Disbursement (Payment)

Overview of Disbursement of Financial Aid

• Unless otherwise stated on your Financial Aid Award Notification, all aid for the academic year is split evenly; half for fall term and half for spring term.
• All financial aid funds (including scholarships & fee waivers) are applied (credited) first to the student's tuition/fee bill, then to room and board charges (only for residence hall students), and lastly to miscellaneous fees (if the miscellaneous fee permission sheet was signed).
• When these charges are paid in full, any financial aid amounts over these costs are then refunded to the student (either in a check or by direct deposit) to use for indirect expenses and any other educational expenses.

Contents:

• Use of Financial Aid

  • Crediting of Aid to Student Accounts

  • Payment of Bills & Refunds

  • Checks (refund/residual)

  • Timing

  • Direct Deposit

• Items That Will Hold Aid From Disbursement

  • Stafford Loan Entrance Interview

  • Perkins Loan Promissory Note packet and/or Entrance Interview

• Other Financial Aid Disbursements

  • Work-Study Checks

  • Short Term Loans

Use of Financial Aid

Crediting of Aid to Student Accounts 

• Once all holds and eligibility issues are resolved, financial aid is credited to the student’s account at University Receivables. 

• This crediting will occur no sooner than the 1st day of the appropriate term. 

• One half of the available aid is credited in the fall and the other half is credited in the spring for full academic year students. 

• Aid received or available after the 1st day is credited on the next business day.

Payment of Bills & Refunds

•  All financial aid funds (including scholarships & fee waivers but not work-study) are first applied to the student’s tuition/fee bill, then to room and board charges (for residence hall students), and lastly to miscellaneous fees (if the form Authorization to Apply Financial Aid to All Charges was signed). 
• When these charges are paid in full, any financial aid amounts over these costs are then refunded to the student (either in a check or by direct deposit) to use for indirect expenses and any other educational expenses for the semester.

Checks (refund/residual):

• Financial aid checks (including scholarships and student loans) are disbursed by the Student Accounts Office.
  • This office is located in 342 French Administration Building (509) 335-9651.
  • A picture ID is required to pickup any check.
  • Only the student may pick up a check.
• Students enrolled at urban campuses who do not participate in direct deposit will pick up their checks at the Student Services Office of the branch campus.
• Students enrolled in the Distance Degree programs who do not participate in direct deposit will have their checks mailed to them based on the address listed on WSU Infonet under "mailing address".
• Students who will be away from Pullman during the term (such as studying abroad, working on an internship, during student teaching, etc.) and who do not participate in direct deposit must make mailing arrangements with the Student Accounts Office in advance of disbursement. Otherwise the checks will be held for in-person pick up.
• (Also see Direct Deposit below.)

Timing:

• The earliest funds can be made available is the the first day of classes at the beginning each term. 
• Funds not available at the beginning of the term are disbursed the next business day after they are received.
• Students are expected to provide their own resources between the end of the fall term and the beginning of the spring term.

Direct Deposit:

• Students may authorize Washington State University to direct deposit any residual financial aid amounts directly to the student's personal checking account after current tuition and fee charges are paid in full.
• Students are strongly encouraged to participate in direct deposit.  (Click here for more information.)
• Direct deposit for financial aid is separate from direct deposit for paychecks.
• Questions about direct deposit should be directed to University Receivables at (509) 335-9651 or 342 French Administration Building. 

Items That Will Hold Aid From Disbursement

Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling:

• If you are borrowing a Stafford Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized) for the first time at Washington State University, you are required to complete an entrance counseling session.
• This session may be available in-person (for Pullman students at the beginning of each term) or on the web (for all non-Pullman students and those Pullman students unable to make one of the in-person dates).
• You will be notified of the in-person schedule and it will be also posted on the Current Announcements page before the beginning of each term.
• By clicking here or on the Entrance/Exit Loan Counseling button on our home page, you will be directed to the web site that will allow you to complete the session on-line. After you complete the process, we will be sent an electronic confirmation automatically. 
• If you cannot access this page, you may contact our office to request an Entrance Counseling packet to be mailed to you for completion.

Perkins Loan Promissory Note and/or Entrance Interview:

• If you were awarded a Perkins Loan and accepted it on your award notification, you will need to complete the Perkins Loan Promissory Note and Entrance Interview before the award can be disbursed.
• You will be be mailed this information.  It must be completed and returned by you or by mail to the WSU Student Loan Office before any Perkins Loan funds may be disbursed to you.
• If you did not receive your Perkins Loan Promissory Note packet, contact the Student Loan Office for a duplicate packet.
• The Perkins packet must be completed for each year you accept a loan.

Other Financial Aid Disbursements

Work-Study Checks:

• Students earning work-study funds through the University will receive paychecks in the mail.
• Students are paid on the 10th and 25th of each month.
• Questions about checks may be directed to the university's Payroll Services Offices.  
• For more information about the work-study programs, go here.