How Financial Aid Is Applied to Student Accounts
Financial aid funds are applied directly to a student’s account to pay authorized educational charges, including tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meal plans, and other institutional charges, as applicable. Financial aid is credited to the students’ account after eligibility has been confirmed and all enrollment requirements have been satisfied.
Funds are applied in the following order:
- Tuition and mandatory fees
- Housing charges (if applicable)
- Meal plan charges (if applicable)
- Other authorized institutional charges
After all applicable charges have been paid, any remaining financial aid funds create a credit balance on the student’s account. Students with a credit balance are eligible to receive a refund in accordance with the College’s Refund of Credit Balances policy.
Students are responsible for any outstanding balance that remains after financial aid has been applied. Financial aid awards may be adjusted if enrollment status changes, eligibility requirements are not met, or additional resources such as outside scholarships are received.
Students are encouraged to review their account information regularly through the student portal and contact the Financial Aid Office or Business Office with any questions regarding the application of financial aid funds to their accounts.
Reporting Outside Scholarships
Students who receive scholarships, grants, tuition assistance, or other educational benefits from sources outside the College are required to notify the Financial Aid Office promptly. Documentation of the award, including the name of the sponsoring organization and the award amount, must be submitted as soon as the student is notified of the scholarship.
Outside scholarships and other educational resources must be considered when determining a student’s financial aid eligibility and may result in adjustments to the student’s financial aid package to ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. Failure to report outside scholarships may result in a revision of aid awards, repayment obligations, or delays in the processing of financial aid and refunds.
Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions regarding the reporting of outside scholarships or how such awards may affect their financial aid eligibility.