Financial Aid & Scholarship Office

Postbaccalaureate Eligibility & Enrollment Requirements

Guidelines for Postbaccalaureate Students

Your basic eligibility for federal and state financial aid is determined by the FAFSA or CADAA. Estimated financial aid awards are based on your eligibility and need, and are offered based on full-time status. The number of units in which you are actually enrolled decides the specific amount of financial aid you receive.

At University Census, financial aid awards are revised to match eligibility based on the actual number of units in which students are officially enrolled. Open University units and all classes taken for audit do NOT qualify for financial aid. Awards may be reduced for students enrolled in fewer than full-time units.

If you have a bachelor's degree you are considered a postbaccalaureate student for enrollment purposes, but you may be considered an undergraduate for financial aid depending on your program.

  • See Types of Aid for details of all types of available aid at Chico State.
  • See Student Financial Services for how enrollment affects fees. Fee charges are based on a different breakdown of units.
  • See the chart below to determine your financial aid eligibility based on your classification with the Graduate School.
Financial Aid Eligibility Based on Your Classification
If your program of study is:Master's Program
And your classification is:
  • Conditionally Classified
  • Classified
  • Advanced to Candidacy
You may be eligible for:
  • State University Grant (SUG)*
    *first Master's Degree only
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
  • Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan
  • TEACH Grant (for some master's programs)
  • Graduate Business Grant (MBA Fees Grant)
  • Federal Work–Study

Enrollment Requirements at University Census

  • Full-time = minimum of 8 semester units
  • Half-time = 4 semester units
  • Less than half-time (TEACH only)
If your program of study is:Credential
And your classification is:
  • Multiple Subject
  • Single Subject
  • Education Specialist
  • Concurrent
You may be eligible for:
  • Federal Pell Grant (first credential only)
  • State University Grant (SUG) (first credential only)
  • Cal Grant (must be approved by CSAC)
  • Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
  • Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) (if dependent)
  • TEACH Grant (for some credential programs, first credential only)
  • Federal Work–Study

Enrollment Requirements at University Census

  • Full-time = minimum of 12 semester units
  • Half-time = 6 semester units
  • Less than half-time (TEACH only)

*Credential students are only eligible to receive aid for coursework that is required by the State of California to receive a teaching credential. Enrollment status will be based on enrollment in required courses only.

If your program of study is:Conditionally Classified Credential
And your classification is:
  • Qualifying for Credential (eligible for aid for one consecutive 12-month period)
You may be eligible for:
  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
  • Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (if a dependent student)

Enrollment Requirements at University Census

  • Full-time = minimum of 12 semester units
  • Half-time = 6 semester units
If your program of study is:Second Bachelor's
You may be eligible for:
  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
  • Federal Work–Study
  • Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (if a dependent student)

Enrollment Requirements at University Census

  • Full-time = minimum of 12 semester units
  • Half-time = 6 semester units
If your program of study is:Other program
And your classification is:
  • Adjunct enrollment through Continuing Education
  • Certificate Programs
  • CPA (qualifying for exams)
  • Minor
  • Open University
  • Pre–professional Programs
  • Second Undergraduate Major
  • Teacher Professional Development
No EligibilityStudents in these programs are NOT ELIGIBLE for financial aid funding.

Graduate students enrolled in a master's degree program are expected to enroll in and pass at least eight units each semester. Credential, Qualifying, and Second Bachelor students are generally expected to enroll in and pass at least 12 units each semester. If you enroll only part time, your aid will be adjusted based on your number of enrolled units.

Students officially accepted into the credential program must be enrolled in a minimum of six units of required credential courses to receive a Federal Pell Grant. The Federal Pell Grant is not available for prerequisite courses, courses that are suggested as beneficial, or elective courses. View the list of Pell-Fundable Credential Coursework under "Information for Credential Students" to confirm your eligibility.

See Withdrawal, Refund, and Repayment for information regarding financial aid policies for withdrawal from the University.