Business Office

Financial Aid Refund Process

If your federal financial aid does not cover your total Budget (or cost of attendance) you will not receive a Financial Aid Refund check. Students who have a credit balance resulting from their student loans on their accounts will receive a Financial Aid Refund Check. The process is as follows:

  • Financial Aid deposited in student account (by Financial Aid office)
  • Disbursement coordinator identifies students with credits on account (each morning)
  • Disbursement coordinator submits request for refund to Accounts Payable
  • Accounts payable processes refund request (5-7 business days)
  • Checks signed (1-2 business days)
  • Disbursement coordinator verifies check and mails or calls student for pick up (1 business day)

 FAQs

 When will I receive my Financial Aid refund check?

The Business Office will not begin processing your financial aid refund check until there is a credit from a Loan Payment or scholarship on your student account.  If your financial aid has not reached your student account, please contact the Financial Aid office.  Once your student account is credited, the Disbursement Coordinator will submit a request for your refund check to the Accounts Payable Department.  It takes around 5-7 days for the Disbursement Coordinator to receive your refund check from Accounts Payable.  Additional processing time is required if your check requires additional signatures.

 Can I pick up my refund check at the Business Office?

Yes.  Please call the Business Office at the beginning of each term and provide a phone number we can call when your refund check is ready for pick up.

What do I need when I pick up my refund check?

You MUST bring a picture ID in order to pick up your refund check.

 Will I receive a refund for my Plus Loan credit?

Parent PLUS loan credits are automatically credited back to the Parent. In order to receive a refund for the PLUS loan credit, the Parent of the student must sign an Authorization for Release of Parent PLUS Loan. You can find this document here: 

Parent Plus Excess Release authorization form for 2010-2011

Parent Plus Excess Release authorization form for 2011-2012

 What if I checked my Pipeline account and it shows that a Financial Aid Refund check has been processed and it has been longer than 7 working business days?

It is always good to keep track of any changes within your Pipeline account. Under special circumstances, the Financial Aid office will place a hold on a student’s funds, therefore the check will be held until further notice. It is best to contact the Financial Aid office regarding this matter, if and only if there is a Financial Aid refund that has been processed for longer than 7 working days.