Short-Term Loans

The short-term loan application is now open for the spring semester.

Short-Term Loan Application(opens in new window)

Note: Your loan will be ready once your application is approved and your promissory note is complete. Checks will be available on Thursday or deposited in your account (if signed up for e-Refund) as long as your application is received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday and you complete the promissory note by Wednesday at 9 a.m. Please note, the promissory note will be emailed to your Wildcat email after your application is approved.

About the Loan

The Short-Term Loan Program provides low-cost, short-term financial assistance to Chico State students for expenses related to their University attendance. Short-term loans are available depending on availability of funds, and are made possible through the generosity of donors who have provided these funds. Short-term loan availability is dependent upon students repaying their loans within 90 days.

If you experience technical difficulties while completing the Short-Term Loan application, please contact the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office at 530-898-6451 for assistance. 

Terms of Loan

• The maximum loan is $500, from which a $5 service charge is deducted. No interest is charged if the loan is repaid on time.
• You may receive only one short-term loan per semester.
• If you are applying for a short-term loan and need more than $500, please make an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor by calling 530-898-6451.

Eligibility for Short-Term Loans

To be eligible to receive a short-term loan, a student:

• must be regularly admitted to the University and enrolled in the current fall or spring terms. Students admitted through the Center for Regional and Continuing Education or Open University, and not regularly admitted to the University, are ineligible;
• must not have a faculty or staff appointment at Chico State;
• must not have an outstanding short-term loan;
• must not have already received a loan from this program in the current term;
• must not have unresolved student record holds which affect eligibility for this service, such as unpaid university balances.

Financial aid students, please note the following repayment restrictions:

• Fall short-term loans: Financial aid students who have not repaid a short-term loan from the fall semester will have the loan amount deducted from their next financial aid disbursement or from their spring disbursement of funds, whichever comes first.
• Spring short-term loans: All spring short-term loans must be repaid within 90 days but also prior to receipt of financial aid for the next year. Federal regulations require that financial aid funds not be used to pay prior year charges. Therefore, short-term loans borrowed in spring cannot be repaid by the following fall disbursement. Financial aid will not be disbursed until prior year charges are paid.

How do I apply for a Short-Term Loan? 

Short-Term Loan Process

1. Apply for the Short-Term Loan
2. Once approved you will receive an email to your @mail.csuchico.edu email account.
3. Review the promissory note and sign as quickly as possible.
4. Once Student Financial Services receives the completed promissory note, the Short-Term Loan will continue to be processed.

When Will Short-Term Loans be Available?
If your promissory note is signed by Wednesday at 9 a.m., your Short-Term loan will be available on Thursday of that week. If you sign the promissory note after Wednesday at 9 a.m., your Short-Term Loan disbursement will be delayed by at least a week.

How do I get my Short-Term Loan?

• If you are enrolled in direct deposit (enroll in e-Refund through your Student Center) by Wednesday at 9 a.m., your loan will be electronically deposited into your account on Thursday.
• If you are not enrolled in direct deposit, your loan will be available for pick up on Thursday in SSC 230 from 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Please bring your ID for pick up.