Disbursement FAQs

Financial Aid Offers & Eligibility

• How will I be notified of my financial aid offer and how do I view it?

  A "Your Financial Aid Offer is Ready" email will be sent to you with a link to view your offer. You can also see your financial aid offer in your Student Center through the Student Portal. Select ‘View Financial Aid’ under the ‘Financials’ section. To accept or decline your aid, select ‘Accept/Decline’ Awards.

  See Financial Aid Offer(opens in new window) for more information. 

• Why didn't I get a financial aid offer?

  There are a number of reasons you may not have received a financial aid offer yet and you'll want to reach out to us so we can look at your records and provide more information. Common reasons include: 

  • Offers may have not been sent yet: Undergraduate offers for the upcoming academic year are typically sent in March. Post Baccalaureate offers are sent a few months later.
  • You haven't been admitted yet: Financial aid offers sent after students are officially admitted.
  • Chico State isn't listed on your FAFSA or CADAA: If Chico State isn’t listed, we won’t receive your financial information.
  • Your FAFSA or CADAA isn't processed or needs attention: Errors or required corrections can delay your offer. 
  • You have holds or To-Do list items: Check your Student Center to see if you have holds or To-Do items that require your attention.
  • You may not be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.

  Find more information at Financial Aid Offer(opens in new window). 
• What if I take fewer than full-time units?
  Your financial aid offer will be based on full-time enrollment, even if you indicated on your FAFSA or CADAA that you plan to enroll in fewer units. Financial aid funds will be disbursed based on your actual enrollment. At University Census, the fourth Friday of each semester, your financial aid award may be reduced if you are enrolled less than full-time.

Disbursement

• When and how often is financial aid disbursed?

  Most financial aid is disbursed in one payment per semester. The earliest federal aid, state aid, and scholarships can be disbursed is the Thursday before the first day of classes:

  • Fall 2026: First disbursement date is August 20
  • Spring 2027: First disbursement date is January 21

  After the initial disbursement, any additional eligible aid is typically disbursed on Thursdays throughout the semester.

• What do I need to do to receive my money?

  Before financial aid can be disbursed, you must:

  1. Accept your financial aid via your Student Center. 
  2. Complete financial aid To-Do list items and resolve any holds posted in your Student Center. We will verify your file within 8 weeks after you have submitted all required documents.  
  3. Enroll in your courses. To receive the maximum amount of aid offered, students should enroll full-time (12+ financial aid eligible units for Undergraduates and Credential students or 8+ financial aid eligible units for Graduate students).

  If you submitted all required documents and completed all tasks by June 1 (for fall), you should expect your aid to disburse on the following dates:
  
  Fall 2026: First disbursement date is August 20
  Spring 2027: First disbursement date is January 21

• How will I receive my financial aid disbursement?

  Tuition and on-campus housing fees (if applicable) are deducted from your financial aid before any refund is issue. If your financial aid exceeds your total charges for the semester, the remaining balance will be sent to you as a refund.

  Federal Direct Loans typically disburse at the same time as your other financial aid.

  We recommend setting up e-Refund (direct deposit) through your Student Center, as it is the fastest and most secure way to receive your funds. If you choose to receive your refund by mail, be sure your mailing address is current. You can review and update your contact information in your Student Center.

• Why is my financial aid disbursement less than the amount on my offer letter?

  Your financial aid offer letter and what you see in PeopleSoft assume you are enrolled full time in financial aid–eligible coursework for the term. This is why the amounts shown there may appear higher. Financial aid is actually paid (disbursed) based on your enrollment at the time of disbursement, and only units that are financial aid eligible are counted. If you are enrolled in fewer full-time eligible units, some types of aid are reduced.

  • This is why you may see different amounts:
    • Offer Letter / PeopleSoft: Shows aid based on full-time, financial aid-eligible enrollment
    • Account Activity: Shows the actual amount disbursed, adjusted for your eligible enrollment
  • Important to know:
    • Only financial aid–eligible classes count toward your enrollment for aid purposes.
    • If you are enrolled part-time, or in classes that do not count for financial aid, some aid types may be reduced.
    • Grants and some state or institutional aid are commonly prorated. Starting with 2026-27, federal student loans will be prorated.
    • Loans may be reduced or canceled if you are enrolled less than half time.
  • What you can do:
    • If you add financial aid–eligible units and reach full-time enrollment before the census date, your aid may be adjusted and additional funds may disburse.
    • If your enrollment does not change, the amount shown in Account Activity reflects the correct disbursement based on your eligible units.
  • Tip: Your offer letter shows what you could receive at full time. Account Activity shows what was actually paid based on your financial aid–eligible enrollment.

Fees, Billing & Issues

• How will I know if I have to pay fees?

  Access your Student Center and scroll down to the Financials section to view your account and your financial aid. Select "What I Owe" which will display your pending financial aid on your student account summary. Any financial aid or other payments greater than your total charges will be refunded to you. If your total charges are more than your pending financial aid, you must pay the balance due by the Tuition & Campus Fee Payment Deadline. (opens in new window)
  

  Download the My Chico State mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store for easy and convenient access to your financial aid information. 

• Who do I contact if I have a question regarding tuition, fees, or housing charges?
  Student Financial Services (SFIN)(opens in new window) serves as cashier for payment of tuition fees, housing charges, and all other university charges. SFIN also disburses financial aid funds awarded by the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office. Answers to questions about fee payment deadlines, tuition fee amounts, payment methods, payment plans and details about refunds are available through their office located in the Student Services Center room 230. You can can also reach them by emailing cash@csuchico.edu or calling 530-898-5936.
• What if I can't complete my financial aid file and clear my holds in time to receive a disbursement before the semester begins?
  If you are not receiving a disbursement at the beginning of the semester, you need to confirm through your Student Center that you have accepted enough pending financial aid to pay fees in the future. If not, you must pay the difference by the registration fee payment deadline. Students who fail to pay fees or do not have sufficient financial aid to pay fees will be assessed a $25 late fee, will not be able to add classes during registration add/drop period, and may have classes dropped for non-payments. Keep in mind that if your file is not complete by the fee payment deadline, your estimated financial aid offer may change as a result of verification. If your financial aid package changes, you are responsible for paying the difference as soon as possible. Here is some information from Student Financial Services (SFIN) about Payment Plans(opens in new window). You can reach SFIN by emailing cash@csuchico.edu or calling 530-898-5936.