College finances are important….and they can be complicated! Use this information to stay up-to-date. With a little practice, these tips and tools can help you manage your finances successfully.
At a minimum, we recommend that you check CalCentral regularly to make sure you stay current about your financial situation and updated balance.
Tracking Your Charges and Your Balance
add
The Billing and Payment Services Office will produce a monthly statement for each student. You are sent an email when your bill is ready each month.
- Please pay charges due on time, or you may incur late fees and/or registration holds.
- You can "delegate" access to parents or relatives to view your financial aid and any outstanding balances through CalCentral.
- Remember, your bill is a monthly snapshot, just like a credit card bill or bank statement. It won’t reflect any new activity between bills.
- Aid payments may take up to two days to be reflected on your bill from the time they appear in the online finances system.
Tracking Your Financial Aid Disbursem*nts
add
You can review the types of aid for which you may be eligible in CalCentral. After your aid is applied towards your billing account, you will be able to see it reflected on the Billing Summary in CalCentral.
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office releases financial aid no sooner than 10 days before the start of instruction, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. You can check on the status of your aid by visiting Cal Student Central or checking CalCentral.
Please note that the July and December bills may not show your financial aid payments for the upcoming semester, including loan disbursem*nts, as those financial aid payments are processed after the July and December bills are generated.
Paying Balances Not Covered by Financial Aid
add
If your financial aid payments do not cover all of your charges, you are responsible for paying the remaining balance. You can use any one of the available payment options. The Billing and Payment Services Office also offers a Fee Payment Plan (FPP) that allows you to pay your semester tuition and fee charges on a monthly plan. Information about this can be found on CalCentral.
Refunds
add
If your financial aid payments exceed your charges, the extra funds will be issued to you as a refund about one week after payments are posted. Refunds are issued as early as one week before the beginning of each term. The actual timing of your refund depends on when your financial aid is applied to your account. Check CalCentral and monitor your aid payment dates so you can estimate the date of any expected refund. You will get an email letting you know when your refund is available either via Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or when your paper check has been mailed to you. Be sure to keep your local address updated to ensure accurate delivery of any refunds you are due.
Note: UC Berkeley does not require that students open an account with any financial institution. Students may choose to receive credit balances, or refunds, through any banking institution of their choice or via a paper refund check.
Avoid Delays: Sign Up for Direct Deposit
add
Direct deposit (aka Electronic Funds Transfer [EFT]), is safe, fast, and reliable! Students are encouraged to authorize Berkeley to deposit refunds or financial aid disbursem*nts directly into their specified bank account. To sign up, log in to Student Direct Deposit, or learn more about direct deposit. Direct Deposit/EFT activation may take up to seven business days. Until Direct Deposit/EFT is activated, paper refund checks mailed to your local address. Remember, an email will be sent letting you know when your refund is mailed or available for Direct Deposit/EFT. Be sure to keep your contact information current via CalCentral.
Other Departments Award Disbursem*nts
add
Please contact your department or the Graduate Fellowships Office for questions about fellowships, departmental awards, fee waivers, and fee remissions that have not posted as expected. The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office does not have information about these award disbursem*nts. If you have received fellowships, departmental awards, fee waivers, outside awards, or fee remissions, your unpaid loans may have been reduced prior to your paid loans. This may result in an uneven distribution of funds across terms. Check online to see if your loans have been unequally disbursed, as this will affect the total refund you receive.
Still Have Questions?
add
If you have questions about your financial aid or your statement, please contact Cal Student Central, 120 Sproul Hall.
