Freeze Date/Pell Recalculation Date

Each semester will have a Pell Recalculation Date (also called the “freeze date”) for purposes of determining each student’s enrollment level for financial aid eligibility award amounts. On this Pell Recalculation Date we will record each student’s unit load (number of units enrolled) as of that date, which will determine the student’s eligibility for financial aid awards for the semester. Any classes that are added or dropped after the Pell Recalculation Date will not impact (either increase or decrease) the student’s financial aid unit load for the semester. However, students who withdraw from all classes or receive a grade of F, W, or NP, in all classes, will still be subject to an eligibility calculation that may result in financial aid funds having to be repaid to Southwestern College and/or the Department of Education. Students who never attend class will have a reduction of Pell eligibility.

The current Pell Recalculation Dates are:

• Fall 2024
  September 20, 2024
• Spring 2025
  February 21, 2025
• Summer 2025
  June 26, 2025

If you are eligible for a Pell Grant, Cal Grant or Student Success Completion Grant/SSCG, the grant amount you will receive is based on enrolled units and is prorated, depending on the percentage of full-time enrollment you have on the Pell Recalculation Date.  Your financial aid eligibility for the semester will be based on your unit load, as recorded on the Pell Recalculation Date.  Please see the Student Success Completion Grant/SSCG page for specific details on the amounts received based on enrollment.  

• If you are enrolling in a short term course beginning later in the term, you MUST add it through MySWC BY THE PELL RECALCULATION DATE to have the units included in your financial aid unit load.
• However, if you enroll ONLY in short term classes that begin in October/April, we may be able to consider those units past the Pell Recalculation Date. Please check with the Financial Aid Office for more information.
• Classes added after the Pell Recalculation Date will not be included in your financial aid unit load for financial aid purposes for the term.
• Classes dropped after this date will not be deducted from your financial aid unit load for financial aid purposes for the term, unless you drop all your classes or unless the class is never attended.
• Students who completely withdraw from classes or receive grades of F, W or NP in all classes will still be subject to an eligibility calculation that may result in financial aid funds having to be repaid to Southwestern College and/or the Department of Education. Please click here for our Withdrawal and Return to Title IV (R2T4) policy.
• This Pell Recalculation Date is ONLY for financial aid purposes – it does not affect any other eligibility, such as Veterans’ benefits or EOPS.
• California College Promise Grant (CCPG) eligibility is NOT affected by the Pell Recalculation Date
• Audited and wait-listed courses do not count as enrolled units for financial aid purposes
• Adds or drops AFTER the Pell Recalculation Date will not change funding for the current semester but may impact Satisfactory Academic Progress status
• The unit load for students who have not been awarded financial aid by the Pell Recalculation Date will be based on the units enrolled on the day the file is processed.
• Please double check your enrollment status in MySWC prior to the Pell Recalculation Date to ensure that you are properly registered in the correct classes.

Direct Loans and the Freeze Date:

Classes added after the semester Pell Recalculation Date or “Freeze Date” are not automatically counted for loan purposes and require a manual override.  It is your responsibility to contact the Financial Aid Office if you add classes after Freeze date.  Contact the Loan Specialist to request a manual override for classes added after the Freeze Date to be considered in loan eligibility.  It is not guaranteed any classes added after the Freeze date will be considered.