Financial Aid & Privacy: What You Need to Know
Applying for financial aid is an important step in making college affordable, but privacy concerns can be a major factor—especially for students from mixed-status families. The University of California provides clear guidance on how privacy is handled in the 2025-26 FAFSA and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) to help students and their families make informed decisions.
Learn who owns your submitted application data, what type of aid you may qualify for, and how privacy protections apply to both FAFSA and CADAA applicants. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting student data, ensuring that CADAA information is not shared with federal immigration authorities.
If you or your family have concerns about how financial aid applications may impact privacy, take the time to review key considerations—such as federal tax returns, past FAFSA submissions, and immigration history—before deciding which application to complete.
Click here to learn more about financial aid and privacy protections at UC.
