Federal and state regulations require federal and some state financial aid to pay only for courses that apply to your officially declared major or certificate.
The Financial Aid Department will review the courses you are enrolled in each term to determine whether they apply to your declared major or certificate. If a course does not apply to your declared major(s) or certificate(s), it may not count toward your financial aid eligibility.
You may still enroll in classes that do not apply to your declared majors or certificates, but those classes may not count toward your financial aid eligibility.
This FAQ explains what that means and how it may affect your financial aid.
What You Should Do Now
- Review your declared major or certificate
- Check your course requirements in DegreeWorks
- Meet with a counselor if you need to declare, change, or add a major or certificate
- If you are unsure about what major or certificate to declare, meet with a career counselor.
Important to Know
These changes will take effect beginning in fall 2026.
Citrus College is expanding its review, communication, and support process beginning with fall 2026 registration. This article is intended to help students plan for fall 2026 and future terms. It does not change spring 2026 and summer 2026 financial aid disbursements or refunds.
Financial aid may be based on eligible units
Your financial aid may be based on the number of eligible units you are taking, not just the total number of units you enroll in.
You will receive follow-up emails after registration and/or changing your major or certificate
After you register for fall 2026, the Financial Aid Department will send you a separate email if any of your enrolled classes do not count toward your financial aid eligibility.
Overview
Why does this matter?
If the classes you register for do not apply to your declared major(s) or certificate(s), your financial aid may be reduced or adjusted. Keeping your classes aligned with your declared major or certificate can help you stay on track and avoid financial aid problems.
Why is Citrus College making this change?
This is not a local policy change. It is a federal requirement intended to ensure that financial aid is used for courses that apply to your declared major or certificate and support the timely completion of your degree or certificate.
When will these changes take effect?
These changes will begin in fall 2026.
You may receive communications before then so you have time to review your declared major or certificate, meet with a counselor if needed, and understand how this may affect your financial aid and registration.
Will I be warned before my financial aid is affected?
Yes. After you register for fall 2026, the Financial Aid Department will send you a separate email if any of your enrolled classes do not count toward your financial aid eligibility.
How to Tell if a Class Counts
How do I know if a class applies to my declared major or certificate?
You can:
- Review your major or certificate in DegreeWorks
- Meet with a counselor if you are unsure
It is important to make sure your declared major or certificate is correct, since course requirements can vary by major or certificate and catalog year.
What usually counts toward your declared major or certificate and financial aid?
Classes that usually count include:
- Required courses for your declared major or certificate
- Approved general education courses that are part of your declared major or certificate requirements
- Declared major or certificate-approved electives
- Prerequisites and corequisites required for courses in your declared major or certificate
- Some remedial or developmental courses that are needed for your declared major or certificate, subject to 30 units maximum.
- ESL courses may count, but students should understand that enrolling in ESL coursework may reduce the financial aid available to support completion of their degree.
What usually does not count?
Classes that usually do not count include:
- Courses that do not apply to your declared major or certificate
- Repeated courses beyond federal repeat rules
- Waitlisted courses
- Personal interest courses that are not part of your declared major or certificate
- Extra courses taken outside your declared major or certificate requirements
Do electives count toward financial aid?
Only electives that apply to your declared major or certificate count toward financial aid. If your program allows electives, only courses that fit within those major or certificate requirements may count.
Changing Your Major or Certificate
What if I want to change my declared major or certificate?
If you want to declare, change, or add a major or certificate, you will need to meet with a counselor.
It is important to keep your declared major or certificate information up to date before you register so your financial aid can be reviewed based on the correct major or certificate.
What if I am pursuing more than one major or certificate?
If you are pursuing more than one major or certificate, make sure all of your declared majors or certificates are listed correctly. A counselor can help confirm this. You can declare a maximum of two majors and/or certificates.
What if one of my classes does not count, but I think it should?
First, check that your declared major or certificate and catalog year are correct. If they are not, meet with a counselor as soon as possible.
How Your Aid May Change
Which financial aid programs are impacted by this requirement?
The following programs may be affected:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Work-Study (FWS)
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Parent PLUS Loans
- Cal Grant A, B, and C
- Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG)
How does this affect my financial aid amount?
Your financial aid is based on the number of eligible units you are taking, not just the total number of units you enroll in.
If some of your classes do not apply to your declared major or certificate, those units may not count toward your financial aid.
For example, if you enroll in 12 units but only 9 units apply to your declared major or certificate, your financial aid may be based on those 9 eligible units, not all 12 units.
What if I drop a class?
If you drop a class that was counted toward your financial aid eligibility, your financial aid may be recalculated based on your remaining eligible units.
Can classes outside my declared major or certificate affect Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
Yes. Taking classes that do not apply to your declared major or certificate may affect your pace of completion and maximum timeframe, which can also affect future financial aid eligibility.
What if I am close to finishing my program?
If you only have a small number of required units left to complete your degree or certificate, your financial aid may be based only on those remaining eligible units.
Who to Contact
Questions about your major, certificate, or whether a course applies?
Contact Counseling.
Questions about how your enrollment may affect your financial aid?
Contact the Financial Aid Department by calling (626) 914-8592 or by submitting a Help Desk Request online.