Units Required
Financial aid awards are based on your eligibility and financial need, they are initially offered based on full-time enrollment. The number of units in which you are actually enrolled may impact the amount of financial aid you receive for various aid programs. Please note the number of units your are enrolled in does not include courses for which you are wait listed for.
Final enrollment for a semester is measured at Census (the last day of the add/drop period of the semester). Prior to Census, Financial Aid awards are revised for students enrolled in less than full-time status to match eligibility based on the actual number of units in which students are officially enrolled. The student's enrollment and award is then locked at Census.
| Undergraduate Enrollment Status | Number of Units | Impact on Award Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 12 or more units | Full award eligibility |
| Three-quarter-time | 9-11 units |
|
| Half-time | 6-8 units |
|
| Less than half-time | 1-5 units |
|
| Graduate Enrollment Status | Number of Units | Impact on Award Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
|
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| Half-time |
|
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| Less than half-time |
|
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Master's degree students taking 500 level courses, the units for that level are weighed at 1.5 times.
Financial Aid Programs
Pell Grants Award Prorations
*In some instances a student enrolled in less than 12 units may lose eligibility for his/her Pell Grant, as EFC’s in the higher end of the Pell range do not allow for less than full-time awards.
Pell Grant recipients who change enrollment status (adding or dropping classes) will have their eligibility recalculated based on their enrollment status as of the University's census date for each semester, typically the beginning of the fourth week of class. Students who are enrolled less than full-time at the time of the initial disbursement and who later add classes prior to the University's enrollment census date (beginning of the fourth week of classes), will receive a subsequent disbursement based on the new updated enrollment status to reflect the correct payment eligibility (3/4 time or full-time). Likewise, Pell Grant funds will be recalculated for students who drop classes and the revised Pell Grant will be based on "census" enrollment status. In some instances, this recalculation may result in repayment of funds already disbursed as a result of the reduction in units following the disbursement of Pell Grant funds.
State University Grant (SUG) Enrollment Requirements
- If a student is enrolled in 7 or more units, there is no change to the SUG award, since the State Tuition Fee remains the same.
- If a student is enrolled in 6 units, the amount of the SUG award is adjusted to reflect the half-time State Tuition Fee.
- If a student is enrolled in less than 6 units, the student is not eligible for the SUG award.
Cal Grant Enrollment Requirements
Cal Grant funds are disbursed based on the enrollment status at the time of disbursement. Following the initial disbursement, Cal Grant recipients who change enrollment status (adding or dropping classes) will have their eligibility recalculated based on their enrollment status as of the end of the University's census date for each semester, typically the beginning of the fourth week of class. Students who are enrolled less than full-time at the time of the initial disbursement and who later add classes prior to the University's enrollment census date (beginning of the fourth week of classes), will receive a subsequent disbursement based on the new updated enrollment status to reflect the correct payment eligibility (3/4 time or full-time). Likewise, Cal Grant payments funds will be recalculated for students who drop classes and the revised Cal Grant payment will be based on "census" enrollment status. In some instances, this recalculation may result in repayment of funds already disbursed as a result of the reduction in units following the disbursement of Cal Grant funds.
Loan Funding
Students are eligible for the full amount of loan funds for the semester (fall or spring) as long as the student is enrolled in a minimum of six units.
Private and Alternative Loans have different enrollment requirements, you should confirm this with the lender.
Federal Work- Study
Students must be enrolled in 6 units to work on-campus as part of the work-study program.
EOP Grant
If you are enrolled part-time (fewer than 12 units), you may receive a partial payment of your EOP Grant. If your enrollment status increases so that you qualify for additional funds, you may receive a supplemental payment.
MBA Grant
Master's of Business Administration Students who are awarded the MBA grant must be enrolled in at least 6 units.
There are limits on the number of years or the amount of funding a student can receive during their academic program, visit Lifetime Eligibility Award Limits for more information.
