Payments, Refunds, & Direct Deposit

Financial Aid (FA) Policy

FA funds are administered in accordance with a nationally established policy of financial assistance for education. The basis of this policy is the belief that students and their parents have the primary responsibility for meeting educational costs. The amount of the contribution expected from students and their parents is determined by careful analysis of family financial strength taking into consideration net income, number of dependents, allowable expenses, indebtedness, and assets. The U.S. Department of Education, in cooperation with educational agencies, has established procedures which are used in making an evaluation of the amount families can be expected to contribute.

During the 24-25 academic year, all financial aid, after fees are paid, will be disbursed by paper check to the mailing address you have on file, or by Direct Deposit [click here to Sign Up for Direct Deposit]. It is important that you verify your mailing address in mySDCCD or sign up for Direct Deposit no later than 2 weeks prior to any posted dates shown below.

**Please allow 2 - 3 weeks to receive your financial aid via check or direct deposit, prior to the day of disbursement

Important notes:

• Your financial aid payments (if you qualify) are based on your class enrollment schedule as of the “Freeze/Census” date, or the first date you begin attending. 
• Your payment will not increase based on any additional classes added after the freeze/census day.
• Any late start, short term classes must be added prior to the freeze/census day to be included in your payment.

 

Payment/Refund Dates

Financial Aid checks will be mailed to your home address and cannot be forwarded by the Post Office. If you have a change of address, please notify the Admissions Office immediately. Also, address changes can be made online on mySDCCD.

California Residents: All FA will be divided into two payments each semester. The first payment will be the balance after all fees are paid (i.e. enrollment fees, health fee, etc.). Student refund checks will be mailed to the address on file with the Admissions Office. It is important that students verify the mailing address, in your mySDCCD portal, in order to validate the refund check will be mailed to the correct address. If the mailing address is correct, no further action is required. 

*Please allow delays during an observed holiday.

Non-Resident: Students will have FA applied to their tuition fees, up to their maximum eligibility, based on the award amount and enrollment. If there is any excess, after all fees have been paid, a student refund check will be sent by mail.  Bookstore accounts are not available to non-resident students.

Students enrolled only in late-start short term classes will not receive disbursements until your classes have started.

 

Direct Deposit Information

Direct deposit is an Automated Clearing House (ACH) transaction where money is electronically deposited into a checking or savings account. To be eligible for direct deposit, students must have FA awarded in the current aid year and must not have any FA or student accounting related holds. When enrolling in direct deposit, it is recommended that the student:

• be the sole owner of the bank account used to receive FA funds;
• never share mySDCCD account information;
• before signing up, check with the financial institution (bank, credit union, etc.) regarding any potential fees associated with direct deposit;
• ensure accurate submitting of the correct routing and account numbers to prevent delays or potential loss of FA funds.

Direct deposit funds will be distributed into the checking or savings account submitted by the student and are typically available immediately, in the full amount deposited. Funds are generally deposited on Friday, one week after the FA disbursement, but may be delayed by Thursday/Friday holidays.

 

Anticipated Disbursement Dates Schedule: 

ALL dates may change without prior notice. Please check the website regularly for up-to-date information.

 

2026-2027 Payment Dates
Payment	Fall 2026	Spring 2027	Summer 2027
ALL 2026 Bookstore Account Dates (For students awarded Pell Grant)	Accounts open 08/10/2026 Accounts Close 09/08/2026	Intercession: Accounts open 12/17/2026 Accounts Close 01/15/2027 Spring:  Accounts open 01/19/2027 Accounts Close 02/14/2027	Accounts open 05/28/2027   Accounts Close 06/24/2027
Enrollment Status or Census Date Class(es) added after this date will not be included for payment purposes	September 9, 2026	February 17, 2027	June 30, 2027
First Pell Grant Disbursement:	Paper Check: Anticipated to begin mailing 09/18/2026* Direct Deposit: On or after 09/21/2026*	Paper Check: Anticipated to begin mailing 02/26/2027* Direct Deposit: On or after 03/01/2027*	Paper Check: 07/09/2027* Direct Deposit: On or after 07/12/2027*
Second Pell Grant Disbursement:	Paper Check: Anticipated to begin mailing 10/30/2026* Direct Deposit: On or after 11/02/2026*	Paper Check: Anticipated to begin mailing 04/09/2027* Direct Deposit: On or after 04/12/2027*	N/A
Cal Grant B/C & FSEOF	Paper Check: Anticipated to begin mailing 09/18/2026* Direct Deposit: On or after 09/21/2026*	Paper Check: Anticipated to begin mailing 02/26/2027* Direct Deposit: On or after 03/01/2027*	N/A
Federal Direct Loans	After 09/01/2026**	After 02/08/2027	After 06/21/2027 (varies by summer enrollment)
**Anticipated disbursement will be verified by Student Accounting. Please allow for up to 2 weeks to verify any balance due, calculate, print and mail or direct Deposit refunds

 

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2025-2026 Payment Dates
Payment	Fall 2025	Spring 2026	Summer 2026
ALL 2025 Bookstore Account Dates (For students awarded Pell Grant)	Accounts open Monday, August 11 2025 Accounts Close Tuesday, September 9th	Intercession: Accounts open Thursday, December 18 2025, Accounts Close Friday, January 16 2026 Spring:  Accounts open Monday, January 19 2026 Accounts Close Saturday, February 14 2026	Bookstore accounts open Friday, May 29th, 2026   Accounts Close Thursday, June 25th 2026
Enrollment Status or Census Date Class(es) added after this date will not be included for payment purposes	September 10, 2025	February 18, 2026	July 1, 2026
First Pell Grant Disbursement:	Fall 2025 -  Week of September 25, 2025	Spring 2026 -  Week of March 5, 2026	Summer 2026 -  Week of July 6, 2026
Second Pell Grant Disbursement:	Week of November 6, 2025	Week of April 9, 2026	N/A
Cal Grant B & C	Week of September 25, 2025	Week of March 5, 2026	N/A
Federal Direct Loans	Late August	Early February	Late June

 

**Anticipated disbursement will be verified by Student Accounting. Please allow for up to 2 weeks to verify any balance due, calculate, print and mail or direct Deposit refunds.

 

 

Problems Receiving Direct Deposit Funds

If your routing number and/or account number is incorrect, direct deposit will fail or will be deposited into the wrong bank account. It is the student's responsibility to ensure bank information is correct when signing up for direct deposit. Funds incorrectly deposited to another account due to incorrect routing and/or account numbers will require the student to work directly with the financial institution to resolve the matter.

Important Notes:

• The SDCCD will not be able to resolve personal disputes once the funds are deposited into the account using information submitted by the student.
• A direct deposit failure will cause up to a 2-week delay of your FA refund or a potential loss of FA funds if incorrect bank information was provided. 

You can sign up for direct deposit. Please visit How to Sign Up for Direct Deposit or How to Change Direct Deposit Bank Accounts for more information.

-or-

Go to  mySDCCD Support Desk to submit a request for assistance with setting up or canceling your direct deposit.

 

The San Diego Community College District is committed to a safe and equitable learning environment for all students and employees. It does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in its educational programs and employment. Please refer to the SDCCD Board Policy 3410: NONDISCRIMINATION at the link below.
For details and contact information: F-18_Title-IX-SDCCD.pdf

SDCCD Board Policy 3410