Funds to Your Account

Accepting Aid

Once a student applicant has accepted the aid offer and completed any additional requirements the funds that have been awarded are eligible to be disbursed (applied to the student’s tuition account). Funds are disbursed electronically to a student’s tuition account beginning no earlier than 10 days prior to the start of classes each term. Disbursements continue on at least a weekly basis throughout the term.

Whenever any aid is disbursed to or reversed from a student’s account, an e-mail notification of disbursement is sent to the UM-Dearborn e-mail address.

If the amount of financial aid received for a term exceeds the cost of tuition and fees, a refund check will be sent to the student’s home address. Checks cannot be picked up at the Cashiers Office. Financial aid students are expected to purchase their books using their refund checks or their own resources.

Gift aid is initially awarded on a full-time basis. Students who enroll for less than full-time will have the grant funds prorated as follows:

• Students enrolled 3/4time (9-11 credits) will receive 75% of the original term offer.
• Students enrolled half-time (6-8 credits) will receive 50% of the original term offer.
• Students enrolled less than half-time (1-5 credits) are ineligible for most grants and scholarships. 
  
• There are exceptions for less than half-time enrollment for Michigan Adult Part-Time Grant and some Pell Grant recipients.

Your disbursement of funds may be delayed:

• If you are not registered full-time (do not include wait-listed classes) and have not completed a Request for Revision Form based on your finalized enrollment, your disbursement will be delayed. Please allow a minimum of 3 business days for processing Request for Revision forms.
• If you have not accepted your student loans online or on the Student Decision Form
• If all requested documents or follow-up materials have not been received and/or processed by the OFA (including appeals based on special circumstances).
• If you have not completed your Direct Loan Master Promissory Notes online or submitted the completed paper Direct Loan or Perkins Master Promissory Notes to the OFA.
• If you have not completed the Entrance Counseling requirements.
• If your private scholarship was received late or had donor restrictions.
• If you are auditing a class (not eligible for financial aid) or enrolled for an additive credit course that does not qualify for financial aid. A revision to your award may be required once your enrollment in eligible courses has been determined.
• If your status has changed from a Degree Candidate to a Non-Candidate for Degree Student, you may be ineligible for financial aid.

Financial aid applicants whose aid is pending are not required to make a tuition payment until the aid eligibility has been determined. Once accepted financial aid has been disbursed, late fees may be reversed.

The Cashiers/Student Accounts Office will send notices of outstanding student account balances to your UM-Dearborn email address with a link to the student account. 

If after financial aid eligibility is determined and a student declines his/her award or is ineligible for any aid, the student is responsible for all of the tuition assessed or late fees. Students whose accepted aid does not cover all of their tuition obligations are responsible for the amount of tuition not covered through the financial aid. Students can view their balances in UM-Dearborn Connect.