Financial Aid Calendar
FAFSA/CADAA Priority Deadline:
2026-27: Even though the 3/3/26 California priority deadline has passed, you can still apply for financial aid. Funding may be more limited, however we still strongly encourage you to apply!
2025-26: You can still apply for limited funding - deadline is 11:59 p.m. CT on June 30, 2026.
- Spring 2026
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 3: 2026-27 FAFSA or CADAA priority deadline to be considered for need-based Wildcat Scholarships and California state grants.
April 24: Submit 2025-26 Satisfactory Academic Appeal or Maximum Unit Appeal appeals by this date in order to allow sufficient time for processing.
April 25: Submit 2025-26 Special Circumstances Appeal by this date in order to allow sufficient time for processing:
- Professional Judgment - Special Circumstances SAI Appeal
- Change in Student Marital Status
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: Submit the following appeals by this date in order to allow sufficient time for processing:
- Cost of Attendance Appeal
- Childcare or dependent care or K-12 Tuition Appeal
- Travel Adjustment
May 15: Spring semester ends
- Fall 2026
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: GPA verification deadline for California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)
March 3: FAFSA or CADAA: priority deadline is March 3 to be considered for California state grants including Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship.
March 16 week: 2026-27 financial aid offers emailed
May 1: Special Circumstances Appeals open
May 15:
- Federal Direct Loan applications open
- Parent Plus Loan application open
June 1:
- Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal and Maximum Unit Appeal available
- Consortium Requests and Enrollment Update Form(opens in new window) available
June 15: Priority deadline to submit To-Do list documents
June 29:
- 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 3: First possible disbursement for students receiving a private Alternative loan
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:
November 1:
- Fall-only students submit Special Circumstances Appeal by November 1 to allow sufficient time for processing
November 21: 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
- Spring 2027
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 21: Financial aid refunds begin for Spring term
January 25:
- Spring semester begins
- Short-term loan application opens at 8 AM.
February 4: First possible disbursement refund for students receiving a private Alternative loan
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
Links on this Page
- Accept Aid
- California Dream Act Application(opens in new window)
- Cal Grant - How to Apply
- Exceptional Circumstances Appeal
- FAFSA(opens in new window)
- Loans:
- Receiving Your Money: How Financial Aid is Disbursed
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Scholarships
- Summer Aid
- University Census
- Using Your Aid to Pay Charges
- Verification