Frequently Asked Questions Regarding The Disbursements Of Financial Aid, Including Scholarships
1. Who disburses Financial Aid & Scholarships checks?
3. When will my funds be available?
4. What would delay me from receiving my funds?
5. What amount will I receive?
6. I have been notified that I am eligible to have my registration fees deferred. What does that mean?
7. What happens if I drop units?
8. What do I need to do if I decide not to attend SDSU?
9. How do I get a refund if I withdraw from the University or drop to 6 units or less?
10. What is an exit interview and when do I need to schedule one?
11. Still have questions about your Financial or Scholarship Award?
1: Who disbursesFinancial Aid & Scholarship checks?
All financial aid and scholarship funds are processed and disbursed by the University Disbursements Office, a division of Business and Financial Affairs. The office is located in Student Services West, Room 2536.[page top]
The fastest (and easiest) way to receive your funds is through Direct Deposit. With this method, your funds are deposited directly into your personal checking or savings account at your bank. Information and sign-up forms are available in our office located in Student Services West, Room 2536, and on our SFS website. Direct Deposit receives priority – most likely your funds will be deposited in your bank account before other students receive any funds in the mail.
If you do not sign up for Direct Deposit your checks are mailed to the address you have on file with the Office of the Registrar. Keep the Office of the Registrar informed of any change in your address in order to avoid a delay in receiving your check. Mail from the University generally takes at least 2 to 3 days.
If you are a parent, receiving a Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan: unfortunately we are not able to direct deposit these loans. Your loan will be mailed to you at the address you provided on the Request for Federal Direct Parent Plus loan form. [page top]
3: When will my funds be available?
Direct Deposit receives priority, so we encourage you to sign up for the Direct Deposit method to ensure receiving your funds early. Direct deposit begins during the week before classes start. We begin mailing checks during the first week of classes.
Financial aid and scholarship funds are not available until all financial aid holds affecting your disbursement are cleared, and you are enrolled at least half-time (generally scholarships require full-time enrollment). If you do not receive your funds at the start of the semester because of financial aid holds, or because you are not enrolled at least half-time, you will receive your funds shortly after you meet eligibility requirements.[page top]
4: What would delay me from receiving
my funds?
- You have a Cashier’s hold (you owe money to the University for a delinquent debt; this includes delinquent Installment Payment Plan payments for the current semester)
- You have been awarded a Federal Perkins Loan but you have not yet completed an Entrance Interview. You will be notified by email from Educational Computer Systems, Inc. (ECSI), SDSU's Perkins billing service, letting you know that you must use their web site to complete Perkins Loan Entrance Counseling and to electronically sign your Promissory Note.
- You are participating in a CSU Visitor program - your check will be mailed to the program coordinator at the campus you are attending.
- You are participating in a Student Abroad Program. For study abroad programs, funds are sent to local addresses or direct deposited once enrollment confirmation is received by the University Disbursement office.[page top]
5: What amount will I receive?
The amount of your disbursement is based upon your financial aid award as determined by the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships (OFAS) and the number of units in which you are enrolled at the time your disbursement is prepared. For instance, if you are enrolled full-time at the time your disbursement is prepared you will receive the entire amount of the aid awarded for the semester. If you are enrolled ¾-time, you will receive all of your loan funds, but only ¾ of your Pell Grant, Educational Opportunity Program Grant, or Cal Grant B Access Grant. If you later add enough units to be full-time, you will receive the balance of your grant(s) shortly after you have added the units. The State University Grant, Cal Grant A, and Cal Grant B Fee Assistance disbursement amounts are based on the amount of registration fees you pay (i.e. part-time fees, or full-time fees). For other aid types, such as loans, you must be enrolled at least half-time to receive the funds. Refer to appropriate sections in the Guide to Financial Aid, found at the OFAS web site.
