Do I get a refund?
If there are Financial Aid funds remaining in your student account after all university charges are paid, you may either get your money or “refund” through Direct Deposit (within 2-3 business days of disbursement) or by paper check.
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú can view their refund by logging onto .
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú who are eligible for a refund after all university costs are paid should be aware:
- If you are not registered for Term 1 and Term 2 at the start of the full semester, you will need to retain your refund to assist in paying for Term 2 after registration for that term is completed.
- ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú who withdraw may have to return refund money received due to the federal and institutional refund policy.
If you did not receive a refund and feel you should have, please contact the OneStop at (205) 652-3800 to inquire.
What does a negative balance on Your Student Account mean?
If you see a negative balance on your account in Self-Service or on your bill, this means that you do not owe this amount. A negative balance indicates a credit, which is a refund due to you.
This credit can occur if there are remaining Financial Aid funds after all university charges have been paid. Refunds are issued through one of the following methods:
Direct Deposit – Funds are typically available within 2-3 business days after disbursement. We encourage students to set up direct deposit for faster refunds.
Paper Check – If direct deposit is not set up, a paper check will be issued.
Where was my refund sent?
For student refunds sent via direct deposit, the refund will be sent to the account on file that was entered by the student on Self-Service. If the refund was sent out as a paper check, it was sent to the local mailing address on file. You can view the local address on file by logging onto Self-Service and clicking on User Options then User Profile. All students are encouraged to enroll in direct deposit via Self-Service (under the Student Finances section), which provides a faster deposit of funds and reduces the risk of check fraud.
If you have received a paper check but want to set up direct deposit for future refunds, .
What do I do if I didn’t get a refund that was issued?
If the refund was sent via direct deposit and the bank account is now closed, the bank will send the funds back to the University. A paper check will then be sent to the local address on file. If you have not received your paper check and we have not emailed you letting you know it was returned as undeliverable, you can request a new check in writing at [email protected] after 10 business days from the issue date of the check.
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú who withdraw after the 60% Point are not required to return federal financial aid funds.Ìý However, all withdrawals, dropped courses, repeated courses, and academic forgiveness are included in calculating Satisfactory Academic Progress.Ìý
2026–2027 Financial Aid Disbursement & Refund Dates
Financial aid is applied to your student account on scheduled disbursement dates. If your financial aid is more than the amount you owe the University, the remaining credit balance will be processed as a financial aid refund.
Important: The refund dates below indicate when refunds are scheduled to be processed. The date funds become available to you may vary depending on your refund method and financial institution.
Fall 2026
| Financial Aid Disbursement | Refund Processing Date |
|---|---|
| August 26 | August 28 |
| August 31 | September 2 |
| September 8 | September 10 |
| September 14 | September 16 |
| September 21 | September 23 |
| September 28 | September 30 |
| October 5 | October 7 |
| October 9 | October 14 |
| October 28 | October 30 |
| November 2 | November 4 |
| November 9 | November 11 |
| November 16 | November 18 |
| November 30 | December 2 |
| December 7 | December 9 |
Parent PLUS Loan Disbursements – Fall 2026
| Parent PLUS Loan Disbursement | Refund Processing Date |
|---|---|
| September 3 | September 8 |
| September 10 | September 14 |
| September 17 | September 21 |
| September 24 | September 28 |
| October 1 | October 5 |
| October 8 | October 9 |
| November 5 | November 9 |
| November 12 | November 16 |
| November 19 | November 20 |
| December 3 | December 7 |
Manual Disbursement Dates
Certain financial aid adjustments that require manual processing are scheduled for:
- May 10 — Refund processing May 12
- June 28 — Refund processing June 30
- August 9 — Refund processing August 11
Understanding Disbursements and Refunds
Disbursement Date: The date eligible financial aid is scheduled to be applied to your student account.
Refund Processing Date: If your financial aid creates a credit balance after your eligible University charges are paid, this is the date the refund is scheduled to be processed.
Receiving a refund is not guaranteed on the date listed. Your financial aid eligibility, enrollment, outstanding requirements, account activity, and refund method may affect when your refund is issued or received.