Financial Aid

Disbursement FAQs

When will I receive my payments?

Many students, those who have already received their award letters and are in good standing, will receive their first electronic disbursement during the first week of classes. If your file has not yet been processed, you will receive payment, if you are eligible, the week after you receive your award letter. We have thousands of applications and a limited staff. We are working very hard to process students for payment as quickly as possible.

I did not get a payment or the amount is not right

Pell Grant payments are generally disbursed twice per semester. The amounts are based on the number of units you are enrolled during the week before you receive payment. If you have recently added or dropped a class, the payment may not be correct. If you add a class that moves you to a different payment category (half, 3/4 or full) you should see an adjusted payment the following week. If you drop a class, early in the semester, your second payment later in the semester will likely be adjusted. If you drop to less than ½ time, you may owe money back. If you have late starting classes, you won't receive aid for them until the class begins.

There are a number of reasons why someone who has been awarded and is enrolled won't receive their payment. If you have not been making satisfactory academic progress and have not appealed your disqualification, you won't be paid. If you appealed and did not also submit an educational plan or attend a group counseling session, your appeal will not be reviewed until you do so. If you do not have an educational goal that is eligible for receipt of financial aid, your payment cannot be disbursed. If you owe non-mandatory fees and did not say yes on the authorization for payment form, your payment will be held until you repay what you owe. Check your email for details – we have likely contacted you previously about these issues.

Disbursement dates

Pell Grant

1st payment –first week of the semester or a week or so after receiving award letter

2nd payment – November (fall semester), Apri l(spring semester)

Cal Grant

October, March

SEOG

November, April

Loans

October, March