Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs


SUMMER

DISBURSEMENT

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP)

SCHOLARSHIPS

FEDERAL WORK STUDY

COLLEGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION (CCE)

SUMMER

Is there financial aid for summer?

Financial aid is available for summer (on a limited basis).  There is a Summer Application in addition to the FAFSA that must be completed to be considered for summer aid.

Do I qualify for financial aid for summer?

Students must be enrolled in at least half-time to qualify for most summer aid programs.  Aid programs are limited in the summer and funding is based on aid received during the 2012-2013 academic year.

How long does it take to receive it?

Summer aid typically disburses on a weekly basis once the first summer has started.  Grants will not disburse until all enrolled courses have begun.  Loans will disburse once enrollment reaches at least half-time.  Keep in mind that applications can take up to three weeks to process.

How are my summer fees paid?

There are no fee deferments or payment plans for summer.  Summer fees must be paid for with the student's own funds.

What if I change my classes after I submit the summer application?

You must submit a NEW Summer Application with your updated summer courses.  Each new application submitted may take up to three weeks to process.

When is the summer financial aid application available?

Summer applications are only available April 3rd thru June 21, 2013.

DISBURSEMENT

After I receive my award notification, how long will it take to receive my financial aid? 

This depends on a variety of factors, but you should review your status frequently on your My Sac State Student Center:

(1) Log on to My Sac State at http://www.my.csus.edu
(2) Click on the "Student Services" link. Holds will be listed in the "Holds" section just above the "To Do List."
(3) Click "Details" in the holds box.  Financial aid holds are term-specific, and holds from previous semesters do not affect the current semester.

Quick Reference: Disbursement Information

Are checks mailed or do we have to pick them up?

Get your money faster and sign up for eRefund. eRefund is the process in which refunds are deposited directly into your bank account. All refunds, including financial aid, fee overpayments and housing refunds are available through eRefund. Go to My Sac State to get started.

Students who have not signed up for eRefund will receive a check mailed to the student's address. All Parent PLUS loan checks are mailed directly to the parent borrower, even if the student is signed up for eRefund. In some instances you may be required to pick up your check at the Student Financial Services Center. 

Do I need to have 12 units in order to receive financial aid?

No. The minimum number of units required to maintain eligibility varies according to the aid program. For most programs, a minimum of 6 undergraduate units or 4 graduate units is required. The Financial Aid Office initially packages aid based on full-time enrollment. Students who enroll or plan on enrolling in fewer than 12 undergraduate units or 7 graduate units must update the Financial Aid Award page on My Sac State. Proportional adjustments to aid programs will be made.

What is considered full-time or half-time enrollment for an undergraduate or graduate student?

The chart below summarizes enrollment status based on unit load for undergraduates and graduates.

This depends on a variety of factors including:

Enrollment Status Undergraduate Graduate
Full-time 12 units 7 or more units
3/4 time 9-11 units N/A
1/2 time 6-8 units 4-6 units
< 1/2 time Less than 6 units Less than 4 units



SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP)

Why are terms for which I did not receive aid for, counted against me?

To be eligible for student aid, a student must show that they have been making satisfactory academic progress at the time they apply for FAFSA.  Federal regulations require that all terms, regardless if financial aid was received, must be counted when determining satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the University SAP Policy.

I filed an appeal that was previously approved.  Why does it show that I have to file another appeal?

Depending which SAP standard(s) you previously failed, you may continuously show that standard as “fail”.

For example, a student who has attempted more than 150% of coursework toward their major degree program, will always show a status of fail. The same applies to students pursuing a 2nd degree.   Students in these categories, who have filed an appeal in the prior year and were approved up to their graduation term, will be monitored on a term-by-term basis for aid eligibility.  If SAP standards have been met at the end of the Spring probation term, the Financial Aid Office will “waive” SAP requested items on the students account.  If the student does not pass SAP standards at the end of the Spring probation term, the student is denied aid for the following academic year.   This if this applies to you, please allow up to 4 weeks for manual review and update of your file. Otherwise inquire with the Financial Aid Office about your account.

I was on SAP probation and failed the fall term progress grade check.  Can I file an appeal for the spring term?

Students who did not meet SAP standards at the end of their fall probation term, will have their spring aid canceled.  In addition, students will receive a financial aid hold of "failed fall progress check" on their Student Center account.  Regardless of the extenuating circumstances which prevented academic progress, appeals will not be considered for spring.   You may regain eligibility, once you have met all SAP standards.

My appeal was denied, what can I do?

All appeal decisions are final and there is no second level of appeals.  You can discuss your denied appeal with a Financial Aid Counselor during drop-in counseling hours.  Otherwise, you will need to fund the term(s) for which you are ineligible for, out of pocket or through private loan funding.

How is the minimum cumulative GPA calculated?

For the annual SAP review, the Financial Aid Office uses the cumulative GPA as determined by the University.

For probation SAP review, the Financial Aid Office uses term GPA at the end of the probation term. The term GPA must meet the minimum cumulative GPA SAP standard.

How long does it take for the appeal to be reviewed?

The timeline for appeal decisions is up to three weeks.  Please note during our peak periods, appeal decisions may take longer.

I didn't file an appeal for the fall term, do I still have to file an appeal for spring if I passed my fall classes?

Yes, passing 75 percent of attempted coursework and meeting the minimum cumulative GPA standard at the end of the term, does not automatically qualify you for spring aid.  You must file a Spring appeal for consideration of spring aid.

What if my circumstances are not one of the conditions listed on the SAP appeal?

You are still eligible to file an appeal for consideration of aid.  You will need to select an appeal condition(s) that best describes your circumstances.

SCHOLARSHIP

Can I use my scholarship money to help pay my tuition fees? What happens to the difference?

