Aid does not begin to be disbursed until after drop/add week is over, i.e. beginning the second week of classes. Federal Stafford loans and Federal PLUS Loans are usually disbursed first. Federal Pell Grants and Federal SEOG grants can take up to a month to be disbursed. State grants and scholarships are often disbursed much later in the semester.
Aid is applied to a student's account as a credit and is used to pay the school charges first. If there is excess aid after the school has been paid it will be refunded to the student. The quickest safest way to receive an aid refund is via direct deposit. Those students who do not opt to sign up for direct deposit will have refunds issued via check to their permanent addresses.
Because the aid refunds are not made available until later in the semester many students will request a book deferment to assist with the purchase of their books and supplies.
