Financial Aid and Scholarships

Understanding Aid Program Limits

Some financial aid programs contain limits after which a student is no longer eligible to receive aid (from that program).

If you reach your lifetime limit under a specific program, you cannot receive any more aid from that program and you will have to find alternate ways to finance your education. Therefore it is to your advantage to work with your academic advisor or academic department to develop a plan to complete your program in a timely manner and avoid potential loss of financail aid eligibility.

The types of financial aid which are limited are found below.

Grant Program Limits

Students pursuing an undergraduate degree or teaching credential are potentially eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant. Students are limited to receiving a Federal Pell Grant for the equivalent of twelve semesters of full-time enrollment (6 years). The calculation of this total includes attendance at Cal Poly Pomona and any other schools where a Pell Grant was paid (including Community Colleges). 

Your Pell Grant usage is tracked by federal student aid according to a percentage called Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU), and students may not exceed a 600% LEU. Once you reach the 600% Pell LEU, you will be ineligible for any additional Pell Grants.

You may track your Pell LEU through Studentaid.gov (log in to “My Aid” using your to view your LEU).

How is my Federal Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used calculated?

Scheduled award: The maximum amount of Federal Pell Grant funding you can receive is calculated for an aid year. An aid year at Cal Poly Pomona consists of the Fall and Spring terms (i.e., the 2022-2023 aid year consists of Fall 2022 and Spring 2023)

Your scheduled award

  • is partially determined by using your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that is calculated from the information you (and your family) provided when you filed your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form;
  • is the maximum amount you would be able to receive for the aid year if you were enrolled full-time for the full school year; and
  • represents 100% of your Pell Grant eligibility for that award year.
Review Understanding Enrollment Requirements for details on how your enrollment status impacts the amount of the grant you may receive.
Percent used: To determine how much of the maximum six years (600%) of Pell Grant you have used each year, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) compares the actual amount you received for the award year with your scheduled award amount for that aid year.

Your eligibility will be reduced by each term that you receive payment. The percentage of Pell Grant used each semester is based on your enrollment status:

  • 50% for full-time
  • 37.5% for three-quarter-time
  • 25% for half-time
  • 12.5% for less than half-time
If you receive the full amount of your scheduled award, you will have used 100%. It’s possible that you might not receive your entire scheduled award for an award year. There are a number of reasons for this, the most common of which are that you are not enrolled for the full year or that you are not enrolled full-time, or both.

Examples:

  • Your scheduled award for an aid year is $5,000.  You only enrolled for one semester, and attended full-time during that semester.  You would have received only $2,500 - which would be 50% of your scheduled award for the aid year.
  • Your scheduled award for an aid year is $5,000.  You enrolled for both semesters, but only attended three-quarter time during each semester.  You would have received a total of $3,750 - which would be 75% of your scheduled award for the aid year.

In certain situations, it is possible that you may be eligible to receive up to 150% of your scheduled award for an aid year. For example, if your scheduled award is $5,000 for the aid year and you received $7,500 because you were enrolled full-time in the fall, spring, and summer semesters, you would have received 150% of the scheduled award for that aid year.

Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU): Federal Student Aid keeps track of your LEU by adding together the percentages of your Pell Grant scheduled awards that you received for each aid year. If your LEU equals or exceeds 600%, you may no longer receive Pell Grant funding.

If your LEU is greater than 500% but less than 600%, while you will be eligible for a Pell Grant for the next aid year, you will not be able to receive a full scheduled award.

Track your Pell LEU

You may track your Pell LEU through Studentaid.gov (log in to “My Aid” using your to view your LEU).

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program is a federal financial aid grant program available to students enrolled in eligible programs.

Students who receive a TEACH Grant must agree to teach in a high-need field, at a low-income elementary or secondary school as a highly qualified teacher, full-time for at least four years.

Students must meet the teaching requirements within eight years of completing the program for which the TEACH Grant was awarded. The student is required to sign a service agreement to this effect and complete all required counseling to receiving a TEACH Grant.

