How will I receive my financial aid?

Financial aid is paid to you in two different ways: credited to your Student Account or paid to you for hours you work in a Work-Study paycheck.

Your Student Account
Disbursement Checklist
Budget Worksheet
Financial Aid Refund - Direct Deposit or Check?
Work Study Paycheck
Pell Grant Enrollment Requirements

Most Aid is Paid to Your Student Account
Most of your financial aid funds will appear as credits on your UCSC student account. This process is called "disbursement." Financial aid is disbursed quarterly, typically a few days before the beginning of the quarter/session.

Estimated 2008 Summer Session Dsibursement Dates

Estimated 2008-09 Academic Year Disbursement Dates

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Disbursement Checklist
If you have been awarded aid your aid will not disburse until:

(1) You have accepted your award(s) at MyUCSC.
(2) You are enrolled in at least 6 units.
(3) Disbursement for the quarter has begun (see dates above).
(4) You have completed First-Time Borrower Requirements, if applicable.
(5) We have received the funds from the private scholarships or loan agency, if applicable.

When your financial aid disburses it will be viewable immediately as a credit to your student account at MyUCSC. Your financial aid will first pay any charges to your student account such as tuition, fees, and on-campus housing.

Each quarter you will receive a UCSC billing statement which lists all the university charges to your account and all credits from your financial aid.

Anticipate if you will owe money or receive an aid refund using our 2008-2009 Budget Worksheet.

--> If your financial aid is not sufficient to cover all university charges, you will need to pay the UCSC Cashier the balance due.

--> If a credit balance remains after all charges have been paid, you will receive a refund to help pay for your out-of-pocket educational expenses (e.g. books, transportation, etc).

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Financial Aid Refunds - Direct Deposit or Check?
If you expect a financial aid refund we encourage you to sign up to have your refund deposited directly to your bank account. If you do not choose direct deposit, Student Business Services will mail your financial aid refunds to you via paper check to your "local" address (on MyUCSC) beginning on or around first day of each quarter.

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Your Work-Study Paycheck
If you have been awarded Work-Study and secure Work-Study employment you will be paid for the hours you work once a month around the 8th of the month. Your paycheck will be mailed to you at the address you provide when you are hired or, if you prefer, deposited into your bank account.  For more information about your Work-Study award see the Work-Study page on this site. You can also visit or call the Career Center at (831) 459-4420.

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Important Note for Pell Grant Recipients

Pell Grant payment is based on full-time status (12 units). Your units will be checked at the end of the third week of each quarter and your Pell Grant adjusted according to the units you are enrolled in at that time. 

If you are enrolled in less than 12 units, your Pell Grant will be reduced or canceled. You will receive a bill for the amount of the Pell Grant reduction.  Once your Pell Grant is reduced, it cannot be reinstated to the previous amount. To avoid having your Pell Grant reduced, you must be officially enrolled in at least 12 units by the following dates:

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