Disbursement of Financial Aid Funds
Financial aid and scholarship funding is awarded by the Financial Aid Office and disbursed by Student Accounts.
If financial aid exceeds the amount of charges, residual funds are due to the student and can be processed by paper check or by direct deposit to the student’s bank account. Residual funds will be released week 3 of the semester and only after enrollment has been confirmed in all classes.
Financial aid will typically post to a student's account if the student is:
- fully admitted
- has accepted and signed their offer letter
- has returned any other required documents, for example: Thank You notes
- are enrolled in the appropriate number of credits and
- has enrollment confirmation in all of their classes
If a balance is still owed, it must be paid or have a signed payment plan contract with down payment made by the fee payment deadline to avoid late fees.
Financial aid recipients should check their student account and WarriorMail often. Check before and after day 5, and day 10, to confirm financial aid awards have not been reduced or cancelled due to lack of enrollment confirmation. If your aid isn't posted and your fees are not paid you may incur late fees. It is the student's responsibility to confirm fees are paid. This includes monitoring the Grades/Enrollment Confirmation link on WarriorWeb. This link shows which faculty have reported enrollment confirmation allowing aid to be disbursed.
Please check your Student Account Statement on WarriorWeb to see if your aid has disbursed. Students who have aid that exceed charges will have residual funds processed weekly.
Summer 2026 - Intent to Attend is not needed to receive residual funds
Effective Fall 2026 - Intent to Attend will no longer be required to receive residual funds.
Residual funds will no longer be released prior to the start of the semester.
The 1st release of residual funds is scheduled for week 3 of the semester.
Direct Deposit
Residual funds can be direct deposited into your bank account. No more standing in line to get a residual check. Direct deposit refunds are generally processed sooner than paper checks. Signing up for direct deposit is quick and easy.
- Log into your WarriorWeb account and click on the Banking Information button.
- Select Add an Account – only United States banks can be used, foreign banks are not an option for direct deposit.
- Click on Activate and Next
- Enter your bank routing number, your bank account number, and what type of account.
- Read the terms and conditions, then check Agree and check the submit button.
- You will receive an onscreen and an emailed confirmation.
We encourage distance learning students and student athletes to sign up for direct deposit to streamline and expedite the release of residual funds.
The 1st scheduled release of residual funds is week 3 of the semester.
Paper Residual Check Release
Students who have NOT signed up for direct deposit will have a paper residual check prepared. Students must present photo identification to get information about their student account or to pick up checks.
Residual (paper) checks will be released the Friday of week 3.
Federal regulations require documentation that you participate in each class to be eligible for your financial aid. Schedule changes (adding/changing/dropping of classes) will require enrollment confirmation to be updated. If enrollment confirmation is not updated, financial aid may be reduced. Reduced aid may leave an unpaid balance that must be repaid immediately. Late fees apply if a balance is left unpaid, or aid is not promptly reinstated. It is the student's responsibility to check the Grades/Enrollment Confirmation link on Warrior Web to confirm eligibility.
Students usually receive the whole semester’s financial aid funds early in the term. It’s kind of like an advance on a paycheck. Once an aid recipient has attended 60% of the term the federal aid is ‘fully earned’. Students who receive federal aid and do not complete 60% of the semester must repay a portion of the ‘unearned’ aid immediately. The earlier a student withdraws, the less aid they earn. Students who do not withdraw and do not pass any classes (receive all “F” grades) are also required to repay some of their financial aid. Please contact Student Accounts and/or the Financial Aid Office before you make a decision to withdraw or if you have any questions.
International students are subject to tax on non-qualified scholarships and/or waivers.
Scholarships and/or waivers that pay housing, meals, or exceed tuition and fees are subject to tax. Gift cards, prizes and other funding is also taxable, usually at 30%. Documentation provided by the student can reduce withholding tax from 14% to 0% depending on treaties and the student's unique situation.
Scholarships that apply directly to tuition and fees are not subject to tax. This includes non-resident tuition waivers.
Student Accounts staff will email international students to obtain information to determine tax liability. This handout provides some examples that may be helpful.