Step 4: Receive Your Funds & Maintain Eligibility
You've accepted your aid and completed all requirements. This final step covers how your aid is paid to you and the academic rules you must follow to keep your financial aid for future semesters.
How You Get Your Money: Disbursement & Refunds
1. Disbursement: Paying Your Bill
"Disbursement" is the process of your financial aid being paid to your student account.
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What it does: Your accepted grants, scholarships, and loans are first applied directly to your university charges (tuition, fees, housing, meal plans, etc.).
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When it happens: Aid begins to disburse no earlier than one week before the first day of classes each semester.
2. Refunds: Receiving the Difference
If your total disbursed financial aid is more than your university charges, you will be issued a refund for the remaining amount. This money can be used for books, supplies, and other educational expenses.
Your Fastest Way to Get Paid: Set Up Direct Deposit
Direct Deposit is the fastest, most secure, and most recommended way to receive your financial aid refund. If you do not set up direct deposit, a paper check will be mailed to your address on file, which can take an additional 7-10 business days.
How to Set Up Direct Deposit (e-Refund):
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Log in to your AP OneStop portal.
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Select the "Web Self Service" tab.
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Click on "Student" and then "Student Account."
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Select "Direct Deposit (e-Refunds)" and follow the instructions to enter your bank's routing and account number.
How to Keep Your Aid: Maintain Eligibility
Receiving financial aid is not a one-time event. You must meet specific academic standards to remain eligible for aid in future semesters. This is known as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
SAP is measured at the end of every semester (including summer) and has three main components:
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GPA (Qualitative): You must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA.
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Undergraduate students: Must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
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Graduate students: Must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
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Pace (Quantitative): You must successfully complete at least 67% of all credit hours you attempt.
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Example: If you "attempt" 12 credit hours, you must pass at least 8 of them (12 x 0.67 = 8.04).
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"Attempted" credits include courses you pass (A, B, C, D), fail (F), withdraw from (W), or complete with an incomplete (I).
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Maximum Timeframe (MTF): You must complete your degree program within 150% of the total credit hours required.
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Example: If your bachelor's degree requires 120 credit hours, you cannot receive aid after attempting 180 credit hours (120 x 1.5 = 180).
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What if I don't meet SAP?
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Financial Aid Warning: The first time you fall below the standard, you will be placed on "Warning." You can still receive financial aid for one more semester.
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Financial Aid Suspension: If you fail to meet SAP standards after your "Warning" semester, you will be placed on "Suspension" and will be ineligible for all federal and state financial aid until you meet the standards again or have an appeal approved.
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Appeals: You have the right to appeal your Suspension if you had extenuating, documented circumstances. View more information about Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Other Important Rules That Affect Your Aid
Course Choice Counts
Financial aid can only pay for courses that are required for your declared degree program (your "program of study").
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Registering for classes that are not on your degree plan (e.g., electives you don't need) may result in your aid being reduced.
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Action: Always meet with your academic advisor to ensure you are registering for the correct classes.
Withdrawing from Classes
Dropping a class or completely withdrawing from the university can have serious financial consequences.
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If you withdraw (officially or unofficially), you may be required to repay a portion of the financial aid you received for that semester. This is a federal calculation called "Return of Title IV Funds."
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Action: Always talk to a Financial Aid counselor before you drop a class or withdraw.
You've Completed the Process!
This completes the financial aid process for this year. Remember, you must re-apply by completing a new FAFSA every year.