Verification

Verification is a process used to confirm information reported on your FAFSA or CADAA. Being selected for verification does not mean you did anything wrong.

The U.S. Department of Education, California Student Aid Commission, or Chico State may select your application for verification. If you are selected, you will be asked to submit documents so we can compare them with information reported on your FAFSA or CADAA.

If your file is selected for verification, your financial aid cannot be finalized until you submit all required documents and we complete our review.

The information and documents we request will depend on your application and the type of verification required. You may be asked to verify information such as: 

• Family size
• Income and tax information
• Identity
• Other information needed to resolve conflicting information

Verification forms are submitted through your Financial Aid Account. Check your Student Center To-Do list and Financial Aid Account for the specific documents you need to submit.

Deadline to Submit

The priority deadline to submit all required verification documentation is:

• June 15 for fall term
• November 1 for spring term only

If you submit documents after the priority deadline, we cannot guarantee that your financial aid will be ready for the first disbursement of the semester. Verification may take up to eight weeks to process after all required documents are submitted. 

Federal Verification Deadline: Verification must be completed no later than 120 days after your last date of enrollment or the federal deadline for the award year, whichever comes first. If you do not complete verification by the deadline, you may lose eligibility for financial aid for that award year.

Corrections and Changes

Chico State will review your verification documents and make any necessary corrections to your FAFSA or CADAA if the information you submit does not match information on your FAFSA or CADAA.

If verification results in a change to your financial aid offer, the Chico State Financial Aid & Scholarship Office will send you a revised financial aid offer by email.

Verification Tips

• Follow directions when completing the FAFSA or CADAA. Read the instructions carefully, provide accurate information, and review your application.
• Review your FAFSA Submission Summary or California Aid Report. Check your information for accuracy and make any required corrections.
• Check whether you need to take action. FAFSA applicants should review the Next Steps section of their FAFSA Submission Summary. CADAA applicants should review their California Aid Report and California Dream Act Application account.
• Check your Student Center To-Do List and Financial Aid Account. Review requested items and submit required documents through your Financial Aid Account.
• Submit required items promptly. Submit all required items by the priority deadline when possible and continue to check your Chico State email and Student Center in case additional information is requested.

The summer and early fall are our busiest times for file review and verification. We make every effort to complete as many files as possible in time to meet the first fall disbursement.

If you have questions call us at 530-898-6451, email us at finaid@csuchico.edu, or stop by our office in Student Services Center 250.