Book Advance

Book Advance Program (FA-Link)

FA-Link will be available in the SCC Bookstore starting the first day of the semester.​ 

Did you know? Even before your financial aid check arrives you can access your federal financial aid funds to buy your textbooks (only at the SCC Bookstore), starting the first week of the semester! Here's how: 

​​Requirements:  
​Students who are already awarded and have accepted federal aid funds can follow the steps below to use the FA Link at the SCC Bookstore. Financial aid funds are intended to cover only educational expenses.  
 
To use the FA Link, you must first:  

• Receive an offer notification from financial aid indicating your eligibility for federal aid. 
  • There may be circumstances in which funds may not be available in your account, even if you received an offer notification.​

•  Meet and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. 

• Be enrolled in classes at SCC or SAC and actively attending. 

• You must be a California Resident or AB540 status.​ 

• Login to your Self-Service account for available funds. 

How to Get Your Textbooks:  

If you've meet all of the requirements and have already been awarded and accepted federal student aid, visit the SCC Bookstore in person to use the FA Link.  
 
At this point, the FA Link cannot be used for online purchases.  
 
Please check the SCC Bookstore Website​ to confirm their office hours prior to visiting the campus. Let the SCC Bookstore staff know you'd like to use the FA Link.  

Please note: The Book Advance Program provides a $600 limit for use at the Bookstore. Additionally, Apple products are not eligible for the Book Advance Program.  
 
​​Dates Available:  
There are certain dates that you can use the FA Link at the SCC Bookstore.  

Please update the dates available to the following dates:

Spring 2026 FA Link Available:

• February 9 to February 22
• February 27 to March 9
• March 12 to March 29
• April 2 to April 26
• May 1 to May 11
• May 14 to May 25
• May 28 to May 9

​​Example of FA Link:  
If a student is eligible for $1,000 in federal financial aid for the term (and has followed Steps 1-4 above) they may pick up their books at the SCC Bookstore against their pending disbursement starting the first day of class. The cost of the bookstore purchase will be deducted from student's first federal financial aid disbursement. 
 
Eligibility for $1,000 in federal financial aid for the current semester or term: 

​ 
Important Notes: 

• There may be circumstances in which funds may not be available in your account, even if you received​ an offer notification. If this happens to you, contact our office for details.  

• Your funds will be unavailable through the FA Link if your financial aid has already been disbursed.   

• If you have already paid out-of-pocket for your books, do not attempt to return the books and re-purchase with the FA link. Your financial aid funds will be disbursed to you instead according to the disbursement schedule.  

• For the FA-Link Financial Aid Book Advance Program, all return transactions must be made at the campus Bookstore where the item(s) being returned was originally purchased.  

• No cash refunds will be issued for Bookstore purchases made against the FA-Link Financial Aid Book Advance Program. Funds from returns will be credited back to student's account, and payments will be processed by the Cashiers Office. Absolutely no refunds/returns will be issued after financial aid checks have been generated. 

• By using the FA Link, you are authorizing the use of your financial aid funds to purchase books and supplies from the Bookstore. 

Contact our office if you have questions. ​