If the payment of your registration fees has been deferred, the amount of your registration fees is automatically deducted from your first disbursement. If you are not a California resident, your nonresident tuition payment will also be deducted. For fee amounts see the Class Schedule, and see the Money Matters section.
If you will be living in a campus residence hall the entire semester's housing costs will be automatically deducted before any remaining funds are disbursed to you. More information about housing payment can be found on the On-Campus Housing website.
If any amount is remaining after your registration fees and housing payments (if applicable) are deducted, a check or direct deposit transaction is prepared for you.[page top]
6: I have been notified
that I am eligible to have my registration fees deferred. What does that
mean?
Deferring the payment of your registration fees allows you to postpone payment until your financial aid or scholarship funds are available. However, it is still your responsibility to ensure that the correct amount of fees is paid. If, for any reason, you are no longer eligible for financial aid, or the amount of your aid is insufficient to cover all of your fees, you will receive a billing statement from the University Cashiers Office; if the bill is not paid by the due date a $20.00 late fee will be assessed. To avoid any surprises later in the semester, do not hesitate to check with the University Disbursements Office or University Cashiers Office to make sure that your fees are paid correctly.
It is the policy of San Diego State University to directly apply financial aid and/or scholarship funds to current year registration fees, residence hall charges, and other institutional expenses (including financial aid overpayments) before releasing funds to students. A student may request that their Cal Grant B Access Grant be disbursed directly to them. This request can be made at any time; however, if the grant has already been disbursed, the request would affect only future payments. The request may be made, in person, to the University Disbursements Office. [page top]
7: What happens if I drop units?
If you drop units after all of your aid has been disbursed, you may have received funds to which you were not entitled. You will receive an Award Adjustment Notice from the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships and a statement from the University Cashiers Office for any overpayment (refer to the Guide to Financial Aid). It is very important that you contact the University Disbursements Office regarding repayment. Failure to make arrangements to repay may result in the withholding of services by the University, including the ability to register for the following semester.[page top]
8: What do I need to do if I decide
not to attend SDSU?
If you will not be attending SDSU you must officially withdraw through the Office of the Registrar. Simply dropping your classes OnLine, or notifying only the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, does not constitute official withdrawal. Information and instructions regarding Official Withdrawal can be found in the Class Schedule.[page top]
9: How do I get a refund if I withdraw from the university or drop to 6 units or less?
It is important that you be aware of SDSU’s refund policy and how it affects your financial aid. If you withdraw from the University or drop to 6.0 units or less, you may qualify for a refund of registration fees and/or nonresident tuition. Refer to the Money Matters section in the Class Schedule,or the General Catalog for information on the refund policy and important dates to know. In most cases it is not necessary to complete an application for a refund. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the policy.
If you withdraw, Federal regulations require that the institution determine if a refund must be made to the student or if unearned aid must be returned to the federal (Title IV) accounts. Refer to the Class Schedule or the General Catalog for more information regarding refund of institutional charges to Title IV financial aid recipients.[page top]
10: What is an exit interview
and when do I need to schedule one?
An exit interview is required for any Federal Perkins Loan (NDSL), William D. Ford Direct Loan, Federal Stafford Loan or University Long Term Loan recipient who is graduating or leaving school, transferring to another school or dropping below six units. An exit interview provides a complete explanation of repayment, deferment, and cancellation terms; answers specific questions about the loans and provides an opportunity for recipients to comment on SDSU loan programs. Contact the University Collections Office in Student Services, Room 2554, or by calling (619) 594-5827.[page top]
11: Still have questions about your
Financial Aid or Scholarship award?
Contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships- Call (619) 594-6323 to obtain useful recorded information or speak with a financial aid counselor (during regular business hours).
Access your financial aid record on AidLink, accessible from the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.
Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.[page top]
Information on this Web site is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to ensure that information is current and accurate. The statements found on this Web site are for informational purposes only.
This page last updated June 20, 2006
Site contact: fgracia@mail.sdsu.edu