Award Information

After you submit the FAFSA or CADAA

Federal and state agencies will forward your information to the colleges listed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and to the California Student Aid Commission. The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office will use the information that you provided on your FAFSA or CADAA to make a determination of your eligibility to receive aid.

How You Are Notified of Your Chico State Award

If you electronically signed your FAFSA or CADAA, the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office will receive your information in as little as 3 to 5 business days. If you provided a wet signature on your FAFSA or CADAA, it can take up to 3 weeks.

General Timeline

New Incoming Students: Watch for your preliminary Financial Aid letter viewable through a link sent to your Wildcat email in late January or February.

Continuing Students: Estimated Financial Aid offers are viewable through a link sent to your Wildcat email in March or early April.

About Your Offer

Estimated award offers are made to admitted students who have completed the FAFSA or CADAA and had their information sent to Chico State. Instructions on how to accept your financial aid offer through the Student Center are included in your offer. There may be additional items needed from you to confirm your eligibility for aid. For more information see our verification webpage. Note: If you are a returning student and you have To-Do List items or tasks to complete on your Financial Aid Account, you will not receive a financial aid offer until you have submitted all your documents and they have been reviewed by our office. Continue to monitor your Wildcat email, texts and To-Do list via your Student Center for any additional documentation we may need.

Act quickly. Upload any required documents to your Financial Aid Account by June 1 or as soon as possible to prevent disbursement delays. It may take up to 8 weeks for your documents to be reviewed during our summer processing peak season. Your financial aid should disburse with the first fall disbursement (Thursday prior to the start of the term) if all tasks on your Financial Aid Account and items on your To Do List have been submitted by the June 1 priority deadline. You will be notified through your Wildcat email when your financial aid has been awarded. 

Awards Can Change

Your financial aid is estimated using your initial FAFSA or CADAA information. Your award may be revised if any information was incorrectly reported. Other common reasons for award adjustment include changes in enrollment, residency status, or over-awards due to receipt of aid from other sources.

Your initial financial aid offer is based on full–time enrollment, which is 12 units per semester for undergraduates, teaching credential candidates, and students pursuing a second bachelor's degree, and 8 units per semester for graduate students enrolled in a master's degree program.

You will receive a revised financial aid offer via your Wildcat email if there is a change to your award. Check both your email and Student Center frequently.

Click here for information on how funds are disbursed.