Refunds

Financial Aid Refunds

 
Direct Deposit

For the fastest way to receive a financial aid refund, students should sign up for direct deposit through their PipelineMT account. The student will need the routing number and account number for their checking or savings account.  The student CANNOT use their debit card number.

After a student signs up for direct deposit, it takes three working days before the bank account is ready to accept ACH deposits. In order for student to have their refund by the first day of class, they must sign up seven days prior to the first day of the semester or part-of-term. Students who sign up at a later date will receive their refund four working days later. Students may sign up for direct deposit at any time.

If a student enters an incorrect routing and/or account number or the bank account is frozen or closed, it will take up to 7 business days before we receive the funds back from the bank. The student should make corrections to the bank account by deleting the incorrect account and enter the correct information using a different account "nickname."

Plus Loan Refunds

Plus loan refunds designated to go to the student will be issued by direct deposit or by check. Plus loan refunds designated to go to the parent will be mailed via check on the first day of the semester or part-of-term if the student is signed up for direct deposit. If the student is not signed up for direct deposit, the checks will be mailed by the end of the first week of the semester. Parent refund checks will be mailed the following Monday for funds disbursed after the first week of the semester.

Title IV Refund Checks

Students with a credit balance on Title IV aid (Direct loans, Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, TEACH Grant) who are not signed up for direct deposit will have a check mailed by the 7th day of the semester. Aid that is disbursed after the 1st day of the semester will be mailed within 14 days of disbursement.  Checks will no longer be available to pick up. 

Non-Title IV Refund Checks

Students with a credit balance on non-Title IV aid who are not signed up for direct deposit will have a check mailed to a current mailing and depending on when the aid is applied depends on when the refunds are issued.  Checks are mailed once a week on Friday's.  Checks will no longer be available to pick up.  

Dropped Class Refunds

Tuition Refunds for Dropped Classes takes several weeks to process. There are over a 1,000 refunds to process and the tuition amounts have to be verified, financial aid has to be reviewed and adjusted if necessary, and the refund itself has to be manually processed. Any outstanding balances will be deducted from the tuition and fee credits before a refund is processed. 

If a student is due a refund from a dropped course(s), the refund will be processed as follows:

  • If paid with financial aid, the aid may be adjusted based on hours enrolled and the tuition credit will be applied back to the aid that paid for the courses. If eligibility has not changed based on hours enrolled, the refund will be sent direct deposit or by check if not signed up for direct deposit. 
  • If paid with a credit card, the drop credit will be refunded back to the credit card used to pay for tuition and fees. If paid with a debit card in person, the refund will be processed either by direct deposit or by check if the student is not signed up for direct deposit.
  • If paid with webcheck, check, money order or cash, the refund will be processed either by direct deposit or by check if the student is not signed up for direct deposit.

Tuition Refunds for Withdrawn Classes

Students who drop all of their classes during a given semester are considered to have withdrawn their enrollment from the university. Tuition and fees will be adjusted based upon the student's withdrawal date and the fee adjustment deadline dates.  Once a semester has begun, students will be responsible for a portion of their tuition and fees for dropped courses or withdrawing from the university. The fee adjustment percentages are based upon credit hours dropped and not tuition charged. Only withdrawals prior to the first day of classes (beginning of term) are eligible to receive a 100% fee adjustment of tuition and fees.

Students who receive Federal Direct loans, Federal Pell, Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Service grant, Federal SEOG, or Federal TEACH grant will have their aid prorated based on the amount of time the student has attended if the student withdraws before completing 60% of the semester. State aid such as TSAC and Tennessee Education scholarships may be cancelled for students who withdraw during the first 14 days of classes.  All or part of their aid could be prorated resulting in the student owing funds to the university.  Balances due to the university will prevent the student from receiving grades or transcripts, registering for future semesters, or being readmitted into the university until the balance is paid in full.

If a student is due a refund from a complete withdrawal from the term (the student has an overall credit balance), the refund will be processed as follows:

  • If paid with financial aid, the aid may be adjusted based on hours enrolled and the tuition credit will be applied back to the aid that paid for the courses. The student will usually owe a balance to the university.
  • If paid with a debit or credit card online, the account credit will be refunded back to the card used to pay for tuition and fees. If paid with a debit card or credit card in person, the refund will be processed either by direct deposit or by check if the student is not signed up for direct deposit.
  • If paid with webcheck, check, money order or cash, the account credit will be refunded either by direct deposit or by check if the student is not signed up for direct deposit.

Any outstanding balances will be deducted before a refund is processed. 

Students on the Installment Payment Plan

Students who drop or withdraw from classes will still have a balance due under the installment payment plan. Fees are adjusted based on the drop or withdrawal date. The fee adjustment percentage is NOT applied to the amount of payment, but rather as a percentage of the credit hours dropped. A refund would only be issued to the student if the newly adjusted amount of tuition and fees is less than the amount that has been paid by the student.

To avoid late fees and ineligibility for the installment payment plan in future terms, the student should continue to make payment by each due date. Contact the Bursar's Office for the new payment amounts after drop or withdrawal. Remember, withdrawal from classes does not negate the student's responsibility to pay the balance of fees after the semester has begun.

Miscellaneous Refunds

Flight Training Deposit Refunds

The student must contact the Flight School and request a refund. The Flight School will send a refund memo to the Bursar's Office. If the student paid with a credit card in the past six months, the refund will be applied back to the credit card. Payments made by check, cash or with a credit card over six months ago will be refunded via direct deposit or by check. Any outstanding balances will be deducted before a refund is processed. 

Housing Deposit Refunds

Students who have prepaid housing deposits and cancel their housing assignment may or may not receive a refund on their deposit.  The current housing license agreement follows the dates below in regards to amounts refunded.

Cancellation Date on or prior to:

  • May 1 - $175 prepayment refund
  • June 1 - $100 prepayment refund
  • July 1 - $50 prepayment refund
  • After July 1 - $0

The Housing & Residential Life Office sends the Bursar's Office refund memos and the refunds are all mailed by check. Any outstanding balances will be deducted before a refund is processed. 

Admission Fee Refunds

If a student pays for an application fee twice in error, the Admissions Office will identify these students and the Bursar’s Office will process a refund back to the credit card used to pay the online fee. If the student owes a balance, the admission fee credit will be applied to the balance due. If the student pays in person with check or cash, a check will be mailed to the student. 

Discounts, Waivers, Third Party Sponsorship and Graduate Assistant Refunds

If a student's account is paid in full and a discount, waiver, third party sponsorship or graduate assistantship is applied, the refund will be processed as follows:

  • If paid with financial aid, the aid may be adjusted based on the additional payment. If not, the refund will be sent direct deposit or by check if not signed up for direct deposit. 
  • If paid with a credit or debit card online, the credit will be refunded back to the card used to pay for tuition and fees. If paid with a debit card in person, the refund will be processed either by direct deposit or by check if the student is not signed up for direct deposit.
  • If paid with webcheck, check, money order or cash, the refund will be processed either by direct deposit or by check if the student is not signed up for direct deposit.