Year Round Programs FAQs

The Year Round/Special Program Student

I was told that I am in a "Special Program," what does that mean? 

Certain academic programs require year round attendance and/or may have additional expenses that are above and beyond those of the standard student and they require special handling. In addition to the standard academic year terms fall and spring, students who are in special programs are required to attend summer during at least one year of their program. As mentioned, some of these programs may have additional fees above and beyond the standard fees, books, parking, etc. The Office of Financial aid is required to reserve 1/3 of the student’s annual Federal Direct Loan eligibility for that mandatory summer term and, if applicable, update the student’s cost of attendance with any additional allowable educational expenses.

How does the financial aid process work if I am in a Special Program? 

The financial aid process begins every year with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and submitting any requested information to the Office of Financial Aid. After submitted paperwork has been reviewed by a staff member, the student will be awarded for the academic year (fall and spring). The time frame from document submission to award receipt is 4-6 weeks. Special program students who will be attending summer will only be awarded 2/3 of their annual Federal Direct Loans in order to reserve the remaining 1/3 for their summer term. Any other aid the student is awarded remains the same. The remaining 1/3 of the student’s Federal Direct Loans will be offered to the student between March-April for the upcoming summer.

Please note: California Dream Act applicants are not eligible for federal funding. One semester Special Program students will be awarded alongside the standard one semester students. Both of these groups will be awarded all of the aid that they are eligible for, for the appropriate terms, and without reserving any for summer.

When I complete my financial aid application, what types of aid am I applying for?

It depends. Financial aid eligibility is determined by the following factors: financial information reported, cost of attendance, grade level/career (i.e., undergraduate, credential, 2nd BA, graduate, etc.), and whether or not the student will pay state fees.

• Grants: Grants are a type of free money that students apply for when they complete their financial aid application. There are federal grants, state grants, and other program specific fee based grants. Graduate students and California Dream Act Applicants are not eligible for federal grants and only those who pay state fees are eligible for state grants. Typically, 2nd BA candidates are not eligible for either. Graduate programs such as the Education Doctorate and Doctor of Nursing Practice,that do not pay state fees, have fee grants that work toward covering a percentage of eligible students’ fees.
• Federal Direct Loans: With the exception of graduate students and California Dream Act applicants*, all students are considered for Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans. Because Subsidized Loans do not accrue interest while the student is enrolled, eligibility for this type of loan is based on financial information reported. *Graduate students are only eligible for Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans and California Dream Act Applicants are not eligible for federal funding.

What if I need more money to pay for my program costs?

If your accepted financial aid award is not sufficient and you are unable to pay out-of-pocket, you may consider borrowing outside alternative loans. You can apply for an alternative private loan through the lending institution/bank of your choice. If you are a dependent undergraduate, your parents may apply for a Federal PLUS loan on your behalf. If you are a graduate student, you may consider applying for a Federal Graduate PLUS loan. To apply for a PLUS or Grad PLUS loan, please refer to our website: Loans

When & how will my financial aid pay out?

Based on federal regulations, accepted financial aid funds for those students enrolled in a minimum of 6 units per term cannot be released any earlier than 10 days prior to the standard term start date. Each term, all of your accepted financial aid will first be applied toward your tuition and fees. If your financial aid award exceeds the amount of your tuition and fees, the remaining funds would be sent to you via direct deposit or paper check.

Who can I contact if I have further questions about financial aid?

Please contact the Titan Hub for additional support. 

Extension Undergraduate Programs

Which programs does the Extension online degree completion include: 

• BA Sociology (37SOCXUBA)
• BA Business Administration (42BUPOUBA)
• BA Humanities & Social Sciences (37HSSXUBA)

How do I apply for financial aid as an Extension undergraduate student?

Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on-line at Student Aid to determine eligibility for all federal aid programs. Students may additionally be considered for the Cal Grant A or B program by completing the FAFSA by March 2, each year and completing all other application requirements as outlined by the California Student Aid Commission. Further details regarding Cal Grant programs and eligibility requirements may be found at the California Student Aid Commission.

What types of aid am I eligible for as an Extension undergraduate student?

