Your financial aid disbursement is based on your eligibility, the type of aid you were awarded, and the number of financial aid eligible units you are enrolled in and attending.
Financial aid eligible units are classes that count toward your declared major or certificate. Some classes may appear on your schedule, but will not count for financial aid if they are not required for your declared program.
This means your total enrolled units and your financial aid eligible units may be different.
View How Your Declared Major or Certificate Affects Financial Aid for more information.
Financial Aid Periods and Enrollment Intensity
For financial aid purposes, the academic year is divided into aid periods. These periods are used to determine enrollment for financial aid disbursements.
Fall Aid Period
The Fall aid period includes classes taken during the Fall semester. Enrollment for Fall is calculated based on Fall units only.
Spring Aid Period
The Spring aid period includes both Winter and Spring classes. Winter and Spring units are combined when determining Spring financial aid eligibility.
Summer Aid Period
The Summer aid period includes classes taken during the Summer term only. Summer is considered a trailer term for most financial aid programs, including Federal Pell Grant Year-Round eligibility.
Note: Combining Winter and Spring into a single aid period is important because it affects how total enrollment is counted when determining aid disbursement, especially for programs with unit-based eligibility (e.g., Pell, Cal Grant, etc.).
Federal Pell Grant
Your Federal Pell Grant is calculated using enrollment intensity. Enrollment intensity is based on the number of financial aid eligible units you are enrolled in and attending.
Only classes that have started and that count toward your declared program are included when determining your Pell Grant disbursement. Your Pell Grant may be adjusted if you add, drop, withdraw from, or do not begin attending one or more classes.
Your Federal Pell Grant is usually disbursed in two separate disbursements each semester. View the Disbursement and Refund Schedule for specific dates.
| Financial Aid Eligible Units | Pell Grant Percentage |
| 12 or more | 100% |
| 11 | 92% |
| 10 | 83% |
| 9 | 75% |
| 8 | 67% |
| 7 | 58% |
| 6 | 50% |
| 5 | 42% |
| 4 | 33% |
| 3 | 25% |
| 2 | 17% |
| 1 | 8% |
Depending on your Student Aid Index, also known as SAI, you may or may not be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant at every enrollment level.
If you enroll late or are enrolled only in late-start classes, your Pell Grant disbursement may be delayed until your classes begin.
Cal Grant
To receive a Cal Grant disbursement each semester, you must be enrolled in and attending at least six (6) financial aid eligible units.
| Financial Aid Eligible Units | Cal Grant Percentage |
| 12 or more | 100% |
| 9.0 to 11.5 | 75% |
| 6.0 to 8.5 | 50% |
| Less than 6 | Not Eligible |
If you are enrolled in late-start classes, your loan disbursement may be delayed until you begin attending enough financial aid-eligible units.
Federal Direct Loans
To receive a Federal Direct Loan disbursement, you must generally be enrolled in and attending at least six (6) financial aid-eligible units.
Federal Direct Loan award and disbursement amounts are based on your annual loan limit, cost of attendance, remaining eligibility, dependency status, grade level, and enrollment in financial aid eligible units each period. The full annual loan amount is generally based on enrollment for a full academic year in 24 or more financial aid eligible units, which typically includes the Fall and Spring periods.
If you are enrolled in late-start classes, your loan disbursement may be delayed until you begin attending enough financial aid-eligible units.
Other Financial Aid Types
You must be enrolled in at least six (6) financial aid eligible units each semester to receive:
- Federal Direct Loan(s)
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Work Study (FWS)
You must be enrolled in at least nine (9) financial aid eligible units to receive:
- Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG): 9+ Units SSCG
You must be enrolled in at least twelve (12) financial aid eligible units to receive:
- Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG): 12-14 Units SSCG
You must be enrolled in at least fifteen (15) financial aid eligible units to receive:
- Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG): 15+ Units SSCG
Why Your Declared Major or Certificate Matters
Your declared major or certificate determines which classes can count as financial aid eligible units. If you are taking classes outside your declared program, those classes will not count as financial aid eligible units.
View How Your Declared Major or Certificate Affects Financial Aid for more information.
Is full-time different in the summer?
No, being a full-time student (taking 12 or more units) is the same in all terms: fall, spring, and summer. The college might have different rules for winter and summer terms related to enrollment certification, but it doesn't apply to financial aid rules.