Financial Aid Disbursements and Student Refunds

Financial Aid Disbursement Information

• Financial aid "disbursements" are managed by Financial Aid and Scholarships. This process involves crediting all student aid, including loans, to student accounts in GET.  
• Financial aid "refunds" are managed by One Stop Financial Services and are issued only after current academic year institutional charges have been paid. The refund method depends on the option selected by the student. Exceptions are made for Federal Parent PLUS Loans. 

Financial aid award disbursements are calculated based on the number of a student's enrolled units per semester. Students enrolled less than full-time may receive a prorated disbursement or may be ineligible for a disbursement. See related policies for each type of financial aid on the Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

As defined by the U.S. Department of Education; (34 CFR 668.164(a), (b), & (d)(1), federal financial aid funds can cover the current academic year institutional charges. If you have outstanding non-institutional charges (30 day loans, orientation, parking, etc.) and/or prior year tuition, housing, and overaward charges on your student account, you may complete the Title IV Authorization release form to allow up to $200 of your current financial aid refund to apply toward your prior year or non-institutional charges. The remainder of your current financial aid refund will be mailed to you or direct deposited to your U.S. banking institution.

Financial Aid Refund Information

Financial aid disbursement refunds are either mailed to the current mailing address on GET or deposited via direct deposit. Please ensure that the mailing address on file with the University is accurate by reviewing your information on GET.

For faster refunds, enroll in direct deposit on GET:

• How to enroll in direct deposit (video tutorial)
• How to enroll in direct deposit (instructional guide)

Financial Aid Overawards 

A financial aid overaward balance occurs when financial aid that was already paid to you or applied to your University account is later reduced. This can happen because of a change in your enrollment status or financial aid eligibility.

You are responsible for paying any resulting balance on your student account. We recommend checking your GET account regularly to stay informed about your balance and any award changes.

If you have questions or need help understanding changes to your financial aid, please contact Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Financial aid disbursements are processed beginning one week before the start of each semester and occur weekly thereafter, excluding University and U.S. holidays, through the 16th week of the semester. Financial aid disbursement refunds are processed beginning the first Friday of each semester and every Friday thereafter.

Disbursement dates are set in accordance with federal regulations and Cal State LA policies. Cal State LA does not require students to open an account with any financial institution; however, students are strongly encouraged to enroll in direct deposit using a valid U.S. bank account. 

2025-2026 Disbursement Schedule

Please note: The disbursement schedule is subject to change without notice.

Tuition and fee refunds are automatically processed the week after the term's census date. 

• Summer 2026 refunds are anticipated to be processed by July 17, 2026.
• Fall 2026 refunds are anticipated to be processed by September 25, 2026.

Students may submit a Refund Petition at any time. Petitions take up to four weeks to process.

Refunds for tuition and fees, business professional program fees, and non-resident tuition are processed automatically when a student follows the campus established procedures and meet deadline dates to drop courses/units or withdraw from the University each term. Please visit the University Registrar website for detailed information on processes, important dates, and deadlines.

A $5.00 administrative processing fee will be withheld from all refunds unless withdrawal is the result of a campus regulation, class cancellation or compulsory military service. The refund policy for the California State University System is based on the California Code of Regulations, Title V, Section 41802.

Full Refund Deadline - Before the Start of the Semester or Session

To receive a full refund of tuition and fees, professional program fees, and non-resident tuition, students must drop all courses/units or officially withdraw from the University by the established deadline date.

Partial Refund Deadline - Reduction in Unit Load

Students who drop some but not all courses/units resulting in lower tuition fee, or professional program fee, and/or non-resident fee in the campus designated Add/Drop period will be entitled to a refund of the difference in tuition and fees and a refund of the professional program fee and non-resident tuition, if applicable.

Prorated Refund Dates – After the Semester or Summer Session Begins

Students who drop all courses/units or completely withdraw on the first day of classes and no later than the 60% point of the semester or summer session will receive a prorated refund of tuition and fees, professional program fees and non-resident tuition. The prorated charges are based on the drop date or withdraw date and the length of the term. Students are responsible for paying tuition and fees, professional program fees and non-resident tuition for the number of days enrolled.

No Refunds After the 60% Point

Students who officially withdraw or drop courses/classes after the 60% point in the session(s) will not be entitled to a tuition and fee refund. Students are solely responsible for dropping courses/classes by the published deadline dates. Failure to meet the deadline dates may result in assignment of grades and an obligation to pay tuition fees.

