Cal Grant A showing as pending in CSAC portal - can't save graduation date

I had the EXACT same issue with my son's CSAC account last year! It's totally normal - they don't let you enter the grad date until after May because they're still loading high school graduation info into their system. Just keep checking back every few days. Once the system updates, you'll be able to save the date and that pending item will clear. Don't stress about it!

dont worry bout it. my kid had same thing happen last yr. they just make u wait til they got all the hs graduation stuff in the system. its dumb but thats how they do it

This is a standard process with the California Student Aid Commission. Their system updates with graduation verification data from California high schools during May. Until then, the system will show the message you're seeing. Your Cal Grant A status will remain pending until this verification occurs. A few important points: - Continue checking the portal weekly - Ensure ALL other requirements are completed while waiting - After May, you should be able to enter and SAVE the graduation date - If by May 20th you still can't enter the date, contact CSAC directly Cal Grant A awards for 2025-2026 cover up to $14,742 for UC system students, so it's definitely worth making sure you complete all requirements.

I went through this NIGHTMARE last year!!! They say May but for my son it wasn't until June 3rd that we could actually enter the date!!! And then they rejected his grant because they said we missed some deadline even though their system wouldn't let us enter the info!! Had to appeal and it was AWFUL. The whole Cal Grant system is BROKEN!! Make sure you document EVERYTHING and take screenshots showing it's not letting you save the date.

Have you tried calling CSAC directly? Their system does have this limitation in early spring, but sometimes they can manually note your account. It's worth calling to confirm your daughter's application is otherwise in good standing. I've worked with several families who were able to resolve similar issues by speaking directly with a CSAC representative. If you're having trouble getting through on their phone lines (which is common), you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to government agencies like CSAC without waiting on hold for hours. I used it to get through to Federal Student Aid last semester when my daughter had FAFSA verification issues. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

UPDATE: I finally managed to speak with someone at CSAC today! The representative confirmed that they're still loading graduation data into their system from last Friday, so many students are experiencing this issue. She recommended checking the portal daily to input the graduation date once it becomes available. Feeling much better now knowing this is normal and not something we're doing wrong.

btw dont get 2 excited yet. my kid was pending for cal grant too but then they denied him bc our income was like 2k over the limit. said our assets were 2 high or something. the whole system is confusing af

For those following this thread, here's a quick calendar of important Cal Grant dates for 2025-2026: - Mid-May: High school graduation data typically finishes loading - June 2: Final deadline for submitting any corrections or updates - Early July: First round of official award notifications - September: Funds begin disbursing to colleges Remember that Cal Grant A has both GPA and financial requirements. For the 2025-2026 year, the income ceiling for a family of four is approximately $113,000, with asset ceilings around $88,000 (excluding primary residence and retirement accounts).

I'm in the exact same boat with my son! His Cal Grant A is showing pending and we can't save his graduation date either. Reading through all these responses is so reassuring - I was starting to panic that we had missed something important. It's frustrating that the system won't let you complete the requirements when you're trying to be responsible and get everything done early. I'm going to start taking screenshots like someone suggested, just in case we run into issues later. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating all this financial aid confusion!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! My daughter's Cal Grant A is showing pending and we keep getting that "graduation dates will be available after May" message. It's so frustrating when you're trying to get everything done early and the system won't let you complete the requirements. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to worry we had done something wrong or missed an important step. I'm definitely going to start taking screenshots like others suggested, and it's reassuring to know this is just how their system works. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and advice. It's amazing how much stress this community can help relieve when you're navigating all this financial aid paperwork for the first time!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a newcomer to all this financial aid stuff and was completely panicking when I saw my son's Cal Grant A showing as pending with that same graduation date error message. I've been refreshing the CSAC portal every few hours thinking I was missing some deadline or doing something wrong. It's such a relief to read that this is totally normal timing and that the system just won't let you enter the date until May. I feel so much better knowing other families are going through the exact same thing. I'm definitely going to take screenshots starting today and keep checking back weekly like everyone suggested. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for first-time parents navigating this process!