Disbursement Policy

• The total aid awarded to a student will always be split into two – Half for Fall and half for Spring. Spring start students and Summer students are the only ones that can have their aid for that entire semester. 
• Students cannot use their Spring aid for the Fall semester under any circumstances; even if they’re graduating for the Fall 
• When we disburse aid, we disburse it all at once. Any new or incoming aid will be disbursed on Wednesdays as long as there are no financial aid issues with the student’s account and are meeting the unit requirement for the award 
• There are certain awards that will need to disburse after census to avoid any proration (Adjusting) as a result of a student adding or dropping their classes after initial disbursement 
• Awards must be disbursed within the period of enrollment. Pending awards that never released for the semester it was supposed can no longer be disbursed in future terms. 

What Is the Census Date?

Each semester, San Francisco State University establishes a census date that aligns with the tuition payment deadline set by the Bursar’s Office. On that date, the University officially records each student’s total enrolled units. The Office of Student Financial Aid uses this information to finalize financial aid eligibility for the semester.

What Happens Before and After the Census Date

In the weeks leading up to the census date, your financial aid awards may increase or decrease as you adjust your class schedule. Adding or dropping units before census may change your eligibility for certain types of aid, including state and federal grants.

Once the census date passes, your enrollment for that term is locked. Financial aid awards - including the Federal Pell Grant, Cal Grant, and State University Grant (SUG) - are based on your enrollment level at census and cannot be adjusted afterward, even if you add additional units later in the semester.

Why This Matters

Your financial aid package is initially based on the assumption that you will enroll full time. If, at census, you are enrolled in fewer units, your grants and other need-based aid may be reduced.

What students need to know

• Your total unit count on the census date is final for financial aid purposes.
• Adding classes after census will not increase your grant amounts.
• To be considered full time:
  • Undergraduate students: 12 units or more
  • Graduate students: 8 units or more
• If you are taking units through a Special Enrollment Program (such as CSU Fully Online, Consortium Agreement, or Concurrent Enrollment) to reach full-time status, you must be approved and correctly enrolled in those courses by the census date.
• Units attempted at census are also locked in for purposes of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Dropping a class after census will still count as an attempted unit.