On This Page: | Receiving a Refund | Processing Schedule | Federal Financial Aid | Admission Deposits | Refunds For Overpayment | Refunds - Columbia Residential Apartment Charge | Policy Statement |
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New to billing and payments? Start with the basics.
Receiving a Refund
Refunds are generally processed automatically when a valid credit appears on the Student Account unless otherwise indicated. To check your student account balance:
- log into Student Services Online (SSOL),
- click on "Account Detail and E-Billing"
- "View Student Account Detail"
- If there is a valid credit on the account that is not based on anticipated credits, the refund will generally be processed automatically unless otherwise indicated.
- If the credit is based on anticipated credits for financial aid, scholarships, or the payment plan, a refund will not be processed until the funds have actually arrived and been posted to the student account.
OPTING INTO AUTOMATIC REFUNDS
Please note: you must choose to participate to receive automatic refunds. Default participation status depends on each student's school. To opt into or out of automatic refunds:
- select "Refunds" from the SSOL menu and follow the instructions.
Students of General Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Business, College and Undergraduate Engineering are not currently eligible for automatic refunds. These students should refer to the "Automatic Refund Options" page of SSOL.
DIRECT DEPOSIT
The University's preferred method of refund distribution is through direct deposit. Direct deposit is the fastest and most convenient way to receive a refund. Learn how to enroll.
PAPER CHECKS
If you have not signed up for direct deposit, paper refund checks will be sent to the your local address. To verify this address, log into SSOL and go to "Addresses."
Refund Processing Schedule - Spring 2023
School | Processing Date* |
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Architecture - AC | 1/11/2023 |
Arts - AR | 1/11/2023 |
Business - BU | 1/6/2023 |
Columbia College - CC | Contact your financial aid office |
Dental - Graduate - DG | 1/5/2023 |
Dental - DN | 1/5/2023 |
Engineering - EN | Contact your financial aid office |
Grad Engineering - EP | 1/27/2023 |
Genetic Counseling - GC | 1/5/2023 |
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - GF/GG | Request a refund at the Office of Financial Aid at GSAS |
General Studies/Postbac - GS/GN | Request a refund at GS Refunds |
Human Nutrition – GM | 1/10/2023 |
International and Public Affairs (SIPA) - IA | 1/13/2023 |
Journalism - JN | 1/6/2023 |
Law - LW | 1/6/2023 |
Nursing – NP | 1/17/2023 |
Occupational Therapy – OT | 1/10/2023 |
Physical Therapy – PT | 1/5/2023 |
Physicians and Surgeons – MD | 1/5/2023 |
Professional Studies - SP | 2/6/2023 |
Psychoanalytic Center – PC | 1/18/2023 |
Public Health – PH | 1/18/2023 |
Social Work - SW | 1/6/2023 |
*This is the start date chosen by the schools.
Note Regarding Federal Financial Aid (Title IV)
If a credit balance is due to an excess of federal financial aid such as Pell, SEOG, Stafford and Perkins loans, the opt-out process described above does not apply. In accordance with federal law, all excess Title IV funds will be returned to the student within 14 days. If the student wants any excess Title IV aid to remain on the student account, the student must provide written authorization to the University. Please send an email to the Student Service Center clearly stating that any excess Title IV funding should remain on the student account. This request will be granted for any current or future Title IV excess at the time of the request and will be good for the remainder of the academic year in which the request was made. The authorization to retain Title IV funding on the student account is voluntary, and a student has the right to rescind the authorization at any time and request the credit balance be refunded.
Note Regarding Admission Deposits
A non-refundable deposit is required of new students in some schools within the University in order to reserve a place in the entering class. The amount of a paid deposit may be deducted from the amount due on the first Student Account Statement of a term if the credit is not reflected on that Statement.
Deposits are not refundable due to non-registration. If admission is being deferred, the appropriate school’s admission office should be contacted to determine if the deposit can be credited to a later term.
Note Regarding Refunds for Overpayment
Refunds will be issued on credit balances resulting from an overpayment of the student account. Payments resulting in a credit balance, made by any of the payment methods below, are subject to a waiting period before SFS can issue the refund.
Personal Check: | 10 days |
ACH Payment: | 7 days |
Loan Checks: | 1 day |
Note Regarding Refunds - Columbia Residential Apartment Charge
Credit balance refunds are issued on Current Charges, including the monthly Columbia Residential Apartment charge, accruing and due within the statement period. Students can request a refund of this Columbia Residential Apartment charge as part of the credit balance refund. If this refund is issued, then you will owe this monthly Columbia Residential Apartment charge, and it will be reflected on the next statement.
Policy Statement and Further Information
For more information on refunds, please see the Policy on Student Account Credit Balances and Refunds, or contact us by email.