Award Guide
AWARD GUIDE 2014-15 (pdf)
Understand your
financial aid award,
eligibility and
responsibilities
Announcements
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 February and March, refund disbursements will be received electronically or mailed out on the following days:
Spring 2015:
Thursday, February 19
Thursday, February 26
Thursday, March 5
Thursday, March 12
Thursday, March 19
Thursday, March 26
Apply Now for 2015-2016 Financial Aid
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. For additional information on our web site about our financial aid process, click on Steps to Financial Aid.
AB 540 students should file California Dream application by March 2 at www.caldreamact.org to apply for state funded financial aid.
FAFSA Workshops: Drop-in February 18th 3-5pm, and February 26th 2-4pm in SSC 410
Need help filling your FAFSA? Financial Aid Advisors will be available on Wednesday, February 18 (3-5pm) and Thursday, February 26 (2-4pm) in SSC 410 Computer Lab.
For best results, bring with you:
- FAFSA PIN numbers for yourself and your parent.
- Student/Parent 2014 income information (if not available, bring 2013 tax forms to estimate income). 2014 income information may include: Tax returns, W-2 forms, and Unemployment information.
California Dream Application Workshop: Drop-in February February 25th 3-5pm in SSC 410
AB 540 students with a DACA number, or without a social security number, should file a California Dream application at www.caldreamact.org. Financial Aid Advisors will be available to help students complete the application on Thursday, February 25 (3-5pm) in SSC 410 Computer Lab.
For best results, bring with you:
- CA Dream Parent PIN number.
- Student/Parent 2014 income information (if not available, bring 2013 tax forms to estimate income). 2014 income information may include: Tax returns, W-2 forms, and Unemployment information.
Friday, February 13th is University Census: 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 a full-time enrollment status. The number of units in which you are actually enrolled decides the actual amount of financial aid you receive.
At University Census, financial aid awards are revised to match eligibility based on the actual number of units in which students are officially enrolled. Awards may be reduced for students enrolled in fewer than full-time units. If you are arranging to add units through CAVE or through a consortium agreement, please complete the registration process by Friday, February 13th.
For additional information, see University Census on our Website. Other useful pages are Undergraduate Enrollment Requirements and Postbaccalaureate Enrollment Requirements.
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 2014 semester and had completed 24 college units (including transfer units) by the end of Fall 2014. Starting March 3, Chico State students should be able to confirm that their GPA was sent by viewing their account on WebGrants4Students.
Spring 2015 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.
Short Term Loan Application
Regularly admitted students who are enrolled for Spring 2015 are eligible to apply for a $500 Short Term Loan. Short-term loans will be processed twice a week for pick-up on Wednesdays and Fridays after 8:30 am at Student Financial Services (SSC 230).
Financial Aid and Payment of University Charges
Click here to view tutorial on how financial aid pays university charges.
December 11 was the deadline to pay the difference between all University charges (including registration and tuition fees, on-campus housing and board plan) and pending Spring 2015 financial aid. View your pending financial aid in the Finances/Account Inquiry section of your Student Center. The fees box in the Finances section of your Student Center will continue to indicate tuition fees "Past Due" until your aid goes out. No payments are necessary if you have sufficient pending aid to cover your Spring charges.
If your file is complete and there are no items remaining on your "To Do List," your Spring aid will disburse. All remaining aid, after charges and fees are deducted, will be disbursed to you via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or a check that is mailed to you.
- Questions about your student account, fee payment, and being dropped from classes should be directed to Student Financial Services.
- You may be charged a $25 late fee if your current fees and charges are not paid by the Registration Fee Payment Deadline unless you have sufficient aid to cover the fees and your aid is clear to disburse on the first Spring financial aid disbursement date.
Check Your "To Do List" Items
Check your Student Center and submit all requested items on your "To Do List" as soon as possible.
A full explanation for all requests is available by clicking on "more" and then opening the link to each requested item. Check your Student Center on a weekly basis after your forms show as received. If we need any additional information, it will show up on your "To Do List." Once the requested forms have been received and completed, they will be removed from your "To Do List".
Please be aware that if you fax your documents, it takes up to 3 days before the documents show as received on your Student Center. Documents that are mailed or brought into our office can take up to 4 weeks before the documents show as received on your Student Center. The date received will be recorded as the date the documents are submitted to our office.
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 2015 is February 13, 2015.
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 Spring 2015 is February 13, 2015.
Exceptional Circumstance Appeal (All types) Appeals are reviewed in the order they are received. Processing time may take until the end of the Spring semester. The deadline to submit an appeal for students enrolled in the Spring term is April 1, 2015.
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. PLUS applications can take up to eight weeks to process.
Alternative Loan Application - Applications take up to eight weeks to process. The first possible disbursement date for Spring term is January 29.
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 - The CSU, Chico Scholarship application for 2015-16 opened January 2, 2015. The online application and letter of recommendation must be submitted by the deadline of February 15, 2015. If selected, the scholarship should be posted in your Student Center 2015-2016 Financial Aid Award Summary Account by late July 2015.
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.
Middle Class Scholarship: New for the 2014-2015 School Year
California residents from middle class families with incomes of up to $150,000 may be eligible for the Middle Class Scholarship. Applications are still being accepted. Apply by completing a 2014-15 FAFSA 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. Awards range from $90 to $384 for Undergraduates and $90 to $444 for Credential students each semester. For more information click here.
Osher Reentry Scholarship deadline March 2
California State University, Chico Regional and Continuing Education invites reentry students to apply for $50,000 in scholarships from the Bernard Osher Foundation.
For more detailed information, click here.
Office Hours and Appointments
- Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm.
- Appointment Schedule: Monday - Friday 9-12 am; 2-4:30 pm
- Phone Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am – 4 pm.
Only same-day appointments are available with the advising 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.
Rawlins Merit Scholarship
Faculty are invited to nominate students for the Lieutenant Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Awards. Click here for the nomination form and list of previous recipients.