I'm trying to budget for college and understand when financial aid payments are typically processed by schools. Is it usually before classes start, or does the timing vary?
Financial aid disbursement can vary from college to college, but generally, you can expect your financial aid to be applied to your student account at the beginning of each term. This is usually a few days before or after classes start.
The financial aid usually gets applied to any outstanding charges first, such as tuition and housing, before any leftover funds get refunded to you. This process can take a bit of time, up to a few weeks into the semester for some colleges.
It's always a good idea to confirm the specific timings and process with your own school’s financial aid office, since policies can differ. Planning ahead with this information will help you better manage your budget.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.