Disenrollment

Partial tuition and fee payments for a given term are forfeited if a student is disenrolled from that term due to incomplete payment.

• Fall Semester 2026
• May and Summer Session 2026
• Early Start Summer 2026
• Spring Semester 2026
• Winter Session 2026

Student Housing Refunds:

If you believe you are eligible for a student housing refund, please contact Housing and Residence Life to verify refund eligibility. Housing and Residence Life will request eligible refunds directly with One-Stop Financial Services.

College of Professional and Global Education (PaGE) Refunds:

If you believe you are eligible for a PaGE program refund, please contact PaGE to verify refund eligibility. PaGE will request eligible refunds directly with One-Stop Financial Services.

Miscellaneous Refunds:

Refunds for miscellaneous fees (lab fees, application fees, etc.) require approval from the respective department's Dean or Chair. Contact the appropriate department for further information.

Cash, Check, Bank Account (Savings/Electronic Check) Payments

Refunds are issued via direct deposit to the student's U.S. bank account. Instructions for enrolling in direct deposit can be found on the One-Stop Financial Services website. If you are not enrolled in direct deposit, a check will be mailed to the mailing address on your GET Student Account. Please ensure the University has your current mailing address.

• How to enroll in direct deposit (video tutorial)
• How to enroll in direct deposit (instructional guide)

Credit/Debit Card Payments

Refunds will be credited back to the original payment method (credit or debit card) within six months from the transaction date. All credit/debit card payments processed via Transact are subject to the vendor's 2.65% non-refundable convenience fee.

Wire Payments

Flywire payments posted to your Cal State LA student account are rolled over to future terms as long as you maintain enrollment at Cal State LA. If you are graduating, disqualified, or taking a leave of absence from Cal State LA, please submit a Refund Petition with supporting documentation. Wire payment refunds are processed through Flywire and sent back to the original source.

How to enroll in direct deposit (video tutorial)

How to enroll in direct deposit (instructional guide)

Students can enroll in direct deposit on GET to receive financial aid, tuition and fee, and housing refunds more quickly. Once enrolled in direct deposit, refunds will be electronically deposited to a valid U.S. checking or savings account after tuition fees charges, housing charges, 30-day loans, and other University charges have been paid.

Students are responsible for providing accurate banking information (routing and account numbers), updating, or canceling direct deposit. Students can verify the routing and account numbers with their banking institutions before enrolling in direct deposit. Note: before you begin direct deposit enrollment, please have your banking information readily available as the enrollment page automatically times out after 2 minutes.

Please note: 2-Step Verification is required for Direct Deposit Enrollment. Watch the this video to learn more. For questions about 2-Step verification, please call ITS at (323) 343-6170.

To enroll in direct deposit, follow the steps below:

1. Log in to MyCalStateLA.
2. Select GET from the Quick Launch menu.
3. From the Student Homepage, click Student Center.
4. Under Finances section, select Enroll in Direct Deposit.
5. Authenticate through DUO (2 Step Verification) when prompted.
6. Enter your banking details:
   1. Choose Checking or Savings.
   2. Enter 9-digit bank routing number (found at the bottom left corner of your check (see illustration below).
   3. Enter your bank account number (not your debit card number).
   4. Re-enter your account number.

6. Check the box to agree to the Terms and Conditions, then click Submit.
7. The next screen will request that you confirm the account information you provided; if correct click OK.

You’re done! Your future financial aid disbursements and student refunds will be go directly to your bank account - no more paper checks or worrying about lost checks in the mail!

Stop Payment/Replacement Refund Request

Students may request a replacement refund if the original refund check is lost, stolen, mutilated, or stale-dated (not cashed within 180 days of the check date).

Student Stop Payment/Replacement Refund Form (Click here for instructions)

We encourage students to enroll in direct deposit to receive the replacement refund faster and more securely. Please watch the video tutorial to learn which refunds are eligible for direct deposit. To receive your replacement refund by direct deposit, enroll in GET before submitting the Student Stop Payment/Replacement Refund Form.

• How to enroll in direct deposit (video tutorial)
• How to enroll in direct deposit (instructional guide)

Direct Deposit Rejects

If your bank returns or rejects your direct deposit refund, a notification will be sent to your Cal State LA and personal email addresses with the reason for the return. Your direct deposit account will be deactivated in GET.

Reply to the email to either:

• Request to have the refund reissued via direct deposit
  • Please update your direct deposit deposit information on GET before replying to the email
• Request for a reissued refund check to be mailed to the mailing address on file in GET
  • Please verify your mailing address in GET before replying to the email