Program of Study Statutory Annual Maximum*
 Aggregate (Lifetime) Limit - per program
Eligible Undergraduate Program $4,000 $16,000
Eligible Teaching Credential Program $4,000 $16,000
Eligible Master's Degree Program $4,000 $8,000

*As required by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (the sequester law), any TEACH Grant where the first disbursement is on or after October 1, 2022 and before October 1, 2023 requires a reduction of 5.7 percent from the award amount for which the student would otherwise have been eligible. As a result, the maximum annual amount for 2022-2023 is $3,772.

The annual amount listed above is based on full-time enrollment. Review Understanding Enrollment Requirements for details on how your enrollment status impacts the amount of the grant you may receive.

As a Cal Grant A or B recipient, you may receive up to the equivalent of four years of full-time grant payments. The duration of your eligibility will be based on your educational level at the time you receive your first Cal Grant payment.

In order to graduate in four years, you must complete 30 units or more per academic year.

Education Level
Recipients will initially be assigned program eligibility based on their grade level in college as reported on their FAFSA or CA Dream Application. Students who have never attended college begin with program eligibility of 400%.

The college or university determines a student's official education level (EL) at the time of initial payment based on the number of units the student has already earned. The EL is based on all accepted transfer units and earned units at the institution.

The college or university certifies the EL in the same manner for Cal Grant purposes as for other campus grade level or class level purposes; the Cal Grant EL is not changed – even if the student advances a level during the year.

Earned Units as of Year First Awarded Cal Grant Education Level Reported to CSAC
 Number of Years Student Can Receive Cal Grant
Percentage of Grant Available
0 - 29.9 Units First Year (EL 1) 4 years 400%
30 - 59.9 Units Second Year (EL 2) 3 years 300%
60 - 89.9 Units Third Year (EL 3) 2 years 200%
90 or more Units Fourth Year (EL 4) 1 year 100%

Eligibility Used for Each Term of Enrollment

Your eligibility will be reduced by each term that you receive payment. The percentage of Cal Grant used each semester is based on your enrollment status and total remaining program eligibility:

  • 50% for full-time
  • 37.5% for three-quarter-time
  • 25% for half-time
  • 12.5% for less than half-time (even though you are not eligible for a grant payment at less than half-time enrollment, your enrollment still counts against your overall eligibility).

Review Understanding Enrollment Requirements for details on how your enrollment status impacts the amount of the grant you may receive.

You may track your Cal Grant usage and total program eligibility by logging into WebGrants 4 Students.

Once you have exhausted your eligibility for the Cal Grant, you will be considered for the State University Grant (provided you meet all criteria for that grant, and have not exceeded the earned unit maximum).

Keep in mind that your Cal Grant eligibility for each year will depend on information from your FAFSA or Dream Application, and whether or not you continue to meet the general eligibility requirements for the program.

As a Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) recipient, you may receive up to the equivalent of four years of full-time scholarship payments. The duration of your eligibility will be based on your educational level at the time you receive your first MCS payment.

In order to graduate in four years, you must complete 30 units or more per academic year.

Education Level
Recipients will initially be assigned program eligibility based on their grade level in college as reported on their FAFSA or CA Dream Application. Students who have never attended college begin with program eligibility of 400%.

The college or university determines a student's official education level (EL) at the time of initial payment based on the number of units the student has already earned. The EL is based on all accepted transfer units and earned units at the institution.

The college or university certifies the EL in the same manner for MCS purposes as for other campus grade level or class level purposes; the MCS EL is not changed – even if the student advances a level during the year.

Earned Units as of Year First Awarded MCS Education Level Reported to CSAC
 Number of Years Student Can Receive MCS
 Percentage of MCS Available
0 - 29.9 Units First Year (EL 1) 4 years 400%
30 - 59.9 Units Second Year (EL 2) 3 years 300%
60 - 89.9 Units Third Year (EL 3) 2 years 200%
90 or more Units Fourth Year (EL 4) 1 year 100%

Your eligibility will be reduced by each term that you receive payment. The percentage of MCS used each semester is based on your enrollment status and total remaining program eligibility:

  • 50% for full-time
  • 37.5% for three-quarter-time
  • 25% for half-time
  • 12.5% for less than half-time (even though you are not eligible for an MCS payment at less than half-time enrollment, your enrollment still counts against your overall eligibility).

