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.
Students can view their refund by logging onto .
Students 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.
- Students 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.
Students who withdraw after the 60% Point are not required to return federal financial aid funds. However, all withdrawals, dropped courses, repeated courses, and academic forgiveness are included in calculating Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Financial Aid Refund Dates
Summer 2026
| Refund Dates |
|---|
| June 4 |
| June 10 |
| June 17 |
| June 25 |
| July 8 |
| July 15 |
| July 22 |
| July 29 |
| August 5 |