What is Cal Student Central?
Need a transcript? Have a hold? Billing question? Cal Student Central is your starting place to find answers about key university business related to: financial aid, fees and tuition, billing, payments, disbursements, registration, enrollment, and student records.
On this page you’ll find (click links to jump to section):
- How to navigate Cal Student Central
- Connect with Cal Student Central staff
- Our team – We are here to serve you
The Cal Student Central office is located at 120 Sproul Hall.
Note to Newly Admitted Students: For questions regarding submitting transcripts and other documents, please refer to the new student transcript resource from the Office of Undergraduate Admission.
How to navigate Cal Student Central
Search Cal Student Central for common questions.
Search the linked pages for our most-asked student questions about that topic. If you need more information, you’ll be pointed to the appropriate campus partner page.
Student Information Access | For questions about student identifications, CalCentral, and delegating access to parents or family members.
Financial Aid | For questions about types of financial aid, requirements to apply and be eligible for aid, and processes related to aid.
Billing, Fees, & Payments | For questions about account balances, payment options, fees (and impact of withdrawal on fees), deadlines, disbursement, refunds, direct deposit, and waivers.
Registration & Academic Records | For questions about enrollment, adding/dropping classes, registration, holds, cancellation/withdrawals, residency (for tuition purposes), transcripts, exam results, transfer credit, academic progress reports (APR), and readmission.
Connect with Cal Student Central staff
There are multiple pathways to connect with staff about your questions. Please select the most relevant option. Details about each service are provided below.
- Visit our Virtual Front Desk
- Open a case for a specific inquiry
- Call the Cal Student Central office
- Visit Sproul Hall for in-person advising
- Join the Residency Callback Queue (residency for tuition purposes)
Please note that our office, which includes in-person advising and callback queues, will close at 3 p.m. Pacific time before major federal holidays (EXCEPT during peak times, such as the start of each semester).
Visit our Virtual Front Desk
The Virtual Front Desk is a Zoom room staffed by our student workers who can help navigate you to the appropriate office to answer your questions. Standard hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time, Monday to Friday.
** The Virtual Front Desk will be closed on Wednesdays during July and August 2025. Please visit us Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, 9 a.m to 4 p.m **
Open a case (use Chrome or Firefox)
Sometimes you have very specific questions; we understand! One way to get assistance from us is to open a case online. Your case will be directed to one of our trained staff who can either find answers or direct you to appropriate resources or steps to take. We respond to most inquiries within seven business days; there may be a delayed response during high volume periods or for complex inquiries.
Please DO NOT use Safari when opening a case. Make sure to use Chrome or Firefox browsers to open a case.
Not seeing confirmation that we received your case? Check your spam/junk folder.
Support for non-students
Not a student? Parents/guardians and alumni, among others, can open a case without a CalNetID. If possible, please include the student’s full name and student ID number to assist in resolving your case quickly!
Call the Cal Student Central office
510-664-9181
Standard Hours: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Pacific time, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; closed on Wednesdays.
The office is closed for federal holidays and closes at 3 p.m. Pacific time the day before major federal holidays, except during peak times.
Visit Sproul Hall for in-person advising
Visit the Cal Student Central office at 120 Sproul Hall. Standard Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Please note that the queue may close earlier than stated based on volume.
The office is closed for federal holidays and closes at 3 p.m. Pacific time the day before major federal holidays, except during peak times.
Join the Residency Callback Queue
Have questions about residency for tuition purposes? Contact the dedicated residency team for any inquiries regarding residency requirements, determinations, and/or official exemptions. Click below to open the Residency Callback Queue.
Note: The Residency Callback Queue is affiliated with Cal Student Central, but is part of the Office of the Registrar. Please direct all residency questions through the queue.
Residency Callback Queue hours are:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10 a.m.–noon Pacific time
Wednesday: 2–4 p.m. Pacific time
Thursday: 10 a.m.–noon Pacific time
Friday: 10 a.m.–noon Pacific time
Our team – We are here to serve you
Our cross-trained advisors are here to deliver comprehensive advising services and answer your question as quickly as possible.
We are organized to help you navigate among the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, Office of the Registrar, and Billing and Payment Services. Start with us at Cal Student Central, and we’ll guide you through the process.
Our goal is to serve students more efficiently by:
- Maintaining this website as a resource for the most frequently asked questions we get from students like you.
- Providing one central location with service-oriented, cross-trained staff who aim to resolve issues with limited escalation to other offices. In cases where escalation is required for financial aid, billing, and registration issues, Cal Student Central will facilitate an internal escalation to the associated office.