Applicants enrolled in an Extension on-line program may be eligible for Pell Grant, Cal Grant, Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans. Eligibility is based upon EFC (estimated family contribution) per an applicant’s FAFSA data; along with academic program costs and standard allowances for room and board, transportation and personal expenses. Federal regulations require a minimum of half-time enrollment status (6 units) per term to receive Federal Direct Loan aid. Pell Grant and Cal Grant eligibility is also impacted by enrollment status. Full-time (12 unit minimum per term) enrollment is required to receive maximum grant eligibility. Students enrolled at three-quarter time (9 - 11 units per term) receive 75% of their grant eligibility, while students enrolled at half-time (6 - 8 units per term) receive 50% of their grant eligibility per term. Extension students are not eligible for State University Grant funding, as EIP programs are not
subject to state university tuition fees.

How does my dependency status per FAFSA criteria impact my financial aid awards?

Students are subject to academic year maximums for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Direct loans based on their FAFSA dependency status and academic grade level. For details on Federal Direct Loan academic year and undergraduate career, aggregate maximums by dependency status, refer to: Federal Student Loans. 

Does financial aid cover summer costs of attendance?

Students are awarded 2/3 of their academic year maximum in loan aid for fall and spring, reserving 1/3 for summer attendance. Pell Grant eligibility not disbursed during the fall and spring terms, based upon less than full-time (12 units per term) enrollment status is carried forward and applied to the subsequent summer term. Summer is considered a trailer term to the preceding fall and spring terms. If summer attendance is not mandatory, students are awarded academic year maximums of their Pell Grant and/or loan eligibility in the preceding fall and spring terms. Again, a minimum of half-time enrollment (6 units) is required for loan eligibility within a summer term. Pell Grant eligibility will also be disbursed based upon enrollment status per term.

Who can I contact if I would like to enroll in an Extension undergraduate program and have questions about financial aid?

Please contact the Titan Hub for additional support. 

Extension Graduate Programs

Which programs does the Extension Graduate include? 

• MS in Counseling - Evening Cohort (ending Spring 2025)
• MS Clinical Mental Health Couns and Marr and Fam Ther (33MMFXPMS)
• Fully- Employed MBA (FEMBA) 42FMBAPMBA
• Master of Social Work - Flex Program (33MSWXPMSW)
• Accelerated MS in Software Engineering (AMSE) 69EGSXPMS
• Accelerated MS in Applied Computer Science (AMACS) 69AMACSPMS

How do I apply for financial aid as an Extension graduate student?

In order to determine financial aid eligibility, students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online for the academic year of their attendance.

What awards am I eligible for as a graduate student in an Extension program?

Graduate students, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and meet all other federal student aid criteria, enrolled in Extension Programs are eligible for Unsubsidized Federal Direct loan aid up to the academic year maximum of $20,500. Students’ total eligibility will be based on academic program costs and standard allowances for room and board, transportation and personal expenses. Federal regulations require a minimum of half-time enrollment (6 units per term) to receive Federal Direct Loan aid. First-time borrowers of graduate loan aid must also complete a master promissory note and loan entrance counseling at Student Aid before their loan will be funded. Students are not eligible for State University Grant funding, as they do not pay state tuition fees.

What if my financial aid does not cover my entire cost of attendance?

If your accepted financial aid award is not sufficient to cover the costs of your program and you are unable to make a payment out of pocket, you may consider borrowing a private alternative student loan. You may apply for an alternative private loan through the lending institution/bank of your choice. You may also consider applying for a Federal Grad PLUS loan. 

Does financial aid cover summer costs of attendance?

Students are awarded 2/3 of their academic year maximum eligibility in unsubsidized loan aid for the fall and spring. The remaining 1/3 is reserved and awarded for the following summer term of attendance. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units, in order to be awarded for the summer term. If students will not enroll in at least 6 units for summer, as their academic program may only require 3 units of summer enrollment (e.g. FEMBA) students are awarded up to the full academic year loan maximum of $20,500 for the fall and spring terms and must budget accordingly for summer attendance. Please note that the summer term is considered a trailer term to the previous fall and spring terms.

Who can I contact if I would like to enroll in a Extension graduate program and have questions about financial aid?

Please contact the Titan Hub for additional support.