Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is Chico State’s school code for FAFSA and CADAA?

How do I apply for financial aid and scholarships?

When do I apply for federal and state financial aid? Is there a deadline?

My expenses have increased and/or my family’s income has decreased. Is there additional aid available to me?

Do I have to be a US citizen to receive financial aid? 

Can I get financial aid if I'm classified as an AB-540 student?

Do I need to be admitted before I apply for financial aid?

What if my parents don't claim me as a dependent on their tax return, am I independent?

If my parents are divorced or separated, whose financial information should be used when I complete the FAFSA or CADAA?

What if I haven't received a Financial Aid Offer yet?

How does financial aid pay university tuition and fees?

When and how do I get my financial aid?

Do I need to notify the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office if I’m not attending Chico State or changing my enrollment dates?

What if I'm receiving educational funding from a source other than financial aid?

Verification Questions

Why do I need a Financial Aid Account?

Why have you requested tax forms and/or other documents from me?

Loan Questions

I know I will need more money.  Can I borrow more Federal Direct Loan?

I applied for financial aid. Why was I offered a loan?

I applied for an Alternative Loan.  When will I get it?

Scholarship Questions

When is the application period for Chico State's Wildcat Scholarships?

When will Wildcat Scholarships be announced?

What other scholarships can I apply for?

How will I receive my external (private) scholarship?

Parent Questions

What is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and how is unmet need calculated?

Can I talk to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office about my student's financial aid?

Can parents take out Federal loans for the student's education?

General Questions

What is Chico State’s school code for my FAFSA or CADAA?
001146

How do I apply for financial aid and scholarships?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal and state aid, or need-based Wildcat Scholarships. The 2024-2025 FAFSA will become available in December 2023.

Undocumented students who meet the non-resident exemption requirements under AB 540 should file a CADAA  (California Dream Act application). Eligible students will be considered for state administered financial aid, such as State University Grant, Cal Grant, and a loan. The 2024-2025 CADAA will become available in December 2023.

Apply for Chico State Wildcat scholarships online. The application period for Wildcat scholarships is January 2 through February 15 for the next academic year.

When do I apply for federal and state financial aid? Is there a deadline?
Complete the FAFSA or CADAA as soon as possible the application opens in December 2023 for federal and state financial aid for the next academic year. The priority application date for financial aid for 2023/24 is March 2. We will continue to accept applications after March 2 and distribute awards throughout the academic year or semester, depending on your enrollment. Please keep in mind that some funds are limited, and are awarded to eligible students on a first-come first-serve basis.

My expenses have increased and/or my family’s income has decreased. Is there additional aid available to me?

We have exceptional circumstances appeals available and we encourage you to read the following webpage for more information: https://www.csuchico.edu/fa/circumstances/appeals.shtml. To apply for an exceptional circumstances appeal log on to your Financial Aid Account.

If you are in need of food, please visit the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry. The pantry will prepare to-go bags with food and/or hygiene products for you to pick up at the entrance of the pantry.

We also encourage you to apply for Cal Fresh benefits. For additional information or assistance completing an application for Cal Fresh visit: https://www.csuchico.edu/calfresh/ .

Do I have to be a US citizen to receive financial aid?
You must be one of the following to receive federal and state financial aid:

• US citizen
• US national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain’s Island)
• US permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C (Alien Registration Receipt Card)

If you are not in one of these categories, you must have an Arrival–Departure Record (I-94) from the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) showing one of the following designations in order to be eligible for federal and state aid:

• Refugee
• Asylum Granted
• Indefinite Parole and/or Humanitarian Parole
• Cuban–Haitian Entrant, Status Pending
• Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)

If you are classified as an  AB-540 student, you may be eligible for state financial aid. For more information, view AB 540 Dream Act.

If you have a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464), you are  NOT ELIGIBLE for federal and state financial aid.

If you are in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa, or on a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa only, you are not eligible for federal or state financial aid. Also, persons with G series visas (pertaining to international organizations) are  NOT ELIGIBLE for financial aid.

Can I get financial aid if I'm classified as an AB-540 student?

If you are classified as an AB-540 student, you may be eligible for state financial aid. For more information, view AB 540 Dream Act.

