FAQs

Q: How do I know which textbooks to purchase?
A: You can find out which textbooks to purchase for your classes by visiting the Campus Store website beginning in mid-August. On the website, you can input your courses and see a list of which books to buy.

Q: What if I have been offered a scholarship that is not listed on my financial aid offer?
A: You can contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance. Here are a few ways to get in touch with the Financial Aid Office.

Q: How do I find my financial aid offer and accept/decline my financial aid?
A: Go to My Offer Letter on InsideCBU to locate your financial aid offer. You can view your offer and also accept/decline or reduce aid as needed to cover your charges. The amount awarded may be reduced or cancelled if you are enrolled less than full-time or cease attendance during the semester to comply with Federal, State and University regulations.

Q: What should I do if I don't have a financial aid offer yet?
A: In order to receive a financial aid offer students must be accepted to CBU and have a valid FAFSA on file. To be valid, your FAFSA must have a signature from the student and parent, and CBU's school code. If your FAFSA has everything it needs, please contact a Financial Aid Counselor for assistance.

Q: Are there additional scholarships available that I can apply for?
A: CBU has a variety of scholarships and grants that you can check out here. We also encourage you to apply for scholarships from outside organizations. You can visit this site to review different private scholarships.

Q: What is a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling and why do I need this?
A: The Master Promissory Note is a legal document between you (the borrower) and the Department of Education for your loan in which you promise to pay back what you borrow, including interest. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loans. Entrance Counseling is an interactive session that you complete online to ensure that you understand your rights and responsibilities as a borrower of a Federal Direct Loan. You can complete both documents online at studentloans.gov. The Financial Aid Office cannot request the loan funds on your behalf without these documents, and will be notified electronically when they have been completed.

Q: My FAFSA was selected for verification. What is my next step?
A: Some students are selected by the Department of Education to go through a FAFSA verification process. This means the Financial Aid Office needs to collect addtional tax documents. To find out what items to submit you need to go to: InsideCBU/Financial Aid tab/Student Forms to create an account and complete all necessary documentation. Instructions are included within the Student Forms portal. 

Q: I am unable to get a tax transcript online. Is there anything I can submit instead?
A: Currently, the Financial Aid Office is also able to accept a signed copy of the 1040 in place of the IRS tax transcript. Please be sure to include all pages of the 1040, and it must be signed by hand ( this may require you to print it out, sign it and then upload it). You should have the 1040 included in your tax documents.

Q: I have been asked to complete a G8 or G6 form. What is this for?
A: These forms are related to the Cal Grant. The G8 form is the “High School Graduation Certification” which you can access online by creating an account and logging into webgrants4students.org. This form ensures that you graduated from a California high school. Note: The High School Graduation Certification can only be completed after you graduate high school. The G6 form is the “Transfer Entitlement Certification form” which you can access online by creating an account and logging into webgrants4students.org. This form ensures that you attended a Community College in 23-24 and will be attending a Bachelors granting institution in 24-25. All new Cal Grant recipients will need to complete the “Confirmation of School of Attendance” also located on webgrants4students.org. You can either confirm or change your school of attendance which is required for the school to see your Cal Grant award in their system.

Q: What does it mean to confirm my enrollment?
A: By confirming your enrollment it means you have made the necessary plans to cover your semester balance either by paying in full with scholarships, grants, and/or loans, or setting up a payment plan for the remaining balance after aid. 

Q: How do I know if I have confirmed my enrollment?
A: To check your student account status you will login to InsideCBU and then navigate to the Student Accounts tab. Click on the “My Account Information” icon and then view the “Check Your Student Account Status” box. Select the current semester to verify if your enrollment is confirmed.

Q: How to I apply for the Cal Grant?
A: You must have your FAFSA completed and your GPA submitted to the California Student Aid Commission prior to the March 2nd deadline. For more information you may go online to csac.ca.gov.

Q: If I do not qualify for the Cal Grant this year, can I apply again next year?
A: Yes! If you are a first time freshman and did not qualify for Cal Grant your first year, you may apply again for the next year by completing your FAFSA and returning to your high school to have them verify/submit your GPA again. If you have more than 24 college credits, complete your FAFSA and visit the Office of the Registrar for GPA verification.

Q: I have been asked to complete a G8 or G6 form. What is this for?
A: These forms are related to the Cal Grant. The G8 form is the “High School Graduation Certification” which you can access online by creating an account and logging into webgrants4students.org. This form ensures that you graduated from a California high school. Note: The High School Graduation Certification can only be completed after you graduate high school. The G6 form is the “Transfer Entitlement Certification form” which you can access online by creating an account and logging into webgrants4students.org. This form ensures that you attended a Community College in 23-24 and will be attending a Bachelors granting institution in 24-25. All new Cal Grant recipients will need to complete the “Confirmation of School of Attendance” also located on webgrants4students.org. You can either confirm or change your school of attendance which is required for the school to see your Cal Grant award in their system.

