Federal Pell & Loan Disbursement Schedule
Federal Pell Grant
Understanding Enrollment Status
The Department of Education has replaced the "old system" of enrollment categories
(ex: full-time, half-time) with a new approach called "Enrollment Intensity" that will use a percentage based on total units enrolled starting the 2024-2025 academic
year. This new system provides a more flexible and accurate way to calculate your
Federal Pell Grant, tailoring the award amount to your actual enrollment level rather
than fitting into broad categories.
The number of units you take plays a significant role in determining your eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant.
What is Enrollment Intensity?
Enrollment intensity is used to ONLY calculate your Federal Pell Grant eligibility, not for defining your enrollment status at the College OR other aid eligibility. Enrollment intensity is a percentage representing how many units you are taking compared to a full-time course load (12 units).
For example, if full-time enrollment is 12 units and a student is enrolled in 7.5
units, the enrollment intensity would be (7.5 ÷ 12) × 100% = 63% (rounded up).
Review the Federal Pell Grant percentage chart to determine your Pell Grant eligibility based on your enrollment intensity. Note, ONLY used for Pell Grant.
| *Units Enrolled | Enrollment Level (OLD SYSTEM) |
Enrollment Intensity (NEW SYSTEM) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 units + | Full Time | 100% |
| 11 units | Quarter Time | 92% |
| 10 units | 83% | |
| 9 units | 75% | |
| 8 units | Half Time | 67% |
| 7 units | 58% | |
| 6 units | 50% | |
| 5 units | Less than Half-Time | 42% |
| 4 units | 33% | |
| 3 units | 25% | |
| 2 units | 17% | |
| 1 unit | 8% | |
| *Units Enrolled = You will only be paid for classes you are actively attending. Late-starting
classes must start 4 weeks prior to the disbursement date. * Half-units (.5) are included in your overall calculation. See example above. |
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Summer 2026: Disbursement Schedule (PELL Only)
| *Student File Completion Date | Notification via MyCOD email | 1st Disbursement | 2nd Disbursement |
| **Note: 08/14/2026 | Early September | 09/24/2026 (100% of Summer Pell Grant) |
N/A |
| **Note: 08/14/2026 is the LAST day to submit missing documents to make the FINAL 2025-2026 disbursement, the week of 09/24/26. | |||
2026-2027 Academic Year: Disbursement Schedules
Fall 2026: Disbursement Schedule (PELL Only)
| Student File Completion Date | Notification via MyCOD email | 1st Disbursement | 2nd Disbursement | 3rd Disbursement |
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08/14/2026 |
Early September |
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Early October |
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Early November |
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Early December |
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Early January |
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Spring 2027: Disbursement Schedule (PELL Only)
| Student File Completion Date | Notification via MyCOD email | 1st Disbursement | 2nd Disbursement | 3rd Disbursement |
| 1/4/2027 | Early February | 3/4/2027 (34% of Spring grant) |
3/25/2027 (33% of Spring grant) |
4/22/2027 (33% of Spring grant) |
| 2/1/2027 | Early March | 3/25/2027 (67% of Spring grant) |
4/22/2027 (33% of Spring grant) |
N/A |
| 3/1/2027 | Early April | 4/22/2027 (100% of Spring grant) |
N/A | N/A |
| 4/1/2027 | Early May | 5/20/2027 (100% of Spring grant) |
N/A | N/A |
Note: Any pending Fall 2026 Pell funds will be disbursed with the next upcoming Spring disbursement (100% of Retro).
Federal Direct Loans:
The Federal Direct Loan scheduled disbursements are NOT available during the Summer term, only Fall & Spring. Students interested in a Federal Direct Loan MUST submit a Loan Request to notify our office of your intent to borrow funds.
Note, typically a student will receive ONE (1) loan disbursement each term, unless the student has remaining eligibility.
Fall 2026: Disbursement Schedule
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Federal Loan Disbursement Date |
| September 18th, 2026 | October 22nd, 2026 |
| October 9th, 2026 | November 19th, 2026 |
| November 6th, 2026 | December 17th, 2026 |
Spring 2027: Disbursement Schedule
| Loan Request Form Deadline | Federal Loan Disbursement Date |
| February 19th, 2027 | March 25th, 2027 |
| March 12th, 2027 | April 30th, 2027 |
| April 9th, 2027 | May 20th, 2027 |
What is changing?
In the past, most students who were enrolled at least half-time could qualify for the full annual Federal Direct Loan amount based on their grade level and dependency status.
Due to the One Big Beautiful Big Act (OBBA), starting July 1, 2026, your annual Direct Loan eligibility will be reduced if you are enrolled less than full-time (12 units). The amount you can borrow will generally be based on your active enrollment levels; known as Schedule of Reduction (SOR).
Understanding the Schedule of Reduction (SOR)
SOR stands for Schedule of Reduction. The SOR is a federal calculation that reduces your Direct Loan eligibility when you're enrolled for less than a full academic year, such as graduating early or attending for only one semester.
The reduction is based on the amount of coursework or enrollment remaining in your program. In other words, if you're completing fewer credits or a shorter period of study than an academic year, your loan eligibility may be reduced.
This adjustment is required by federal regulations and is not a decision made by the school (College of the Desert).
For example, a first-year dependent student who qualified for an annual Direct Loan limit of $5,500 and enrolled in 9 credits may be eligible to borrow approximately $4,125 instead of the full $5,500/Academic Year.
| Enrollment Levels | Possible Loan Eligibility* |
| 12 units or more | Up to 100% of Annual Loan Limit |
| 9 units | Approximately 75% of your annual loan limit |
| 6 units | Approximately 50% of your annual loan limit |
| *Actual eligibility depends on federal annual loan limits, your grade level, dependency status, remaining financial aid eligibility, and other federal requirements. | |
Notes
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*Financial Aid File Completion Date means the FAFSA application must be received by COD, all required documents must be submitted to the Financial Aid office, AND the file must be determined to be complete by the Financial Aid office by this date. Please note that turning in required documents does not guarantee a financial aid award or disbursement, as documents may be incomplete.
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You will only be paid for classes you are actively attending. Remaining in all of your classes is critical to avoid repayment of funds received. If you receive payment for a class and drop, you may be required to repay a portion or the entire grant you received. Please see our drops, withdrawals and repayment of funds policy.
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Disbursements are based on your enrollment status, and units will be checked approximately 4 weeks before each disbursement date (this includes late-start classes). Disbursements will be applied towards your outstanding balance first (within the award year).
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If you are not a California resident or are not eligible for the California College Promise Grant, you will need to set up a payment plan with the Bursar’s office to avoid a drop for non-payment until your Pell Grant disburses.
- This schedule is subject to Change at any time without warning. All disbursement dates are contingent upon funding and subject to change.
