First of all, don’t worry—you can still get paid as long as you turn in the FAFSA in the same aid year, i.e., for a 2025–26 FAFSA you have until June 30th, 2026. Yes, that means you can get paid for classes you took from August to December if you complete your FAFSA in May. If you complete your FAFSA late, you will be paid the amount you are owed on the next disbursement date for which you are eligible.
That's Great! So What's The Catch?
Even though retroactive payments are possible, it's critical to understand what circumstances would prevent retroactive payments even if you complete a FAFSA before June 30th. For example, you cannot be paid retroactively if you were SAP ineligible and failed to complete a SAP appeal by the deadline for that term. If you are concerned about whether you would be able to be paid retroactively, contact the Financial Aid Office.
When Would I Be Paid Retroactively?
You are disbursed financial aid awards on the first disbursement date after your FAFSA is in and you are meeting all eligibility for requirements for that award.
The Financial Aid Office publishes an annual calendar with disbursement and refund dates on it. Please refer to this calendar for exact dates for a given year. In general, all Mondays (excluding holidays) are disbursement dates, while reimbursement dates are at the end of the term.
Disbursement dates refer to days where the Financial Aid Office begins the process of sending you your financial aid funds. It takes 5–7 business days from the disbursement date for your money to be accessible in either your personal bank account or BankMobile Vibe checking account.
Reimbursement dates refer to dates where the Cashier’s Office writes refund checks for students who have overpaid and are now due a refund. This is uncommon and only typically occurs when a student pays for enrollment fees (tuition) and is subsequently awarded a fee waiver.