Skip to main content

Aid Disbursement

How Financial Aid Is Disbursed

Fall and Spring

  • Financial aid is paid based on the semester for which it is offered. For example, if you were offered $2,000 in Pell Grant for fall and $2,000 for spring, the spring portion would not disburse until the spring semester.
  • Aid can only disburse if you meet the enrollment requirements for each type of aid. Some aid pays at a prorated amount based on the number of hours a student is enrolled in while other types require half-time or full-time enrollment.
  • For Title IV federal aid and WV state aid, courses must be required for your degree to count toward your enrollment requirement for aid disbursement. Courses for elective minors or concentrations (i.e. not required for you to obtain your degree) do not count.
  • You must complete all requirements before aid can disburse. Review our Checklists webpage and our information about unsatisfied requirements to make sure everything is ready to go!
  • If all requirements have been met, most financial aid will disburse as payment to your student account about ten days before the first official day of classes each fall and spring semester.
  • Some assistance coming from sources outside of the institution (some state assistance, private scholarships, and third-party sponsorships) may arrive later depending on the provider of those funds.
  • If there are any funds remaining after all institutional charges are paid in full, they are refunded to you according to the method you have chosen. Review our Refunds webpage for different refund options. Direct deposit is the fastest and easiest way to receive your refund!

Summer

  • Financial aid disburses based on the classes a student is enrolled in for the semester.
  • Disbursement of financial aid will occur on the first day of your first course(s) for the summer. Initial disbursement will be based on your overall enrollment at the time of disbursement. For students who have the Federal Pell Grant and federal loans:
    • If your first 3 credit hours start on May 18 and your next 3 credit hours start on June 29, both your Pell Grant and loans will disburse on May 18.
    • If you have 6 credit hours that all start on June 29, your grant and loans will disburse on June 29.
    • If you are enrolled in a Maymester course, your aid will not disburse until May 18.
  • Be sure to monitor your summer schedule carefully. Adjustments to your schedule at any point during the summer can impact your aid eligibility, which could result in the removal of financial aid – such as the Federal Pell Grant or loans – even if it’s already been disbursed to you. This may require you to pay for courses out of pocket or return money you received as a refund. Summer Pell Grant recipients should also review the information on disbursement and summer enrollment changes on our Federal Pell Grant webpage.
  • For federal and most state aid, courses must be required for your degree to count toward your enrollment requirement for aid disbursement. Courses for elective minors or concentrations (i.e. not required for you to obtain your degree) do not count.
  • You must complete all requirements before aid can disburse. Review our Checklists webpage and our information about unsatisfied requirements to make sure everything is ready to go!
  • Some assistance coming from sources outside of the institution (some state assistance, private scholarships, and third-party sponsorships) may arrive later depending on the provider of those funds.
  • If there are any funds remaining after all institutional charges are paid in full, they are refunded to you according to the method you have chosen. Visit our Refunds webpage for different refund options. Direct deposit is the fastest and easiest way receive your refund!

Additional Information

For information related to a specific fund or type of financial aid, visit any of our webpages below for details.

Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Requirements

Includes information related to:

  • Disbursement Requirements
  • How to Complete Loan Requirements
  • Enrollment Change Requirement
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Requirements webpage Read More: Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Requirements

Private Loans

Includes information related to:

  • Application Process
  • Disbursement Requirements
  • Self-Certification
  • Borrower Responibilities
Private Loans webpage Read More: Private Loans

Refunds

Includes information related to:

  • Timeline
  • Signing Up for Direct Deposit
  • Creating Your Nelnet Account
  • Refunds Due to Enrollment Changes
Refunds webpage Read More: Refunds