The results of a comprehensive survey of the California community college financial aid offices and data from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office provide insight into how financial aid office characteristics and financial aid policies and procedures affect the enrollment, retention, and success of financial aid students at the California community colleges. This article describes the condition of the financial aid offices at the California community colleges in 2001-2002, and discusses implications for policy action at both the local and state level. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)