Q: Does CBU need transcripts from every institution that I attended?
A: Yes. Please submit transcripts from any college or university you have enrolled at. This includes any college or university coursework you took as part of a dual enrollment program at your high school. If you participated in dual enrollment, you must submit the college or university transcripts so they can be evaluated for possible credit. If you do not submit all your transcripts you risk a hold being placed on your account that will prevent registration for future terms.

Q: How can I find out what courses transferred into California Baptist University and how they are applying towards my degree requirements?
A: You will want to view your Degree Guide through InsideCBU. Your Degree Guide will show you all your degree requirements and if there is any course(s) currently meeting your requirements. Courses which are not meeting a specific requirement will fall at the bottom of your Degree Guide and will count towards your elective requirements for your degree.

Q: My course did not come over as I expected. What do I do if I feel that my course meets the requirements for a different class?
A: If you believe one of your classes could fulfill a different degree requirement you will want to submit an Academic Variance request to have the course reviewed. If the course is for your major, minor, or concentration the Academic Variance will need to be submitted to the appropriate dean or department chair for review. If the course is for general education, the Academic Variance will go to the University Registrar for review. The Academic Variance form is available through InsideCBU.

Q: Will CBU accept my test credits for transfer?
A: Yes. CBU accepts credits from the following examination programs: Advanced Placement, CLEP, International Baccalaureate, and DSST. Please refer to InsideCBU for more information on how these tests are eligible to be transferred for credit. If you have taken Advanced Placement, CLEP, International Baccalaureate, and DSST exams you must submit the transcripts so they can be evaluated for possible credit.

Q: Does CBU accept courses that are graded as pass/fail?
A: Pass/fail courses are accepted as long as the pass is equivalent to a C- or better. If this cannot be determined the class is not eligible for transfer.

Q: What is my student classification/student standing based on the number of units I have?
A: Freshman: 0-29
Sophomore: 30-59
Junior: 60-89
Senior: 90+

Q: Does CBU accept credit from all colleges and universities?
A: CBU only accepts courses from accredited colleges and universities.

Q: My course did not come over as I expected. What do I do if I feel that my course meets the requirements for a different class?
A: If you believe one of your classes could fulfill a different degree requirement you will want to submit an Academic Variance request to have the course reviewed. If the course is for your major, minor, or concentration the Academic Variance will need to be submitted to the appropriate dean or department chair for review. If the course is for general education, the Academic Variance will go to the University Registrar for review. The Academic Variance form is available through InsideCBU.

Q: What do I do if I want to take a course outside of CBU while I am still enrolled at the institution?
A: Students can take coursework outside of CBU while they are still enrolled. If an Articulation Agreement exists for the school and course in question, there is no further action required. The student has the guarantee that the course will transfer over as listed on the agreement. If the course(s) are not listed on the Articulation Agreements, students will need to complete a Transfer Course Approval Form.

Q: I am a veteran. How do I apply for VA benefits?
A: Questions regarding VA benefits can be directed towards Jay Villasenor in the Office of Student Success. Click here to learn more.

Q: I took multiple ACT/SAT exams. What is California Baptist University’s policy on which score is used?
A: The highest score earned will be used when determining math and English placement for our students.

Q: My course did not come over as I expected. What do I do if I feel that my course meets the requirements for a different class?
A: If you believe one of your classes could fulfill a different degree requirement you will want to submit an Academic Variance request to have the course reviewed. If the course is for your major, minor, or concentration the Academic Variance will need to be submitted to the appropriate dean or department chair for review. If the course is for general education, the Academic Variance will go to the University Registrar for review. The Academic Variance form is available through InsideCBU.

Q: What is the difference between ENG113E and ENG113? Why was I placed in either of these ENG courses?
A: Placed into ENG113E?  

If your placement is the 4-unit ENG113E and you are currently enrolled in or have completed what you believe to be a college-level composition course, or if you have taken the AP Language and Composition exam, speak with your advisor.  Transfer courses and exam scores may affect placement.

If your placement is the 4-unit ENG113E and you submitted your SAT, ACT or CLT exam scores to CBU, then this is your placement.  You can challenge this placement by taking the English Placement Challenge exam offered by Modern Languages and Literature.  Contact Professor Jennifer Tronti at jtronti@calbaptist.edu.

If your placement is the 4-unit ENG113E and you did not submit SAT, ACT or CLT exam scores, this is your placement.  You are free to challenge this placement by taking the Accuplacer exam offered through the Office of Student Success. If you are interested in this exam, please contact our office via phone or email at (951) 343-4349 or tutoring@calbaptist.edu .

Placed into ENG113?

If your placement is ENG113 but you feel you should have been placed into ENG123, you can take a challenge exam prepared by the CBU Department of Modern Languages & Literature.  Those interested in taking taking this exam, contact Professor Jennifer Tronti (jtronti@calbaptist.edu).

Q: Why was I placed in ENG123? What does this mean?
A: If your placement is ENG123, this is the class in which you will need to register.  One cannot challenge out of ENG123.  Students who pass the challenge exam noted above will be permitted to register into ENG123. 

Additionally, any test scores, transfer work, or AP English Language and Composition scores submitted after initial registration may result in a change to your composition placement.  Your staff academic advisor will reach out to you if this is the case.