Disbursement Dates

You can receive your financial aid money by direct deposit or by check.
- Click the payment types below to learn more -

Want to get your money faster? Skip waiting for the mailman and have your funds automatically put in your bank account on your disbursement date! 

To sign up for Direct Deposit: log in to Self-Service and select Financial Information and click on Banking information.

Please note: New direct deposit requests will go through a 10 day "prenote" process; a zero-dollar test transaction used to verify the accuracy of a bank account number before initiating a direct deposit payment. Disbursements that occur while your direct deposit is in prenote will be issued as a check (see above).

Checks (our default payment method) will be mailed to you at the address you have on file with the school. If you'd like to receive your disbursement as a check, no action is needed.

Checks are released to the US Postal Service on your disbursement date so please allow 3-5 mailing days after your disbursement date for your check to be delivered. If your check doesn't arrive within 10 days of the disbursement date, contact the Business Office.

Address changes can be made in Self-Service.

Please note: Checks cannot be picked up in person.

These units may not have been considered for payment if you added the class within 10 days from the disbursement date. However, you may still be entitled to additional funds that will be sent out on the next disbursement date (see chart above). You will be notified by e-mail if you are eligible.

Your Pell Grant award amount on Self-Service is based on full-time enrollment. If you are not in 12 units, your award will be prorated to the number of units you are enrolled in. 

Starting with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Pell Grant amount disbursed based on the percentage of full-time enrollment. For example, if your semester Pell Grant award is $3,698 and you are enrolled in 7 units, you will be eligible for $2,144 ($3,698 x .58). You will only receive 50% of this amount, $1,072 ($2,144 x .50) on the first disbursement and 50%, $1,072 ($2,144 x .50) on the second Pell disbursement. The Pell Grant Enrollment Intensity Chart includes a breakdown of each percentage, but we strongly recommend checking with the Financial Aid Office to verify the amount(s). 

Please be aware that any change in your enrollment may affect your Pell Grant amount.

If you owe a repayment of financial aid funds, tuition, child care fees, or other college fees, your financial aid will be applied to any outstanding debts to the college.

Some awards require a minimum unit enrollment of half-time (6 units), full-time (12+ units), or more than full-time (15+ units). Visit our Financial Aid Programs page to see the minimum requirements for each grant.

You may not receive financial aid from two institutions for the same semester/term. If you are not attending a college or university that has issued you a financial aid check, return the funds immediately! If you never attended, you will be billed for these funds and if they are not promptly repaid, you may be sent to a collection agency.

The processing of your financial aid disbursement begins 15 days before the actual disbursement date. To prevent your check from being delayed check to make sure your address is updated on Self-Service; include your apartment number if you live in an apartment. If during this two week period you withdraw or are dropped from classes, your financial aid disbursement could be reduced, delayed, or canceled. Before contacting the Financial Aid Office, verify your class schedule through Self-Service to make sure you are actively enrolled in all the classes you are attending. If the Financial Aid Office receives any information that changes your eligibility, your check could be held or canceled. You may contact the Financial Aid Office at (559) 442-8245 to verify your eligibility.

Financial aid verifies your unit enrollment 10 days prior to the disbursement date. If you change your enrollment during this 10 day period, this may affect your disbursement. Check the start date of your classes. Units for classes that begin the second nine weeks of the semester will not be paid until you begin the class (October disbursement for the Fall and March disbursement for the Spring). Verify your enrollment through WebAdvisor to make sure you are actively enrolled in all the classes.