Initial Disbursement Dates
Understanding Disbursement Dates in CUNYfirst
Disbursement dates for specific financial aid offerings are viewable within CUNYfirst. For more information on how to view disbursement dates for your award offers please refer to our Guide to your Financial Aid In CUNYfirst.
Please note that the dates posted in CUNYfirst represent the initial and first available disbursement date for the respective type of financial aid. Different aid programs disburse at different times in the semester.
After the initial date, each program will disburse aid for any remaining unpaid students every Monday excepting legal holidays, (when the disbursement occurs the following day). Federal Work-Study earnings are paid on a bi-weekly basis.
Financial aid funds will not disburse until all financial aid related "To-Do" list items in your CUNYfirst Student Center are completed.
Important Information Regarding Summer Pell
The "backend" Summer Pell grant is derived from the prior academic year's financial aid application and is the last Pell grant award (therefore it is a trailer) made in that award year. Eligibility is based on Year Round Pell requirements.
The "frontend" Summer Pell grant is derived from the new academic year and is the first Pell grant award made in the new academic year. It is not subject to year round Pell requirements since, if the award is made, since it is the first one for the award year.
A student cannot receive both a frontend and backend summer Pell grant award simultaneously.
Important Information Regarding Pell Book Advances
*Students who have sufficient TAP and Pell to fully cover their balance at the time of the first Pell disbursement may receive a Book Advance refund. This is where part of the Pell grant is refunded to the student early to assist with purchasing books and supplies. The Book Advance is only available to students who have total TAP, Pell and FSEOG that when combined exceeds tuition charges. Book advances only run for the first three weeks following the date of the first Pell disbursement.
