Refunds TEST
If your student account has a credit balance (an overpayment), you may be eligible for a refund. How and when you get your money depends on the type of funds you received.
Important Refund Timelines
- Federal Title IV Aid: If you have a credit from federal financial aid, your refund is automatically processed within 7 days unless you give the University permission to hold it.
- Other Funds/Overpayments: If your credit is not from federal aid, you must manually request a refund.
- Timing: Refund requests are only processed after the first day of the semester.
📋 Checklist: Before You Request a Refund
Make sure you complete these three steps in Workday before trying to claim your money:
- Set Up Direct Deposit: Go to Payment Elections in Workday and enter your banking information. If you don't do this, you will have to pick up a physical paper check at the Ram Center.
- Check Your Balance: View your account in the Financials Hub inside Workday to confirm you actually have an active credit balance.
- Need an Advance? If your financial aid is "anticipated" but hasn't officially hit your account yet, you can request an advance of up to $4,000 (provided you have that amount coming to you).
⚠️ Special Rules for Specific Aid Types
Federal Title IV Aid Recipients
- Authorization Needed: By law, Suffolk University needs your permission to use leftover federal aid to pay for bookstore charges, prior-year balances, or future terms.
- Action Required: Complete the Title IV Authorization form in Workday (found under your onboarding tasks).
Parent PLUS Loan Recipients
- Who Gets the Money: If your credit comes from a Parent PLUS Loan, the refund automatically goes to the parent borrower.
- Exception: We can only issue the refund directly to you (the student) if the parent borrower explicitly granted permission on the original loan application.
💻 How to Request Your Refund in Workday
If you need to manually request your refund, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Financials Hub:
Log in to Workday Student. Open the Menu in the top-left corner and click on the Financials Hub.
- Create a Request:
Click on the Create Request link. In the Request Type dropdown field, select Refund Request.
- Fill Out and Submit:
Complete all required fields on the form and click Submit.
Questions & Schedules
Refunds and advances are only available after the semester begins. To check exact dates, review the Student Financial Aid Disbursement & Refund Schedule.
For further assistance, please contact the Ram Registration and Financial Services Center.