{"id":67,"date":"2024-04-22T19:47:54","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T19:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/?page_id=67"},"modified":"2026-07-28T07:32:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T12:32:47","slug":"disbursementandrefunds","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/disbursementandrefunds\/","title":{"rendered":"Disbursement of Aid, Refunds, and Purchasing Books &amp; Supplies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-block accordion expandable-group expandable-group-lightblock\" id=\"newExpandable\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingdisbursement-of-aid\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandabledisbursement-of-aid\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandabledisbursement-of-aid\">Disbursement of Aid<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandabledisbursement-of-aid\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingdisbursement-of-aid\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Financial Aid Office begins authorizing financial aid approximately 1 &#8211; 3 business days before your first class begins each term.&nbsp; This allows the Bursar\u2019s Office to disburse the authorized aid to your account and start sending Financial Aid refunds by Direct Deposits by the start of your classes.&nbsp; The Financial Aid Office continues authorizing aid each night as new awards are made and other requirements are met.&nbsp; Some sources of aid have additional requirements that must be met before it can be disbursed.&nbsp; For example, the Federal Direct Loan program requires Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note be completed before the funds can be disbursed.&nbsp; You can see missing requirements on your financial aid pages within PipelineMT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disbursement of aid for the following programs is based on enrollment in eligible coursework:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Federal Aid Programs: Pell Grant, SEOG, Teach Grant, Direct Loans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>State Aid Programs: State grant, Lottery Scholarships, Dependent Children Scholarship Program, Ned McWherter Scholars Program, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/scholarships\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MTSU Guaranteed Scholarships<\/a>&nbsp;for First-Time Freshman and Incoming Transfer Students<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In general, a course is considered eligible if it is meeting an outstanding degree requirement.&nbsp; If the course is not required for the degree, then it is considered ineligible.&nbsp; Refer to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/cpos\/\">Coursework toward Program of Study (CPoS)<\/a>&nbsp;for more information on eligible and ineligible coursework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Athletic Scholarships, Honor Scholarships, and Foundation\/Departmental Scholarships are not based solely on eligible coursework since they are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most grant and scholarship amounts will adjust up or down as you add and drop classes through the census date. The census date is typically the 14th day of classes for Fall and Spring semesters. For Summer, refer to the online&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/w1.mtsu.edu\/registration\/registration-guide.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Registration Guide<\/a>. You should also always check with the MT One Stop before adding or dropping classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another reason your aid may be adjusted is if your advisor changes your program of study&nbsp;<strong>AFTER<\/strong>&nbsp;the semester begins.&nbsp; If your courses no longer apply to the new program of study, your financial aid may be reduced and you may owe a balance to the Bursar\u2019s Office.&nbsp; It is VERY important to make any changes to your program of study before the semester starts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond your census date, no further increases or decreases to award amounts will be made based on adding or partially dropping courses. However, award amounts may be reduced if you fail to attend all eligible coursework or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/policies\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"63\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">officially \/ unofficially withdraw<\/a>&nbsp;from all coursework<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingfinancial-aid-refunds\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandablefinancial-aid-refunds\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandablefinancial-aid-refunds\">Financial Aid Refunds<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandablefinancial-aid-refunds\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfinancial-aid-refunds\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your financial aid awards are more than your MTSU charges, you will receive a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/w1.mtsu.edu\/tuition\/refunds.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Financial Aid Refund<\/a>. MTSU encourages student to receive their Financial Aid Refund by signing up for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/w1.mtsu.edu\/tuition\/direct-deposit.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Direct Deposit<\/a>. This way MTSU can send your refund directly to the bank account you designate and helps you to receive your funds as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingpurchasing-books-amp-supplies\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandablepurchasing-books-amp-supplies\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandablepurchasing-books-amp-supplies\">Purchasing Books &amp; Supplies<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandablepurchasing-books-amp-supplies\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingpurchasing-books-amp-supplies\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You have several options when purchasing books and supplies.  You may want to consider a combination of the following methods to find the most cost efficient option available.  Some common ways students have purchased or obtained books &amp; supplies include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Campus Bookstore<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Off-Campus Bookstores<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Online Retailers like Amazon, Chegg, Barnes &amp; Nobles, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Digital Textbooks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MTSU Library<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is very important to apply for financial aid as early as possible. For students whose aid is processed and is eligible for a financial aid refund before the 1st day of classes, the MTSU Bursar&#8217;s Office offer several ways for students to use available financial aid refunds in the purchasing of books at the beginning of the semester.  Otherwise, financial aid refunds are sent as aid is awarded throughout the semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>MTSU Book Advance Program: <\/strong> This programs allows you to use your anticipated financial aid refund to purchase textbooks and required supplies (no food or clothing) from Phillips Bookstore. The amount you can spend at the bookstore is the amount of your anticipated financial aid refund that will be available after all university fees have been paid up to $750.&nbsp; You will be notified by email from the MTSU Bursar&#8217;s Office if you are eligible for this program.  The amount spent at the bookstore will be added along with your tuition charges on your student account.&nbsp; Your excess financial aid will pay for the bookstore charge and any remaining aid will be refunded to you.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you have additional charges or an adjustment in financial aid after you charge books, you could possibly owe a balance to the university.&nbsp; Any textbooks returned will reduce the bookstore charge on your student account.&nbsp; You will not receive cash back at the bookstore for returned textbooks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sign up for Direct Deposit:  <\/strong>The fastest, safest, and most convenient option to receive a financial aid refund is by Direct Deposit.  You will be notified by email from the MTSU Bursar&#8217;s Office if you have an anticipated financial aid refund and are not signed up for Direct Deposit.  Instructions on how to setup Direct Deposit are included in the email.  The Financial Aid Office typically start disburses aid 1 &#8211; 3 business days before your 1st class begins for the term so that refunds sent by Direct Deposit are typically received within the first few days of classes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financial Aid Refund Check:<\/strong>  If you do not sign up for Direct Deposit, a refund check will be mailed to the mailing address you have listed in PipelineMT by the 5th day of the semester.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Required book may be charged to your student account through the First Day program for select courses. <\/strong> Students will receive an email with details on how to opt out if they would rather purchase the book in another method.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-67","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1552,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67\/revisions\/1552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}