Award Guide
AWARD GUIDE 2013-14 (pdf)
Understand your
financial aid award,
eligibility and
responsibilities
Announcements
Summer Financial Aid
Summer financial aid requires a supplemental online application which will be available through our Web site on April 7. View Summer Financial Aid for more information.
Summer Registration opens April 7. See the Class Schedule for information on regional and Continuing Education (RCE) Summer Session. Click here for State Summer Term classes for graduate students.
Financial Aid and Scholarship Checklist for 2014-2015
Bookmark or download the Financial Aid and Scholarship Checklist to help you keep track of where you are in the financial aid process, from applying for aid through receiving the funds.
Apply Now for 2014-2015 Financial Aid: Priority Deadline is March 2, 2014
For each academic year for which you will need financial aid, you must complete a FAFSA.
Apply between January 1 and March 2 to be considered for all available funds. There is no cost to apply for financial aid using the FAFSA, and it is the starting point for both federal and state aid. Use our FAFSA School Code 001146.
Click The FAFSA Overview for an online tutorial to help you complete the FAFSA. For additional information on our web site about our financial aid process, click on Steps to Financial Aid.
AB 540 students with a DACA number, or without a social security number, should file California Dream application by March 2 at www.caldreamact.org to apply for state funded financial aid.
Financial aid may be adjusted for enrollment
Financial aid is determined by need and by enrollment. Estimated financial aid offers are based on your eligibility and need, and are offered based on full-time status. The number of units in which you are actually enrolled decides the actual amount of financial aid you receive.
At University Census, February 14, financial aid awards were revised to match eligibility based on the actual number of units in which students are officially enrolled. Awards may have been reduced for students enrolled in fewer than full-time units.
For additional information, see University Census on our Website. Other useful pages are Undergraduate Enrollment Requirements and Postbaccalaureate Enrollment Requirements.
New for the 2014-2015 School Year: Middle Class Scholarship
California residents from middle class families with incomes of up to $150,000 may be eligible for the Middle Class Scholarship. Apply for financial aid by the March 2, 2014 deadline at www.fafsa.ed.gov. AB 540 students with a DACA number or without a social security number may also qualify and should file their Dream application at www.caldreamact.org.
Cal Grant GPA Verification
GPA records will be sent to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) for CSU, Chico continuing students who were enrolled at Chico State through the Fall 2013 semester and had completed 24 college units (including transfer units) by the end of Fall 2013. Starting March 3, Chico State students should be able to confirm that their GPA was sent by viewing their account on WebGrants4Students.
Spring 2014 transfer students must contact their previous college to request the GPA verification be sent to CSAC. Students with less than 24 units must request the GPA verification from their high school or previous institution.
1098-T Form and Federal Tax Credit Information
Click here if you did not receive a 1098-T or need more information. If you have any questions, please contact Student Financial Services at 530-898-5936.
New Rules for State University Grant Eligibility
Effective Fall 2013 term, the CSU Board of Trustees are adding new requirements to SUG eligibility based on degree programs and earned units. Students who are SUG eligible must be enrolled at least half time and meet the following criteria:
Undergraduate Students
- Undergraduate non-transfer students cannot have earned more than 150 semester units
- Undergraduate transfer students with fewer than 75 semester units: Total transfer units + Chico State units cannot exceed 150 earned semester units
- Undergraduate transfer students with 75 or more semester units cannot have earned more than 75 semester units at Chico State.
Credential Students
- Credential students may receive SUG for their initial credential, up to a total earned units equivalent to 100% of unit requirements as published in the university catalog. Students enrolled in the Conditionally Classified Credential Program are not eligible for SUG.
Graduate Students
- Graduate students cannot exceed more than 125% earned units of their required program length. (All prior Master’s degree objectives including Extended Education and graduate transfer units are included.)
Second Bachelor’s, second Credential, second Master’s degree, or Conditionally Classified Credential Students
- Students enrolled in the Conditionally Classified Credential Program, or who are pursuing a second Bachelor’s, second Credential, or second Master’s degree are not eligible for SUG.
Please note: Remedial coursework, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Military credit, Pre-baccalaureate credit, and credit by examination will not count as earned units toward the new SUG limits.
Important Processing Dates and When to Expect Changes to Your To Do Lists/Holds
Verification - Updating your "To Do List" from requested to received takes a minimum of four weeks if you submit hard copies via mail, at our window or drop box and a minimum of 72 hours if your documents are faxed. Preliminary review of verification documents will take a up to twelve weeks from the date your last required "To Do List" item was submitted to our office.
IRS Data Retrieval - It can take up to 21 days from the date you successfully used the Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA before our office is able to upload this change. This process has been completed when you will no longer see the required documentation on your "To Do List."
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal (SAP) - Review of SAP appeals take a minimum of four weeks from the date the last required item is received. Deadline to submit appeal for Spring 2014 is February 14, 2014.
Maximum Unit Appeal - Review of Maximum Unit Appeals take a minimum of four weeks from the date the last required item is received. Deadline to submit appeal for aid for Spring 2014 is February 14, 2014.
Exceptional Circumstance Appeal (All types) Appeals are reviewed in the order they are received. Processing time may take until the end of the fall semester. The deadline to submit an appeal for students enrolled for the 2013-2014 academic year is April 1, 2014.
Federal Direct Stafford Loan Application - Applications take at least 30 days to process.
Federal Direct PLUS Application (PLUS Loan) - We initially award the requested amount as a conditional estimate which will show up in the student's financial aid package while we are processing the credit check. The loan is not approved until you receive notification from the lender that your credit was approved.
Alternative Loan Application - Applications take up to eight weeks to process. Alternative loans disburse four weeks after certification.
External Scholarship - After the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office has received a student's external scholarship check(s), the scholarship is entered into the student's financial aid award. The student will receive an e-mail informing them of a change in their award. The turn-around time for complete processing of external scholarships is up to three weeks.
CSU, Chico Scholarships - December 15, 2013 is the application deadline for 2014-15 scholarships. CSU, Chico Scholarship recipients are selected in the spring for the following academic year. If selected, the Scholarship should be posted in your Student Center 2014-2015 Financial Aid Award Summary Account by late-July 2014.
Office Hours and Appointments
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Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm.
- Appointment Schedule:
Monday - Friday 9 am-12 pm; 2-4 pm.
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Phone Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 4:00 pm.
Only same-day appointments will be available on Monday - Friday, with the advisor staff in the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (SSC 250). You can make these same-day appointments by calling 530-898-6451 or by coming to our office window between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. We recommend calling as early as possible in the morning as the appointments fill up quickly. Phone appointments are also available. Appointments are limited and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Upcoming Disbursement Dates
When your academic year file is complete and there are no holds on your account and no items on your “To Do List,” your aid will disburse and cover any fees remaining on your university balance. All remaining aid, after charges and fees are deducted, will be disbursed to you via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or a check that is mailed to you.
This process is run by the Student Financial Services Office. Financial aid and scholarships are disbursed on Thursdays throughout each semester. During March, refund disbursements will be received electronically or sent out on the following days:
Thursday, March 6
Thursday, March 13
Thursday, March 20
Thursday, March 27