About Disbursement
Disbursement is the word we use when we apply your financial aid to your FSU account. Here’s how it works:
The Office of Financial Aid notifies us when your aid is ready. Once we receive that notification, we apply your payment to your FSU bill within one business day and send you a confirmation to your @fsu.edu email address. After all eligible charges on your bill are covered, we’ll issue a refund of any remaining aid to your bank account.
Be sure to enroll in direct deposit so we can get your refund to you quickly. Financial aid refunds are typically issued within three business days of the date the award posts to your FSU bill.
Tip: Check your FSU bill after your financial aid posts to confirm everything looks right.
Your FSU bill updates automatically when your enrollment changes. If you add or drop a class, your charges may change—and in some cases, you may need to return a portion of your financial aid award.
Tip: Check your FSU email regularly. If we’ve reached out to you, it’s likely time-sensitive.
Staying on top of your email helps you avoid a $100 late payment or late registration fee, and gives you time to make arrangements before registration opens. We send payment reminders at the start of each semester and any time we notice a change to your financial aid award or an outstanding balance
About Early Disbursement
FSU’s standard disbursement window opens on the fifth day of classes—the end of drop/add—and runs through the end of the semester. Refunds are issued three business days after your aid posts to your FSU bill.
If you applied for financial aid early and are enrolled in at least 6 credit hours before the term begins, you may qualify for early disbursement, which begins just before the term starts.
The following types of financial aid are not eligible for early disbursement and will be processed during the standard window:
- Athletic Aid
- Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)
- Florida Benacquisto Scholarship
- First Generation Matching Grant (FGEN)
- Financial Aid for Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CDDV)
All other types of financial aid are eligible for early disbursement. If you’re not sure whether your award qualifies, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Tip: To qualify for early disbursement, complete all your financial aid requirements early and register for at least 6 credit hours during your enrollment appointment.
Review the student responsibilities below to make sure you’ve taken all the steps needed to receive your aid on time.
Student Responsibilities
- File your FAFSA on October 1 each year for the upcoming Fall–Spring–Summer academic year. You can apply after this date, but submitting at least two months before the semester starts gives your aid time to process. Filing late does not exempt you from late fee penalties required by state law and university regulation.
- Enroll in direct deposit to receive your refund faster.
- Register for at least 6 credit hours during your enrollment appointment to qualify for early disbursement. If you wait until after drop/add to reach 6 credit hours, you may still receive standard disbursement—but don’t expect early disbursement if you register late. You must be enrolled in at least 6 credits in any given semester to receive financial aid, regardless of your academic level or the type of courses you’re taking, including summer.
- Confirm your financial aid award appears in myFSU at least two weeks before the end of the prior term.
- Accept or decline any loan offers in myFSU at least two weeks before the end of the prior term.
- Clear all items on your Financial Aid To-Do list in myFSU at least two weeks before the end of the prior term.
- Review your FSU bill before the fee payment deadline each semester to confirm your charges are accurate and your balance is paid. Check your bill again after your financial aid disburses, after any schedule changes, or any time you receive a notice from our office about your account.
More Information
Have questions? Visit our Office of Student Finance FAQ or the Office of Financial Aid FAQ, or contact us directly—we’re happy to help.