Financial Aid Calendar

December 5:  Alternative Private Educational Loan priority deadline  

December 12:  Parent PLUS loan and Federal Direct Loan priority deadline

2026

January 2:  Wildcat Scholarship Application opens for 2026-27

January 8: Spring fee payment deadline. Aid must be accepted to defer fees.

January 15:  Financial aid refunds begin for Spring term

January 20:  

• Spring semester begins
• Short-term loan application opens at 8 AM. 

January 29:  First possible refund for students receiving Alternative loans

February 15:  Wildcat Scholarship Application closes for 2026-27

February 16:  

• University Census: Awards reduced or canceled for less than full-time enrollment
• We recommend submitting a Satisfactory Academic Appeal or Maximum Unit Appeal by University Census, February 16. All appeals must be received no later than April 24 (three weeks before the end of the semester) in order to be reinstated for aid during that semester. In rare cases, an appeal may be accepted after this date.
• Consortium Agreement deadline 

March 2: 2026-27 FAFSA or CADAA priority deadline to be considered for need-based Wildcat Scholarships and California state grants.

April 15: Submit 2025-26 Special Circumstances Appeal by this date in order to allow sufficient time for processing. 

April 30: 

• Last day to submit a Federal Direct Loan types-of-aid/loans/direct-loans, Parent PLUS Loan, and Private Alternative Loan application. Apply by 5 PM.
• Last day to submit a Satisfactory Academic Appeal or Maximum Unit Appeal 

May 12:  Deadline to apply for a Short-term Loan. Must submit application by 9 AM.

May 15:  Spring semester ends

January 2, 2026: Wildcat Scholarship Application opens for 2026-27 academic year

February 15, 2026: Wildcat Scholarship Application deadline for 2026-27 academic year

March 2: 

• FAFSA or CADAA: priority deadline is March 2 to be considered for California state grants including Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship. 
• GPA verification deadline for California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)

May - date to be determined: Special Circumstances Appeals open

May - date to be determined: Federal Direct Loan application and Parent Plus Loan application open

May 19: Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal and Maximum Unit Appeal available

June 1:  Consortium Requests and Enrollment Update Form(opens in new window) available

June 15: Priority deadline to submit To-Do list documents

July - date to be determined: 

• Alternative Private Educational Loan priority deadline  
• Parent PLUS loan and Federal Direct Loan priority deadline

July 29: Registration and tuition fee payment deadline. Aid must be accepted to defer fees. 

August 20: Financial aid refunds begin. Financial aid refunded to students enrolled for the fall term. To receive a financial aid refund, students must have excess aid after tuition fees have been paid and no pending holds or 2026-27 To-Do list items.

August 24:  

• Fall semester begins
• Short-term Loans available

September - date to be determined: First possible refund for students receiving Alternative loans

September 21:  

• University Census: Awards reduced or canceled for less than full-time enrollment
• We recommend submitting a Satisfactory Academic Appeal or Maximum Unit Appeal by University Census, September 21. All appeals must be received no later than November 27 (three weeks before the end of the semester) in order to be reinstated for aid during that semester. In rare cases, an appeal may be accepted after this date.
• Consortium Agreement deadline           

October 1: 

• 2027-28 FAFSA and CADAA open. Apply early!

November 1:

• Fall-only students submit Special Circumstances Appeal by November 1 to allow sufficient time for processing

November - date to be determined: Federal Direct, PLUS and Alternative loan application deadline for fall-only students

November 27:

• Last day to submit a Satisfactory Academic Appeal or Maximum Unit Appeal to have aid reinstated for the current semester.

December 15: Last day to apply for a Short-term Loan. Must submit application by 9 AM.

December 18: Fall semester ends

December - date to be determined:  Alternative Private Educational Loan priority deadline  

December - date to be determined:  Parent PLUS loan and Federal Direct Loan priority deadline

2026

January 2:  Wildcat Scholarship Application opens for 2027-28

January 7: Spring fee payment deadline. Aid must be accepted to defer fees.

January 14:  Financial aid refunds begin for Spring term

January 19:  

• Spring semester begins
• Short-term loan application opens at 8 AM. 

January - date to be determined:  First possible refund for students receiving Alternative loans

February 15: Wildcat Scholarship Application closes for 2027-28

February 19:  

• University Census: Awards reduced or canceled for less than full-time enrollment
• We recommend submitting a Satisfactory Academic Appeal or Maximum Unit Appeal by University Census, February 19. All appeals must be received no later than April 24 (three weeks before the end of the semester) in order to be reinstated for aid during that semester. In rare cases, an appeal may be accepted after this date.
• Consortium Agreement deadline 

March 2: 2027-28 FAFSA or CADAA priority deadline to be considered for need-based Wildcat Scholarships and California state grants.

April 15: Submit 2026-27 Special Circumstances Appeal by this date in order to allow sufficient time for processing. 

April 30: 

• Last day to submit a Federal Direct Loan types-of-aid/loans/direct-loans, Parent PLUS Loan, and Private Alternative Loan application. Apply by 5 PM.
• Last day to submit a Satisfactory Academic Appeal or Maximum Unit Appeal 

May 18:  Deadline to apply for a Short-term Loan. Must submit application by 9 AM.

May 21:  Spring semester ends