Review Understanding Enrollment Requirements for details on how your enrollment status impacts the amount of the grant you may receive.

You may track your MCS usage and total program eligibility by logging into WebGrants 4 Students.

Keep in mind that your MCS eligibility for each year will depend on information from your FAFSA or Dream Application, other aid you are receiving, and whether or not you continue to meet the general eligibility requirements for the program.

The California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth (Chafee Grant) provides up to $5,000 a year to eligible foster youth. The Chafee Grant may be used at any eligible California college or university, or career or technical school. Students attending schools in other states may also qualify.

How long can I receive the Chafee Grant?
In accordance with California Education Code 69519, a student’s receipt of a Chafee Grant shall not exceed five years (whether or not consecutive).

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the Chafee Grant, a student must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Not have reached your 26th birthday as of July 1st of the award year. AND
    • Be a current or former foster youth who was a dependent or ward of the court, living a in out-of-home foster care placement, between the ages of 16 and 18. OR
    • Be a youth who was placed in out-of-home care by a tribe or tribal organization between the ages of 16-18.
All foster care eligibility is verified by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).

Effective with the Fall 2013 semester, the California State University has established eligibility limitations on a student’s ability to receive a State University Grant. These limitations are designed to ensure that students receiving state funding develop and maintain a timely path toward the completion of program/degree requirements.  

The CSU provides State University Grant funding only for the completion of a student’s initial degree/credential at each of the following educational levels:

  • Initial Bachelor’s Degree
  • Initial Teaching Credential
  • Initial Master’s Degree.
Students pursuing a second Bachelors, second Credential, second Masters, or any Doctoral degree are not eligible to receive a SUG award. This limitation applies to the completion of a previous degree received at Cal Poly Pomona or at any other college/university. 

General Maximum Earned Unit Requirements

As program lengths vary, please review the information on our Understanding Unit Maximums page for specific details on the earned unit maximum for your specific program of study.

Below are general guidelines related to the SUG earned unit maximums, by academic program:

Undergraduate Students

Students pursuing their initial Undergraduate degree are eligible to receive a SUG grant for a maximum of:  

  • Freshman Admits: 150 total earned units* 
  • Transfer students with less than 75 transfer units: 150 Total Earned units (CPP + Transfer)
  • Transfer students with 75 or more transfer units: 75 earned CPP Units 

Programs that have a published length of more than 120 semester units will have the Earned Unit maximum adjusted based on the published program length (125% of the published length of the program).

Credential Students

Students pursuing their initial Teaching Credential are eligible to receive a SUG grant for a maximum of earned units equal to the published length of their Credential program.  SUG for Credential students is solely for those courses required by the state of California to earn the Credential.  The unit maximum includes all earned units from a prior credential program (that was not completed) and any applicable transfer units.

Master’s Degree Students

Students pursuing their initial Master’s degree have an earned unit maximum of 125% of the published unit requirement for their degree. To calculate 125% of your degree units, multiply the total units required for your degree by 1.25. 

Student Loan Program Limits

There are limits on the amount in subsidized and unsubsidized loans that you may be eligible to receive each academic year (annual loan limits) and the total amounts that you may borrow for undergraduate and graduate study (aggregate loan limits).

Annual Loan Limits

The amount you can borrow each year depends on whether you’re an undergraduate student, a Teaching Credential student, or a Graduate student:

  • If you are an undergraduate student, the maximum amount you can borrow each year in Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans ranges from $5,500 to $12,500 per year, depending on what year you are in school and your dependency status. If you are a whose parents are not eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan, you may be able to receive additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds.

  • If you are a teaching credential student, the maximum amount you can borrow each year in Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans ranges from $5,500 to $12,500 per year, depending on what year you are in school and your dependency status. If you are a whose parents are not eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan, you may be able to receive additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds.

  • If you are a graduate student, you can borrow up to $20,500 each year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans.