Scholarship awards will automatically be applied to tuition fees and other obligations you owe to the University. If funds remain after your fees and other debts have been paid, you will receive the difference either by e-Refund or a paper check. If your scholarship is less than the amount of your tuition fees, we recommend paying your tuition fees first, and applying the scholarship award to the difference.

How long does it take to process my scholarship check?

Scholarships are typically disbursed at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters unless otherwise specified by the donor. However, no disbursements will be made until we have received the funds from the donor. We have weekly disbursements throughout the Fall and Spring semesters.

If my scholarship donor sends me a check directly, what should I do with it?

Bring your check directly to the Scholarship Office in Lassen Hall 1006. We will note it on your award page and process it on your behalf.

If my scholarship is going to pay toward my fees, can I get a fee deferment?

Yes! Bring your award letter or scholarship check to the Scholarship Office and we will give you a scholarship fee deferment allowing time for your scholarship funds to be applied toward your outstanding debt.

This information is not scholarship specific and is found in the Award Notice Guide

What types of scholarships are available at Sacramento State?

The Financial Aid Office administers three types of scholarships:

Institutional - The application is available online from mid-January to mid-March. These scholarships are awarded for the preceding academic year. Applicants will be notified of the selection mid-June.

Departmental - Check with your major department major every semester for scholarship applications and deadlines.

Community – This scholarship information is updated periodically on our website and posted outside of the Financial Aid Office and in the Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) Office in the Student Union. You can also search online, and check with local businesses, schools, and other organizations.

For more information view the Scholarships page.

Where should my scholarship donor send my check?

CSU Sacramento
Lassen Hall, 1006
6000 J Street
Sacramento, Ca. 95819-6044

Be sure the donor includes our building name and office location for accurate and timely delivery

FEDERAL WORK STUDY

How do I apply for a FWS job?

You must first be awarded Federal Work-Study (FWS) funds. After you have accepted the award, you eligible to search for jobs. You must download the FWS Employment Referral from the job board for each position you are interested in applying. The employer's contact name and telephone number will be provided on this form. The job board is available after August 1 every year and can be downloaded from the My Sac State Student Center.

For more information: FWS_Hiring_Instructions

I wasn’t awarded Federal Work-Study. How do I apply?

Federal Work-Study funds are limited. The Financial Aid Office awards as many eligible students as possible until funds are exhausted.  We encourage you to file your FAFSA by the March 2 priority deadline and respond to any document requests as soons as possible.  Funds are awarded to eligible students who complete their file the soonest.

If FWS funds were not included in your Award Notification, you can submit the FWS Request Form. If you have already secured a Federal Work-Study job, be sure to include the employer’s complete contact information on the request form.

To obtain the FWS Request Form: FWS_Request.pdf

How can I find a FWS job if I do not have access to the FWS Job Board?

You would need to conduct your own search for FWS employers.  You can start by visiting various departments on campus.  If you cannot find a FWS job, you can look for student assistant (non-FWS) positions in the Career Center or at University Enterprises, Inc. (UEI).

What are the benefits of being offered FWS?

It is a great way to gain or enhance your job skills and prepare for your career after graduation.  Jobs are typically located on campus which provides convenience.  You get paid by the hour like a real job, and the pay is competitive.  The works hours are flexible with your school schedule since you are a student employee.  FWS wages earned will not count against you the next year when you file your FAFSA.

How much can I expect to earn?

Hourly wages range from $8.00 to $16.17 per hour. Rates are determined by the skills and training required by the position. You may earn up to the maximum amount of the FWS award listed on your award notice. This amount may change based on a number of factors related to your overall financial aid or enrollment status. You may not earn more than your FWS award.

May I have two FWS jobs?

No, you may only have one FWS job. Additionally, you may not work for Sacramento State in any other capacity while employed as a FWS student worker (i.e., "regular" student assistant, teacher assistant, etc.).

When will I be paid?

Payroll services will have the most current information regarding pay schedules

Does unit enrollment, a low GPA or my academic status affect eligibility for FWS participation?

Yes. You must be enrolled at least half-time. Changes to your initial unit enrollment may affect the amount of your FWS award. Keep the Financial Aid Office informed of changes in your enrollment status. You must also maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduates, and your academic status must be in good standing.

COLLEGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION (CCE)

What do I need to do to apply for financial aid as a CCE student?

The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Please refer to the CCE Financial Aid Checklist.

What is the CCE information request form?

This form is used to adjust your cost of attendance based on your CCE degree program.  It also required to award aid for the current year based on courses provided for the Fall and Spring terms. A change in enrollment (courses) requires a revised CCE information request form.

How do I defer my fees?

Requests for fee deferments must be made through CCE Credit Registration Services.  CCE Credit Registration has a process where financial aid applicants are temporarily exempted from the disenrollment process that goes along with fee deadlines for students enrolled in CCE courses.  Once you have been awarded aid for the semester, CCE Credit Registration is notified and upon acceptance of aid will defer your fees until financial aid disburses to your account.  For questions about fee deferments please contact CCE Credit Registration at 916-278-6984.

When can I expect my aid to disburse?

Grants are payable when you have met all application eligibility requirements, and when you are enrolled and in attendance for ALL course listed for the specific semester indicated on the CCE information request form.

Federal Direct Loans are payable when you have met all application eligibility requirements, and when you are enrolled and in attendance for of at least half time (6 undergraduate units, 4 graduate units) for the specific semester indicated on the CCE information request form.

What happens to my financial aid if I have to change enrollment?

All 12/13 changes (Add/Change or Drops) will require a new 12/13 CCE Information Request Form.  Once this form is received, the Financial Aid Office will review and make adjustments as needed.  If you need to make changes to your 13/14 class schedule, click here.