Financial Aid and Scholarship Disbursement

It is the policy of SDSU to disburse—via direct deposit—any remaining financial aid awards after being applied to current institutional charges. However, students may request Cal Grant A and B funds be disbursed directly to them instead.

Disbursement Information

The Policy

SDSU is required to apply all financial aid funds directly to current-year institutional charges. Only after all charges are paid will any remaining funds be disbursed via eRefund*. 

Allocation of Funds

Financial aid funds will be applied to the following fees:

  1. Basic Tuition/Registration Fees
  2. Non-Resident Tuition (if applicable)
  3. Housing & Meal Plan (if applicable)

After these fees are paid in total any reaming funds will then be disbursed via Direct Deposit.

Direct Deposit

At SDSU, direct deposit is the easiest, fastest and most secure way for students to receive financial aid and scholarships (the amount after institutional charges are deducted).

Direct deposit means that financial aid and scholarship refunds are directly deposited into a designated personal checking or savings account.

Signing Up for Direct Deposit

Please follow the instructions to enroll in direct deposit:

  1. Log into your my.SDSU.edu account
  2. Select the “Financial Account” title.
  3. Select "Enroll in Direct Deposit".
  4. Fill in the required fields

*If you do not sign up for direct deposit,  your funds will be held until you provide banking information.

Sign up for Direct Deposit

Start of Disbursement

Disbursement of Financial Aid and Scholarship funds begins approximately a week prior to course instruction each semester. Students will only receive disbursement if registered at SDSU and funds are available.

Processing Disbursement Transactions

During the semester direct deposit transactions are processed three times per week. If a valid email is provided on my.SDSU, you will be notified via email each time you receive a disbursement.

If you receive the Cal Grant A or B Access Grant, you may opt to have funds directly disbursed to you*. This request can be made in person at any anytime. Our office is located at Student Services West, Room 2536 and is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm.

*If the grant has already been applied to fees, your request will be accommodated for future disbursements.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans are only eligible for eRefund if authorized by the parent on the initial loan application. This authorization will release the funds directly to the student once direct deposit has been set up by the student.

If direct deposit is not authorized, any remaining funds from these loans will be mailed to the parent at the address indicated on the application form.

Learn More About This Loan

Perkins Loans are no longer being awarded by SDSU. We still handle existing Perkins Loans which were previously awarded by SDSU.

Loan Decline Forms

Students and parents have the right to cancel federal loans within 14 days of the disbursement date. The user should fill out the respective Loan Decline form (available below) and write a check payable to SDSU for the dollar amount that is being returned. These items can be submitted to the University Bursar's Office in person, deposited in the drop box outside the office, or mailed (postmarked within 14 days of the loan disbursement). Contact information is available on our About Us page.

Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships

For additional information related to Financial Aid please visit the Financial Aid Office.

Information on this Web site is subject to changes without notice. Every effort is made to ensure that information is current and accurate. The statements found on this Web site are for informational purposes only.