Do I need to be admitted before I apply for financial aid?
No, it is not necessary to be admitted before applying for financial aid. Submit the FAFSA or CADAA by the March 2 priority filing date for the academic year you plan to enroll at Chico State. However, you will need to be admitted and registered in classes before you actually receive financial aid. Keep in mind that if you submit the FAFSA or CADAA after the priority deadline of March 2, there may be less financial aid available. 

What if my parents don't claim me as a dependent on their tax return, am I independent?
No, according to US Department of Education guidelines, the following conditions do not qualify as criteria for independent status:

• Parents refusing to contribute to the student's education
• Parents unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or documents for verification
• Parents not claiming the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
• Student demonstrating total self-sufficiency

There are other circumstances that qualify for independent status; you can find more information about dependent or independent student status.

If my parents are divorced or separated, whose financial information should be used when I complete the FAFSA?
If your legal parents are separated or divorced, use the legal parent with whom you lived with more in the past 12 months. If you lived with neither parent, or lived with each parent an equal number of days, use the parent that provided the most financial support to you over the past 12 months. If that parent remarried, federal regulations require that you include the stepparent’s financial information on the application, and the parent and stepparent should report themselves as married on the FAFSA. If your legal parents are divorced or separated and are living together, you will need to provide information on both parents.

What if I haven’t received a Financial Aid Offer yet?
You must complete a FAFSA or CADAA for each academic year that you will need financial aid. Students are notified of financial aid offers by Wildcat email. 

If you filed a FAFSA or CADAA for 2023-2024 but have not received a financial aid offer by April check your application to be sure you listed Chico State as a college you may attend. Also check for To Dos and Holds in your Student Center and complete any tasks assigned to you. Continuing students must have all To Dos and Holds completed and their files must be verified before their financial aid is offered to them. 

How does financial aid pay university tuition and fees?
Financial aid recipients are required to pay the difference between all University Charges (including registration and tuition fees, on-campus housing and board plan) and pending financial aid. View your pending financial aid in the Financials section of your Student Center. Payment is due by the Registration & Tuition Fee Payment Deadline:

• July 26, 2023 for Fall Semester 2023
• December 7, 2023 for Spring Semester 2024

If you have enough pending financial aid to cover your fees and charges for the semester, the balance due will automatically be deducted from your refund when your financial aid disburses. You  do not need to make a payment as long as you have sufficient pending aid to cover your charges.

When and how do I get my financial aid?

Financial aid and scholarships are disbursed once a week on Thursdays throughout each semester. Below are the first possible disbursement dates of each semester: 

• Fall 2023: First possible disbursement date is August 17
• Spring 2024: First possible disbursement date is January 18

You must be enrolled in classes, all your Student Center "To Do List" items completed, and not have any holds for your financial aid funds to be disbursed. For Chico State scholarship funds to be disbursed, you must be enrolled full–time (12 units for undergraduate and credential students; 8 units for graduate students).

Tuition fees, housing charges, and other financial obligations you owe to the University are deducted from your award and any remaining aid is disbursed to you. Parent applications for PLUS loans may designate the parent checking account for the disbursement.

We strongly recommend students set up e-Refund (direct deposit) to receive their disbursements. Students who opt for e-Refund receive their disbursements directly into a designated account on the day of disbursement. You can enroll in e-Refund through the Financials section in your Student Center. If you do not choose e-Refund as your disbursement method, a check will be mailed when your disbursement is ready. Please note it can take up to one week to receive your check if it is sent through the mail.

Do I need to notify the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office if I’m not attending Chico State or changing my enrollment dates?
Yes. Please complete and submit a Financial Aid Update (see Forms & Applications)  to notify our office if your enrollment plans have changed, or if you are graduating at the end of the fall semester so that we can adjust your financial aid appropriately.

What if I'm receiving educational funding from a source other than financial aid?
Federal regulations require that assistance from other sources be coordinated with financial aid. Your eligibility may be affected by external sources of assistance. Forms of aid such as private scholarships, fellowships, stipends, fee waivers, AmeriCorps grants, and third-party payments are reported to us when payment is received by the University and will be coordinated with your financial aid award. When the total of your financial aid and educational assistance from other sources exceeds the Cost of Attendance, it is considered an over-award and requires adjustment of your financial aid. Please be aware that our office does all it can to prevent over-awards because they can result in a student having to repay aid for which they are ineligible.

