Award Guide
AWARD GUIDE 2014-15 (pdf)
Understand your
financial aid award,
eligibility and
responsibilities
Announcements
Summer Financial Aid
Summer financial aid requires a supplemental online application. 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.
Summer Work Study
Students who will continue with work-study employment or have been hired for work-study employment during the summer months, please note that a separate Summer Work-Study application is required. The priority deadline is April 25. View Summer Work-Study for more information
Short Term Loans April 17 - April 29
There will be no short term loan checks available between April 17 through April 29.
Apply by 9 am Tuesday, April 16 to receive a disbursement on Wednesday, April 16. All short-term loan applications received after 9 am Wednesday, April 16, through 9 am Tuesday, April 29, will be processed for the April 30 short-term loan disbursement date.
No Financial Aid Disbursement on April 24
There will be no financial aid disbursements the week of April 21 through April 24.
Spring 2014 Loan Application Deadlines
Parent Plus Loan applications, computer budget adjustment requests and alternative loan requests must be submitted no later than May 1, 2014 to be processed for Spring 2014.
The deadline to submit a Federal Direct Stafford Loan application for Spring 2014 is May 9, 2014.
Accept Your Estimated 2014/2015 Financial Aid Offer Now
If you have received an estimated financial aid offer for the 2014/2015 academic year, you must access your Student Center financial aid account to accept, reduce or decline each financial aid award item. If you do not accept your aid, your student account will not show any anticipated aid and you will be responsible for paying all your fees on July 30. If awards are not accepted within 45 days of offer, your award may be canceled.
Check your "To Do Lists"
Submit all requested items on your "To Do List" as soon as possible and no later than June 1 in order to have your file complete before the first fall disbursement. A full explanation for all requests is available by following the "Details" link and clicking on each "To Do List" 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".
IRS Data Retrieval Tutorial for 2014-2015
Click to view the IRS Data Retrieval Tutorial to help guide you in this process.
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.
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.
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.
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. Deadline to submit application for Spring 2014 is May 9.
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. Deadline to submit application for Spring 2014 is May 1.
Alternative Loan Application - Applications take up to eight weeks to process. Alternative loans disburse four weeks after certification. Deadline to submit application for Spring 2014 is May 1.
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 April and May, refund disbursements will be received electronically or sent out on the following days:
Thursday, April 17
Thursday, April 24 - NO FINANCIAL AID DISBURSEMENTS
Thursday, May 1
Thursday, May 8
Thursday, May 15
Thursday, May 22