Financial aid can encourage students to enroll in college and increase their odds of academic success. While the California community colleges (CCCs) have very low fees, which are waived for most low-income students, the additional expenses of books, supplies, transportation, housing, food and childcare can create significant financial barriers to attending and staying in school. Federal and state grants, work-study funds, and loans can help community college students cover essential costs and focus on their studies. However, only 34 percent of CCC students apply for these valuable forms of aid, compared to 45 percent of community college students in the rest of the country. While many CCC students miss out on the financial aid that could help them succeed in school, financial aid administrators face pressures that can limit their ability to address student needs. The author's findings and recommendations are based on visits to 21 colleges representing a broad cross-section of the CCC system, a review of the most recent available research, and interviews with experts on community colleges, financial aid and related fields. This report focuses on policies and practices that vary widely from college to college and can have a particularly significant effect on students' access to financial aid. Appendices include: (1) College Student Financial Aid Administrative Funding and Participation Rates; (2) Enrollment and Financial Aid Service Details; and (3) Institutional Aid Dollars Distributed by College. (Contains 49 footnotes and 9 figures.) ["Green Lights & Red Tape: Improving Access to Financial Aid at California's Community Colleges" was written with the assistance of Hilda Hernandez-Gravelle.]