AID DISBURSEMENT & REFUNDS

How You Receive Your Funds

Different types of aid are delivered differently — here’s what to expect for each.

Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study funds work differently from other aid. Rather than being applied directly to your student account, Federal Work-Study is paid to you via paycheck as you earn it. It is based on the hours you work. This means your Work-Study funds are yours to use as you choose and are not automatically applied toward your tuition balance. Students are not permitted to work more than 10 hours per week during periods of enrollment.

As you search for a Federal Work-Study position, it may be helpful to have your Employment Authorization Form ready. Your potential employer will likely request it to verify your eligibility before you begin working.

Work-Study eligibility windows vary by semester:

• If your Work-Study eligibility begins in the summer semester, you may work from the first day through the last day of the summer semester.
• If your Work-Study eligibility begins in the fall, you may start as early as the first day of the fall semester and continue through the last day of the spring semester — or the date your enrollment ends for the year, whichever comes first.

Loans

Federal Loans

Federal Direct student loan funds are transmitted to The Colleges of Law via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) and applied directly to your student account. If your loan exceeds your tuition and fee balance, any remaining credit will be issued to you within 14 calendar days of the credit appearing on your account, via direct deposit or check mailed to your address on file.

A note for students borrowing federal loans for the first time: before your loan funds can be disbursed, you must complete Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN). These are one-time requirements and typically take less than 30 minutes. If you haven’t completed these steps yet, your funds may be delayed. So, make sure to take care of them as early as possible.

Please note: due to recent changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Graduate PLUS Loans are no longer available to new borrowers for terms beginning on or after July 1, 2026. If you have questions about how this affects your loan disbursement, please contact our financial aid office.

Scholarships

Scholarships are applied directly to your student account as tuition credits. Scholarship awards are not issued as cash refunds and are not transferable to future terms if not used.

Disbursement Timing

Financial aid funds are disbursed after enrollment is verified for the term and all required steps have been completed (FAFSA, Entrance Counseling, MPN, and award acceptance). First-time borrowers at The Colleges of Law must complete entrance counseling before loan funds can be released.

Refunds

Loan disbursements are applied to your account to offset owed tuition and fees for all students verified to be enrolled at least half-time. Any aid in excess of the balance owed (credit balance) will be refunded to you within 14 days of the credit balance appearing on your account. Student refunds are made via direct deposit. Submit a completed Direct Deposit Authorization Form on the Student Gateway. If no direct deposit information is provided, refund checks are mailed to the address on file.

A few important things to keep in mind before spending a refund:

Because tuition, fees, and aid disbursements can all fluctuate due to enrollment changes, adjustments to institutional scholarships or grants, and other factors, your refund amount may change from what you initially expected. We strongly encourage you to confirm that your refund is accurate before spending any of those funds. An unexpected adjustment later could result in a balance you’ll need to repay.

Return of Title IV Funds Upon Withdrawal

If you receive Title IV federal financial aid and completely withdraw from the institution before completing 60% of the term, The Colleges of Law is required by federal law to calculate how much of your aid you have earned. Unearned funds must be returned to the federal aid programs in a specified order. 

If funds must be returned, you may owe a balance to The Colleges of Law. We strongly recommend contacting the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing.

Contact Financial Aid before withdrawing to understand your options

Order of Return

Unearned funds are returned to the following programs in this order:

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Direct Subsidized Loans
• Graduate PLUS Loans (if applicable)
• PELL Grants (if applicable)
• SEOG (if applicable)

Note: Recipients of student loans who withdraw should contact the Financial Aid Office to complete an Exit Interview.

Official vs. Administrative Withdrawal Date

A Few Important Things to Know

We want to make sure you go into this process with a clear picture of how it works:

• The Colleges of Law is responsible for calculating how much Title IV aid you have earned. We follow the federal formula. Please note, we don’t have discretion to change the outcome, but we can help you understand it.
• Federal Title IV funds are always applied first to direct college charges such as tuition and fees, as they stood before your withdrawal date. These charges reflect what was owed prior to withdrawal and may not reflect any tuition adjustment your school makes separately.
• If the return of unearned funds creates a balance on your account, that balance is your responsibility and will need to be resolved promptly.

If you have any questions about how a withdrawal or leave of absence would affect your specific aid package, please reach out before you make any decisions. We would much rather help you plan than have you face unexpected consequences after the fact.