Verification Questions

Why do I need to create a Financial Aid Account
The Financial Aid Account allows you to quickly complete your tasks by allowing you and your parent(s) to e-sign forms and upload documents via your electronic device. You may be required to create an account if additional information is needed from you and instructions will be provided to you on your To Do List via your Student Center. Aid will not be disbursed until all your To Dos are completed and your file has been verified. If you or your parent experience issues e-signing a form, please contact our office at 530-898-6451 for assistance.

Why have you requested tax information and/or other documents from me?
Approximately 20% of FAFSA and CADAAs are selected for verification, which is essentially an audit of your application. If your file is selected for verification, you must complete the assigned tasks on your Financial Aid Account and Student Center To Do List before we can disburse aid to you. Please complete all required tasks by the June 1 priority deadline or as soon as possible to avoid disbursement delays.

Upload all requested items ASAP, as aid will be held until verification is complete. Please double check your documents for accuracy and completeness before you upload them. 

Loan Questions

I know I will need more money. Can I borrow more Federal Direct Loan?
You may be eligible for additional Federal Direct loan if you have not met your annual and cumulative loan limits. For additional information, view Loan Limits. To apply for additional loan funds, submit an online Federal Direct Loan application (see Forms & Applications). Graduate students pursuing a Master’s degree may request a Graduate PLUS Loan. The parent of a dependent student may request a parent loan by applying online at Federal Student Aid(opens in new window). 

I applied for financial aid. Why was I only offered a loan?
Loans are a type of financial aid that offers students low interest rate loans to help cover educational expenses. You are not required to accept the loan, but we recommend these loans over private alternative loan options. We strongly encourage you to only borrow as much as you need. You do not have to accept the full amount of your loans. 

I applied for an Alternative Loan. When will I get it?
We strongly encourage students to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine their eligibility for federal student aid prior to applying for an alternative loan. Alternative loans take up to eight weeks to process and disburse approximately four weeks after certification. The first possible alternative loan payment for Fall 2022 is September 1 and Spring 2023 is February 2.

Scholarship Questions

When is the application period for Chico State's Wildcat Scholarships?
The 2023-2024 Wildcat Scholarship Application must be submitted between January 2 and February 15, 2023. You must also complete a FAFSA or CADAA by March 2 for consideration of need based scholarships. 

When will 2023-2024 Wildcat Scholarships be announced?
Recipients of 2023-2024 Wildcat Scholarships will be notified of their selection via email during summer 2023. At that time, recipients can access their scholarship offer through the Financials section of their Student Center to accept or decline  their scholarship offer.

What other scholarships can I apply for?
See our webpage on External Scholarships.

How will I receive my external (private) scholarship?
The turnaround time for complete processing of external scholarships is two to three weeks after we receive the check in our office. Once entered into a student's award, the scholarship is considered pending aid. We do not enter a scholarship as pending aid based on an award letter without receiving the check. Pending aid defers charges until the first disbursement, after which disbursements occur weekly as files are completed. After charges are paid, any money remaining will be disbursed. Please also see our webpage on external scholarships for additional information.

Parent Questions

What is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and how is unmet need calculated?
The FAFSA and CADAA collect household and student financial information and determines a dollar amount called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that is used to determine student aid eligibility. The formula used to calculate the EFC is established by law and measures a family's comparative financial strength on the basis of income, assets, and family size.

The starting point for aid is always Financial Need, which will be different for each school because need is the difference between a college's Cost of Attendance and your Expected Family Contribution. The EFC also determines grant eligibility. For more information, see Understanding Your Award.

The offered award may not meet all unmet need. For additional aid, students may request additional loan funds which may not have been included in the initial offer. Additionally, parents may request a PLUS loan. For more information, see Loans.

Can parents talk to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office about their student's financial aid?
Federal law protects the privacy of student education records. The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is prohibited from releasing or discussing specific financial aid information to any person other than the student, even to parents unless the student is under the age of 18. Students can provide authorization via their Student Center by selecting "Authorize to Release" under the "Records" section. This procedure assures compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)(opens in new window).

Can parents take out Federal loans for their student's education?
Yes, parents can apply for a Federal Direct Parent Loan for their Undergraduate student to help pay for the remaining cost of attending college.