Financial Aid Checks

How do I know if I am getting a Financial Aid check?

If the total of your grants and loans is less than your tuition and fee charges, you are not eligible for a check and must pay the outstanding balance by the tuition due date to avoid problems.

If the total of your grants and loans is greater than your tuition and fee charges, you will receive a Financial Aid check for any Financial Aid Funds that remain after your tuition and fees are paid. ***Please be advised that you must complete additional steps in order to receive your loan funds.

How do I get my Financial Aid check?

Checks are mailed to the address on file with the Student Services Office.  Checks cannot be picked up in person for any reason – all financial aid checks must be mailed. BE SURE to keep the Student Services Office updated if your address changes.

When are checks mailed?

Each quarter, the first batch of checks will be mailed one business day before the quarter starts (not the Washington Online (WAOL) quarter).  To ensure that your check is in the first batch, please refer to the “How to Avoid Problems and Delays” question below.

How do I avoid problems and delays receiving my check?

1. Register for classes well before the quarter starts, preferably prior to the tuition deadline for that quarter.

2. Do not make last-minute changes to your schedule, including adding or dropping classes. Wait-listed classes do NOT count as courses you are enrolled in for Financial Aid.

3. Either register for 12 or more eligible credits (full-time) or notify the Financial Aid Office in writing that you intend to enroll in less than 12 credits. You must do this each quarter. To give our office enough processing time, we strongly recommend you notify us prior to the tuition deadline for that quarter. Check the Financial Aid Portal to make sure your award has been adjusted prior to the start of the quarter. Some classes are not considered “financial-aid-eligible” and can’t be funded by Financial Aid.

4. Meet all Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements the prior quarter.

5. Meet all Financial Aid Office deadlines.

6. Read all online materials provided by the Financial Aid Office and keep copies of your award information, including FAFSA data.

7. Inform the Student Services Office of address changes and changes to your email address.

8. Be sure you do not owe a debt to the college from prior quarters’ fees, etc. This includes math lab fees, unresolved testing, childcare, or other fees, and unpaid tuition from previous quarters. Also make sure to pay tuition and fees for any non-credit or special interest class you may be currently enrolled in. (These types of classes are not eligible for financial aid and we cannot pay for them with financial aid funds.)