Disbursement Dates

Financial Aid Disbursement & Refund Dates#

As a general rule, all financial aid, after fees are paid, will be refunded by paper check to the mailing address you have on file or by Direct Deposit if you have selected that option  [click here to learn how to Sign Up for Direct Deposit]

• FAFSA and CA Dream Act applications are processed and awarded in date order.  Awards generally begin to post in the student portal for eligible student applicants mid-July, after the FA Office receives and reviews students SAP [see SAP for detailed information].  Aid for eligible processed students meeting SAP should disburse and refund according to the schedule below. 
• FAFSA and CA Dream Act application files received, packaged and awarded after the dates shown below have passed,  disbursements are made on a weekly basis.
• Students enrolled only in late starting short term classes will not receive aid disbursements until classes have started. 

Terminology for students or parent PLUS borrowers:

• Disbursement – When a student meets all eligibility requirements for the release of funds and the aid amounts and program information is forwarded to Student Accounting.
• Refund Determination – When the Student Accounting Office determines that the total amount of aid received by a student exceeds the applicable charges, overdue fees or overpayments and forwards to Accounts Payable the information on funds that must be given to the student or parent PLUS borrower.  The final amount to be 'refunded' to either [or both] the student and/or the parent PLUS borrower is the balance [if any] after all applicable charges and overdue fees or late payments are deducted.
• Tell Date – The Financial Aid Office best estimate on when the refund check or Direct Deposit will be available to the student or parent borrower.
• Check by Mail - For eligible students who opt to receive financial aid refund payments via paper check through the U.S. mail, please allow for up to 2 weeks from any posted mailing date below. 

• ACTUAL ENROLLEMENT LEVELS Fall, Spring and Summer semesters for Financial Aid Students:
       FULL-TIME = 12 units
       THREE QUARTERS TIME = 9-11.5 units
       HALF-TIME = 6-8.5 units
       LESS THAN HALF-TIME = Less Than 6 units
  As a general rule, you do not need to be enrolled full-time to receive Financial Aid but if you enroll in less than 12 units, your actual awards will be reduced or canceled depending on the program requirements (Pell Grant is the only aid that will disburse at less than half-time).  Your Pell Grant payment will not be further adjusted if your enrollment level changes after the census date [enrollment status date shown above], unless you do not attend or drop any late start class before the scheduled first day of the late start class. However, you must enroll only in courses that apply to your academic plan to maintain your aid.

• ENROLLMENT INTENSITY - The number of weeks a student is enrolled must be considered when calculating a student's "enrollment intensity,".  This calucation determines at what percentage of a students maximum Pell Grant award they may be eligibel to receive based on their part or full-time status.  A typical full term semester is 16 weeks Fall and 16 weeks spring, 32 weeks total.  There are many variations from 2 to 6 or even 8 to 10 week courses.  If you enroll in only short term courses your aid will be recalculated based on your actual weeks of instruction.   Be sure to read the admission's page for complete term schedules and review your enrollment for full details in your student portal.  

2024-2025 Academic Year Disbursement/Refund Dates#

** Please allow for up to 2 weeks from the anticipated disbursement to Student Accounting, to verify balance due, print and mail refunds.
^ Typically Direct Deposits show up in your account between Tuesday - Thursday during a refund week shown above. 

** Please allow for up to 2 weeks from the anticipated disbursement to Student Accounting, to verify balance due, print and mail refunds.
^ Typically Direct Deposits show up in your account between Tuesday - Thursday during a refund week shown above. 

2023-2024 Academic Year Disbursement/Refund Dates#

** Please allow for up to 2 weeks from the anticipated disbursement to Student Accounting, to verify balance due, print and mail or Direct Deposit refunds.

** Please allow for up to 2 weeks from the anticipated disbursement to Student Accounting, to verify balance due, print and mail or Direct Deposit refunds.