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Emergency Loans

Emergency loans are designed to assist students in coping with unexpected financial emergencies. Registration, rent, utility bills, and other expected expenses are not considered emergencies as defined by this program.

Loan amounts average $300-$500 and are subject to the availability of funds. Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and only one emergency loan is allowed per academic term. A service charge of 1% of the amount borrowed (minimum $1.00) will be deducted from the loan received.

Eligibility

In order to qualify for an emergency loan, you must:

  • Be enrolled in a minimum 12 undergraduate units or 8 graduate units.
  • Have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
  • Have no holds on records.
  • Have documentation of the emergency (medical bills, car repair bills, etc.).
  • Contain proof of a repayment source (payroll stub, letter from employer, letter from parents, etc.).
  • Have no past delinquent loan payments.

How to Apply

To apply for an Emergency Loan, complete the Emergency Loan Application and return to the Financial Aid Office. Loans are processed and available after 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays in the Student Accounts Office. Applications must be submitted and approved by 2:00 p.m. in order to receive funds the following day.

Incomplete applications or insufficient documentation will delay your loan processing. Your Cal Poly ID or California Driver's License is required to pick up your loan check.

Repaying Your Emergency Loan

Due dates for loans will be determined at the time the loan is approved. Loans may be repaid in installments prior to the due date. The repayment period may not exceed 90 days. All payments should be made at the University Cashier Window (Admin.131E) with a notation that it is repayment of an emergency loan.

If your repayment source is financial aid, your emergency loan balance will be deducted the next time you receive your aid money within the current academic year. If your financial aid award will not cover your emergency loan debt, it is your responsibility to pay the difference on or before the due date. Loans may not be paid with financial aid expected in the next academic year.

If you graduate or withdraw from school prior to the due date, the loan becomes due and payable on that date, or on the specified due date, whichever occurs first.

Delinquency

An unpaid emergency loan is a debt owed to the University. If your loan is not paid in full by the due date, you will have a registration and academic transcript hold placed on your records until the debt is repaid in full. Delinquent loans may be assigned to a collection agency and reported to local credit bureaus.

You will be charged 1% per month on any unpaid balance of the loan after the due date. In addition, a $10.00 late charge will be assessed on loans not paid on or before the due date.

All loan requests are subject to credit checks. Delinquent loans may be assigned to a collection agency and reported to local credit bureaus.