Receiving Your Funds
Get Your Money Faster with Direct Deposit
Direct Deposit is the fastest, safest, and most secure way to receive your financial aid or scholarship refunds. Funds are deposited directly into your U.S.-based personal bank account, helping you avoid delays caused by mailing or address errors.
Sign up for Direct Deposit through your myWSU account to receive refunds faster and more securely.
Financial aid and scholarships are first applied to your student account to pay eligible university charges. Any remaining balance (called excess financial aid) is then refunded to you.
Aid is applied and refunded according to federal regulations and university policy.
- Financial aid cannot be applied to your student account earlier than 10 days before the start of the academic term.
- Refunds of excess financial aid are typically issued the week before classes begin, once eligibility requirements are met.
- Your enrollment status is finalized around the census date, and your aid may be adjusted based on:
- Enrollment level (full‑time vs. part‑time)
- Course changes
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Outstanding documentation or holds
Aid will not disburse if required steps (such as accepting your aid or completing loan requirements) are incomplete.
Financial aid may be automatically applied to the following charges:
- Tuition
- Mandatory health fee
- Mandatory Student Recreation Center fee
- Mandatory stadium renovation fee
- Mandatory transit fee
- Mandatory CUB renovation fee
- Mandatory Chinook Building fee
- Special course fees
- University Housing and Dining charges
Charges Requiring Student Authorization
Federal regulations require written student authorization (Title IV Authorization) before financial aid can be applied to optional charges such as:
- Sports passes
- Cougar Cards
- Computer lab fees
- Other non‑mandatory charges
Title IV Authorization allows WSU to apply your excess financial aid to these charges.
You can provide authorization in the Student Services Center in myWSU.
Receiving Your Refund
- Direct Deposit (Preferred Method):
- Funds are deposited directly into your U.S.-based bank account
- Typically posts faster than mailed checks
- Avoids lost, delayed, or misdirected mail
- Paper Checks (If you do not enroll in Direct Deposit)
- Refund checks are mailed to the primary mailing address listed in myWSU
- Students are responsible for keeping their mailing address current
- Checks mailed to an invalid address will not be canceled or reissued for a minimum of 10 business days
Students are notified through their official WSU email when a refund is issued. You can also track refunds and account activity through myWSU.
If you expect to receive a scholarship from a non‑WSU or non‑State of Washington donor, please complete the Scholarship Designation Form.
- Download the PDF form as soon as you are notified of the award
- Provide the completed form to your donor
- This helps ensure the scholarship is applied correctly to your student account
- Your refund amount is not your total financial aid award. Refunds reflect only the remaining balance after eligible charges are paid.
- Some financial aid and scholarships may be taxable. WSU provides a 1098‑T form, but students should consult a tax professional for guidance.
- Parents or other third parties cannot access student financial information unless the student grants permission through myWSU (FERPA authorization).
Need Help?
If you have questions about your financial aid, refund status, or student account:
- Check your account and notifications in myWSU
- Contact Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Services
- Contact Student Accounts for billing or refund questions
*During peak term start, processing and response times may be longer.
Take Action Now
- Confirm your mailing address in myWSU
- Sign up for Direct Deposit
- Review your charges and authorizations
Setting up Direct Deposit is the single best way to ensure timely access to your funds.