Financial Aid Disbursement

Your financial aid is first applied to your tuition and fees in CUNYfirst. If there are remaining funds after your charges are paid, you will receive a refund by Direct Deposit or paper check. On this page, you’ll find important information about disbursement timelines, refund processing, required steps before aid is released, and how to enroll in Direct Deposit. Please review carefully to understand when your funds will post and when you can expect your refund.

When your financial aid is disbursed, it is first applied to your tuition and fee charges in your CUNYfirst account.

If there is money left over after your tuition and fees are paid, you will receive a refund. Refunds are sent either:

  • By Direct Deposit to your personal bank account, or

  • By paper check mailed to your home address.

  • Learn more about these two options below.

Disbursement vs. Refund — What’s the Difference?

  1. Disbursement = Financial aid is applied to your CUNYfirst account.
  2. Refund = Money sent to you after all charges are paid.

Refunds are typically processed 3–5 business days after your financial aid appears in CUNYfirst. Please keep this timeline in mind when planning your finances.

Before Your Aid Can Be Disbursed

To receive your financial aid:

  • All tasks on your CUNYfirst “To Do List” must be completed
  • You must be enrolled and attending classes

Once your award is pending, it will appear as “anticipated aid” in your CUNYfirst Student Center with a scheduled disbursement date.

Important: Aid Is Disbursed in Stages

Financial aid is not released all at once. It is disbursed in multiple stages throughout the semester. Your account may still show a balance until enough aid has been released to cover your charges. If you have sufficient pending aid, the college will not require payment before your aid is disbursed.

Scheduled vs. Actual Disbursement

There is a difference between these two dates:

  • Scheduled Disbursement Date = The earliest date CUNY may release your award.
  • Actual Disbursement Date = The date the funds are actually posted to your CUNYfirst account.

To view:

  • Scheduled Date:
    Log into CUNYfirst → Student Center → View Financial Aid → View Scheduled Disbursement Dates

  • Actual Date:
    Student Center → Account Inquiry
    (This date will only appear after the disbursement has occurred.)

Remember: The disbursement date is when funds post to CUNYfirst — not when you will receive your refund in hand.

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

If you are a Federal Work-Study student, visit the Financial Aid Office (Room 1-M08) or refer to the FWS webpage for payment schedule information.

Disbursement Methods

CUNY offers two ways to receive your refund:

Refunds are deposited directly into your personal bank account.

To enroll:
Log into CUNYfirst → Student Center → Finances → Select “Enroll in Direct Deposit.”

Important:
You are responsible for updating your banking information if you:

  • Open or close an account

  • Change banks

Failure to update your information may result in delays or funds being sent to an inactive account.

Option 2: Paper Check

If you do not enroll in Direct Deposit, your refund will be mailed to your home address on file. We strongly recommend Direct Deposit for faster and more secure delivery.

Protecting Your Refund Check

  • Keep your mailing address updated in CUNYfirst.

  • Deposit or cash your check immediately.

  • Do not endorse your check until you are ready to deposit or cash it.

  • CUNY is not responsible for lost or cashed endorsed checks.

Revised: March 1, 2026