell Grant rate among CSUs?
The CSU recently announced that the deadline for intent to register will be pushed back to May 15 this year for new students, including both first-years and first-time students.
Posted inOpinion
A Plea to the Supreme Court to approve Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan
Alex Ruther is an opinion columnist for Mustang News and journalism senior. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang News. When I submitted my federal student loan forgiveness application in October 2022 I was hopeful yet hesitant. I wasn’t sure if I would qualify out of the millions of […]
Posted inNews
Students criticize Cal Poly’s neglect of historic financial aid programs while expanding others
While Cal Poly’s College Based Fee (CBF) increase will provide more aid to low-income students, many are criticizing the school for not supporting their current financial aid programs — which students say are now struggling. The administration said the newly-approved fee increase is an alternative to expanding Cal Poly’s existing low-income support programs: the Educational […]
Posted inNews
Academic Senate discusses university funding and vaccination rates at first meeting of school year
At the first Academic Senate meeting of the school year on Tuesday, President Jeffrey Armstrong and senate members discussed COVID-19 figures and new financial policies that can expand scholarship and student aid. The Academic Senate is the faculty governing body at Cal Poly. Armstrong said the university will “begin the process this fall” to increase […]
Posted inAudio
Deadline to submit FAFSA is less than a week away
The deadline for students to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is Tuesday, March 2. By submitting the form, it allows the opportunity for students to receive financial aid from the federal government to aid in paying for college. Each year, more than 13 million students who file the FAFSA get more […]