Long Beach City College

There are two main disbursements each semester, the first is one week before the semester begins, the second is at the beginning of the 10th week of the semester. Make up orders, for students whose applications are not ready for disbursement during the two main disbursement orders, are run on a regular basis throughout the semester.

Disbursement procedures for the different financial aid programs are as follows

Pell Grant and Cal Grant B

These two funds must be adjusted according to the number of units in which the student is enrolled:

12 units or more - full time - 100% payment
9 to 11.5 units - 3/4 time - 75% payment
6 to 8.5 units - 1/2 time - 50% payment
.5 to 5.5 units - less than half time - small Pell Grant only

Students are considered to be enrolled full time until the end of registration, at which time units are checked and financial aid is adjusted according to the number of units, as indicated above.

Example 1. Three students complete their financial aid files early and they are awarded and a check is disbursed before the end of registration. They are each eligible to receive a Pell Grant or a Cal Grant of exactly $1,200. These students, however, enroll in full, 3/4, and 1/2 time. They will be paid as follows:

Student A (full time) receives:

$600 at the beginning of the semester
$600 at the 10th week
Total: $1,200 (the full amount)

Student B (3/4 time) receives:

$600 at the beginning of the semester
$300 at the 10th week
Total: $900 (75% of the full amount)

Student C (1/2 time) receives:

$600 at the beginning of the semester
$0 at the 10th week
Total: $600 (50% of the full amount)

Exampe 2. If the same three students complete their financial aid files late and are awarded and disbursed after registration ends, but before the second disbursement, they will be paid as follows:

Student A (full time) receives:

$600 2-3 weeks after the file is complete
$600 at the 10th week
Total: $1,200 (the full amount)

Student B (3/4 time) receives:

$450 2-3 weeks after the file is complete
$450 at the 10th week
Total: $900 (75% of the full amount)

Student C (1/2 time) receives:

$300 2-3 weeks after the file is complete
$300 at the 10th week
Total: $600 (50% of the full amount)

Example 3. Finally, if these three students complete their financial aid files even later, in time for or after the second disbursement, they will be paid as follows:

Student A (full time) receives:

$1,200 2-3 weeks after the file is complete
Total: $1,200 (the full amount)

Student B (3/4 time) receives:

$900 2-3 weeks after the file is complete
Total: $900 (75% of the full amount)

Student C (1/2 time) receives:

$600 2-3 weeks after the file is complete
Total: $600 (50% of the full amount)

The disbursement of less than half time (for students enrolled in less than 6 units) must be done by hand. Because of that, less than half time Pell Grants are disbursed after registration has ended and, thus, fall into either example 2 or 3, according to when the file is completed.

In the fall semester, the first Cal Grant checks are usually disbursed a couple of weeks into the semester because that is when the Student Aid Commission releases the funds to the colleges.

Students who receive financial aid and withdraw from all of their classes may have to pay some money back to the Department of Education.

FSEOG

FSEOG is also disbursed twice a semester, but the amount of FSEOG is not adjusted like Pell and Cal Grant B. The standard FSEOG amount of $250 is disbursed as follows:

$125 at the beginning of the semester
$125 at the 10th week
Total: $250

Students who drop below 6 units are no longer eligible for FSEOG.

Direct Loans

By law, Direct Loans must be paid out in two disbursements. For full year loans, the disbursements are made in the fall and in the spring semesters. For one semester loans, the disbursements are made at the beginning and in the middle of the semester.

The first disbursement of loans for new borrowers (first time borrowing at LBCC) must be held for 30 days after the beginning of the semester.

Students who apply for a Direct Loan late and who, therefore, are due to receive a check after registration is over (after the second week of school), must have an attendance verification form signed by all of their instructors in order to receive the check.

All students must attend Exit Counseling in order to receive their second disbursements. Group Exits will be scheduled on a variety of days and at a variety of times so as to be convenient for most students. Exits may also be done online.

Direct Loan disbursements scheduled at the beginning of the spring semester will be delayed until grades for fall have been checked. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory progress will be suspended and must successfuly go through the appeal process in order to receive their spring loan disbursement. In general, therefore, Direct Loans are disbursed at the beginning of the fall semester and at about the fourth week of the spring semester.

Cal Grant C and EOPS/CARE

These three programs are all disbursed at 100% of the amount for which the student is eligible at the time that the award is made, but no earlier than the beginning of the semester.

Cal Grant C awards are adjusted according to the number of units, as noted above for Cal Grant B.

EOPS/CARE grants require at least 9 units.