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 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 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 disbursement date. *Half-unit (.5) are included in your overall calculation. See example above. |
||
Summer 2026: Disbursement Schedule (PELL Only)
| *Student File Completion Date | Notification via MyCOD email | 1st Disbursement | 2nd Disbursement |
| 05/04/2026 | Early June | 06/25/2026 (50% of Summer Pell Grant) |
07/23/2026 (50% of Summer Pell Grant) |
| 06/25/2026 | Early July | 07/23/2026 (100% of Summer Pell Grant) |
N/A |
| **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. | |||
Federal Direct Loans:
The Federal Direct Loan scheduled disbursement 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.
2026-2027 Disbursement schedule for Direct Loans will be available in August 2026. Due the OBBA, there will be regulation changes effective July 1st, 2026.
2025-2026 Academic Year: Disbursement Schedules
| Student File Completion Deadline* | Eligibility Notification Sent to COD Email |
1st Disbursement |
2nd Disbursement |
3rd Disbursement |
| 08/13/2025 | Early September | 10/02/2025 34% of fall grant |
10/23/2025 33% of fall grant |
11/20/2025 33% of fall grant |
| 08/27/2025 | Early October | 10/23/2025 67% of fall grant |
11/20/2025 33% of fall grant |
N/A |
| 09/24/2025 | Early November | 11/20/2025 100% of fall grant |
N/A | N/A |
| 10/22/2025 | Early December | 12/18/2025 100% of fall grant |
N/A | N/A |
| 11/19/2025 | Early January |
01/29/2026
|
N/A | N/A |
| Student File Completion Deadline* | Eligibility Notification Sent to COD Email |
1st Disbursement |
2nd Disbursement |
3rd Disbursement |
| 12/03/2025 | Early February | 02/26/2026 34% of spring grant, fall retro |
03/19/2026 33% of spring grant, fall retro |
04/23/2026 33% of spring grant, fall retro |
| 01/21/2026 | Early March | 03/19/2026 67% of spring grant, fall retro |
04/23/2026 33% of spring grant, fall retro |
N/A |
| 02/18/2026 | Early April | 04/23/2026 100% of spring grant, fall retro |
N/A | N/A |
| 03/25/2026 | Early May | 05/21/2026 100% of spring grant, fall retro |
N/A | N/A |
| Complete Loan Request Form by: | Disbursement Dates: |
| September 19th, 2025 | October 23rd, 2025 |
| October 17th, 2025 | November 20th, 2025 |
| November 14th, 2025 | December 18th, 2025 |
| Complete Loan Request Form By: | Disbursement Dates: |
| February, 13th, 2026 | March 19th, 2026 |
| March 13th, 2026 | April 23rd, 2026 |
| April 17th, 2026 | May 21st, 2026 |
Notes
-
*Financial Aid File Completion Date means FAFSA application must be received by COD, all required documents must be submitted to the Financial Aid office, AND 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.
-
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.
-
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).
-
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 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.
