Refunds

A credit balance may be a result of overpayment by yourself or any financial aid that you receive. Refunds are issued in the form of a check or are refunded to the credit card originally used for payment. 

Financial aid refunds will be processed according to the Financial Aid Refund Schedule. Overpayment refunds will be processed beginning the third week of classes. Please review the new financial aid disbursement and refunding policy.

Disbursement releases financial aid for posting to the student’s account (see the disbursement schedule on Financial Aid’s website). Once financial aid is posted to the student’s account, a credit balance may remain.

Refunding takes the credit balance on a student’s account and returns it to the student, or parent if the refund is from a Direct PLUS Loan (see the refund schedule).

Although it is not required, we highly recommend enrolling in direct deposit to receive your refund faster.

Parents who will receive a refund from a Direct PLUS Loan may enroll in direct deposit. Your student needs to set you up as an authorized payer to have access to this service.

Please note:  If direct deposit of your refund is not successful, we will issue you a refund check that will be sent to the address that is listed in HUB.

Students needing a refund based on the Excelsior Scholarship and or Excelsior Tuition Credit estimates must request the refund using the Refund Request-Excelsior form.

The Excelsior scholarship eligibility requirements may be found online at NYS Higher Education Services Corporation. While you may have an Excelsior Scholarship estimated, your eligibility will be verified by the financial aid office at the end of the term. If you request a refund and your eligibility changes and you are no longer eligible for the scholarship, then you will be required to repay your refund. If you have questions regarding your eligibility, please talk with a financial aid advisor.

Please be advised that your current term’s TAP award must be disbursed before your Excelsior refund request can be processed. TAP disbursement typically occurs after the fifth week of class.  We will not process an Excelsior refund until all balances for prior terms are paid in full.  

Students needing a refund of their federal aid, while waiting for their VA Benefits payment to be received, may request the refund using the VA Benefits Refund Request form. Students with questions on their estimated Veteran’s benefit payment amount or eligibility requirements should contact the Financial Aid office. 

Refund checks are typically sent to addresses in the following order: Residence Hall, Local, Mailing, Permanent. If the only address you have is a Permanent address, your refund will be sent there. For more information about addresses, please visit the Office of the Registrar’s website.  For information on how to update your address, please review the training guide.

Refunds that are the result of wire transfers: Wire transfer payments should be not be made in excess of the semester cost of attendance. Where the intent is to provide a student with funds for personal expenses, those should be wired directly to the student’s local bank account. Please note, wire transfer payments received in excess of cost of attendance may be wired back to the originating account in its’ entirety.

Currently, credit balances as a result of a valid wire transfer payment will be refunded via direct deposit or paper check.