Financial Aid Disbursement Information

To be eligible for a disbursement of aid, you must meet all disbursement requirements. Some of the general disbursement requirements include:

• Submission of all required documents
• Meeting all satisfactory academic progress requirements
• Maintain enrollment in a minimum of six units for most aid programs (five units for graduate students to receive student loan funds)
• Please note that certain student aid programs may have very specific disbursement requirements in addition to the general disbursement requirements. For example, Cal Grant and State University Grant recipients must be California residents whereas some scholarship programs require that students be enrolled full-time to receive any scholarship funds. These special requirements must be met in order for those funds to be disbursed.
• Typically, disbursements are scheduled two times per week.
• After fees have been settled, any difference is refunded to the student via ACH Direct Deposit or in a check mailed to the student. ACH Direct Deposits and the mailing of checks to students are handled by the Student Financial Services office.

Financial Aid & Enrollment Status

The enrollment status of the student at the time that funds are prepared for disbursement will be used to determine the payment amount. For purposes of financial aid, enrollment status is defined as outlined in the table below. Please keep in mind that most financial aid funds are disbursed in two payments for the academic year, half for the fall term and half for the spring term. The full amount of loan funds for the semester (fall or spring) can be disbursed as long as the student is enrolled in a minimum of six units or a minimum of five units for graduate students. See the exception below for Perkins Loan disbursements.

Prorated Payments

Pell Grant and Cal Grants

Disbursements of Pell Grants, Cal Grant A, and Cal Grant B will be prorated (adjusted) based on the enrollment status of the student. Your financial aid award summary reflects your full-time award amount; payment amounts will be prorated if necessary based on the enrollment status at the time the disbursement is completed.

How will my Pell Grant Payment or Cal Grant Payment Change due to Enrollment Changes?

Pell Grant and Cal Grant funds are disbursed based on the enrollment status at the time of disbursement.

Pell Grant Recipients

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.

Cal Grant Recipients

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.

Terms and Conditions

When you accept a financial aid payment, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of your financial aid.

Disbursement Dates

2012 - 2013 Academic Year Disbursement Dates

Most funds are disbursed in one lump sum (see Perkins exception below) a few days before classes begin. The first scheduled disbursement dates for 2012-2013 are:

If you miss the first disbursement (due to late enrollment, for example), disbursements are regularly scheduled usually two times each week throughout the semester.

How Much Will I Receive?

In most cases, you will receive 100% of your semester funding at the beginning of the semester. Federal Perkins Loan is the exception (see chart below).

Federal Perkins Loan

Federal Perkins Loan funds are disbursed in two payments each semester:

Federal Perkins Loan will be disbursed in two payments each semester: 60% of at the beginning of the semester and 40% at the midpoint in the semester.

If you are enrolled part-time (fewer than 12 units), you may receive a partial payment of Cal Grant, State University Grant, Federal Pell Grant or EOP Grant. If your enrollment status increases so that you qualify for additional funds, you may receive a supplemental payment. No payment is prepared until you are officially enrolled and meet satisfactory academic progress.

This page is maintained by the Cal State Fullerton department of Financial Aid. Report problems to fa@fullerton.edu

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