The following chart shows the annual limits for subsidized and unsubsidized loans.
Academic Program and Year Dependent Students Annual Limit

Independent Students
Annual Limit (and dependent undergraduate or credential students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans)
Undergraduate - Year One
(0 - 29.9 earned units)

$5,500

If qualified, up to $3,500 may be in Subsidized Loans

$9,500

If qualified, up to $3,500 may be in Subsidized Loans
Undergraduate - Year Two
(30 - 59.9 earned units)

$6,500

If qualified, up to $4,500 may be in Subsidized Loans

$10,500

If qualified, up to $4,500 may be in Subsidized Loans
Undergraduate - Year Three or more
(60 earned units or more)

$7,500

If qualified, up to $5,500 may be in Subsidized Loans

$12,500

If qualified, up to $5,500 may be in Subsidized Loans
Teacher Credential (all years)

$5,500

If qualified, up to $5,500 may be in Subsidized Loans

$12,500

If qualified, up to $3,500 may be in Subsidized Loans
Master's Degree (all years)

N/A

Graduate Students are considered Independent Students

$20,500

All Unsubsidized: Graduate Students are only eligible for the Unsubsidized Loan
Doctoral Degree (all years)

N/A

Graduate Students are considered Independent Students

$20,500

All Unsubsidized: Graduate Students are only eligible for the Unsubsidized Loan

Loan Proration for Graduating Undergraduate Students

Loan proration impacts undergraduate students applying for graduation who are receiving Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.

Federal regulations require schools to prorate the Federal Direct Loan amounts for graduating undergraduate students when their final period of enrollment is less than a full academic year. The loan limit proration determines the maximum loan amount that a student may borrow for their final term of study. 

Graduating undergraduate students who are only attending one semester of the academic year will have their Federal Direct Loans prorated based on the number of credit hours they are enrolled in.

Note: Teaching Credential and Graduate students are excluded from the loan proration requirement.

Aggregate (Lifetime) Loan Limits

In addition to the annual limits, there are limits on the total amounts that you may borrow for your specific program of study (Undergraduate, Teaching Credential, and Graduate).  These limits are refered to as the aggregate loan limits.

  • The credential aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study.

  • The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergradaute or teaching credential study.

  • If the total loan amount you recieve over the course of your education reaches the aggregate loan limit, you are not eligible to receive additional loans.

  • If you reach the aggregate limit and repay some of your loans to bring your outstanding loan debt below the aggregate loan limit, you could then borrow again - up to the amount of your remaining eligibility under the aggregate loan limit.

The following chart shows the aggregate limits for the Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans.
Academic Program
 Dependent Students Aggregate Limit

Independent Students
Aggregate Limit
(and dependent undergraduate or credntial students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans)
Undergraduate Degree

$31,500

No more than $23,000 may be in Subsidized Loans

$57,500

No more than $23,000 may be in Subsidized Loans
Teaching Credential

$31,500

No more than $23,000 may be in Subsidized Loans

$57,500

No more than $23,000 may be in Subsidized Loans
Graduate Degree
(Master's; Doctoral)

N/A

$138,500

No more than $65,000 may be in Subsidized Loans*

*Effective for periods of enrollment beginning on or after July 1, 2012, graduate and professional students are no longer eligible to receive Direct Subsidized Loans. The $65,500 subsidized aggregate loan limit for graduate or professional students includes subsidized loans that a graduate or professional student may have received for periods of enrollment that began before July 1, 2012, or for prior undergraduate study. 

The California Dream Loan Program is a subsidized loan program that provides eligible AB540 students with the option to borrow a loan to help cover the cost of attending Cal Poly Pomona.  The CA Dream Loan is borrowed money that you must repay with interest.  You must attend at least half-time (6 or more units per semester) in order to receive the CA Dream Loan.

The CA Dream Loan is subject to annual, semester, and aggregate limits set by the state legislature, the CSU Chancellor’s Office, and Cal Poly Pomona.

Limit Type
 Limit Amount
Semester Limit $2,000
Annual / Academic Year Limit (Fall, Spring, Summer) $4,000
Aggregate / Lifetime Limit $20,000

The aggregate limit of $20,000 is the maximum that you can borrow from the CA Dream Loan program at Cal Poly Pomona - across all programs of study.