Refunds
Financial Aid Refunds
Starting the first day of a semester, financial aid refunds will be issued when financial aid funds are in excess of tuition and fees for a given term. Refunds of financial aid funds cannot be issued before the term begins. Financial aid disbursements are based on a student’s current enrollment and the completion of any necessary requirements. Please refer to the MyOHIO Student Center for additional information about financial aid awards for a semester.
All excess financial aid credits that have applied to a student account will be refunded. For students who are enrolled in direct deposit your refund will be issued to your designated bank account. For students who are not enrolled in direct deposit, your refund will be mailed to your address of record.
Students may enroll in direct deposit through their MyOHIO Student Center. Please allow at least 1-2 business days for the funds to be deposited. Please see Direct Deposit for additional information. Students will be notified by email when a refund transaction has posted to their student account. Refunds are processed and issued per the following schedule:
| Time Period | Direct Deposit Refund | Paper Check Refund |
|---|---|---|
| Start of Semester - Week 3 | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Thursday |
| Week 4 - Close of Semester | Tuesday, Thursday | Thursday |
Special note for students with enrollment changes or incomplete financial aid requirements:
At the time a refund is processed, the financial aid exceeded University charges for the term in which the aid was disbursed. When a student changes their enrollment through drop or withdraw activity, they may no longer be eligible for all, or a portion, of their financial aid for a semester. Failure to return funds may result in a financial hold and/or late fees being placed on the student account. The student may also become ineligible to register (or maintain registration for) upcoming terms. Lastly, if the refund is not returned within a designated amount of time, your account will be subjected to University Collection policies. Additionally, the ability to receive financial aid in the future may be adversely impacted. Please refer to the Withdrawal Policy for additional information.
Any refunds resulting from the PLUS Loan go to the parent unless specified to go to the student on the Federal PLUS Loan application. Parent borrowers who elected to receive the refund from the PLUS Loan proceeds are mailed directly to the parent borrower at the address submitted on the Parent PLUS promissory note.
Non-Financial Aid Refunds
Students may request refunds of non-financial aid funds by emailing the Bursar. Requests must be sent from the student’s Ohio University email account and must include the student’s name and PID number. Students who are not enrolled in direct deposit must also include an address in their email request. Refunds from non-financial aid sources will not be refunded until 14 days after the payment originally posted to the student account. Please note, credit card over-payments will be refunded back to the credit card. Students will be notified by email when a refund transaction has posted to their student account. Outstanding balances from Parking Services or Campus Care may be deducted before refund is processed.
Special Notice Regarding Paper Check Refunds
Check refunds are mailed to students in the following order:
- Residence Hall Address
- Mailing Address
- Home Address
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that Ohio University has a correct address. Students may update their address online through the MyOHIO Student Center. In the Personal Information section your contact information will be displayed and will be available for updates.
Refunds that are mailed are not forwarded and are returned to the Office of the Bursar if undeliverable. Incorrect addresses will delay the student from receiving the refund. Students that need to have their refund mailed to an address other than their local address must contact the Office of the Bursar by email.
Stop Payments
Stop payments may be requested for refund checks that have not been received 14 days after the check issue date. The student (or parent borrower for PLUS Loan proceeds) will need to email the Office of the Bursar from their OHIO email account in order to request the issuance of a new refund.
Stale Dated Checks
Refund checks that are not cashed within 90 days of issuance are not valid. These checks will have a stop payment placed and will no longer be eligible for cashing. The uncashed funds will be processed to the student account in the following order:
- Applied to a current or past due balance (within the same award year or credit $200 and under if financial aid funds)
- Applied to borrower's loan, if applicable (Federal Direct Loans or Perkins)
- Reissued to payee
- Placed in forfeiture holding account