Bookstore Credit
Students who have completed the financial aid process and are awaiting the arrival of their aid may be eligible to use a portion of their anticipated aid to purchase textbooks at the Bookstore prior to the start of the term. To be eligible for this bookstore credit, a student must have financial aid funds scheduled for disbursement greater than their current tuition and fees and any housing and dining dollar charges for the semester. *If you chose to use a refund credit, you are authorizing Title IV funds to pay for your books.
If a student chooses not to purchase his/her books with this credit, no action is necessary on his/her part and the full amount of the normal refund will be processed.
THE BASICS
- Maximum Amount Available: up to $600 per semester.
- Must have an anticipated financial aid refund.
- The bookstore credit will become available 10 days before the start of the semester.
- Financial aid refunds are processed 7 days before first day of the semester and will continue throughout the semester on Tuesdays and Thursdays thereafter. Because of this, only first time freshman undergraduates will continue to be able to purchase books through two weeks after the start of the semester. All other undergraduates and graduate students will be able to purchase books for the semester once their refund has been processed.
THE DETAILS
Students who have completed the financial aid process have the ability to use a portion of their financial aid money to make textbook purchases at the bookstore. To be eligible for this bookstore credit, a student must have financial aid funds scheduled for disbursement greater than their semester charges.
Students must have:
- Registered on at least a least half-time level.
- Undergraduate: 6 credit hours
- Graduate: 6 credit hours
- Completed an “Authorization of Title IV Aid Form” allowing for more than tuition/fees to be paid using federal financial aid.
- Completed entrance counseling (if receiving loans).
- If receiving loans, applications must be processed to the point of approval/guarantee and awaiting disbursement (promissory note complete, etc.).
- Have anticipated financial aid exceeding institutional charges.
Student Examples
Below is an example of how the bookstore credit amount is determined. The financial aid office conducts a review of the aforementioned requirements. Any approved refund, not to exceed $600, will be available as a bookstore credit. If the student is eligible for the bookstore credit, he/she will receive an e-mail notification from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships indicating the amount of the credit and the dates the student is able to utilize this option. Students may then purchase their books online. Detailed instructions will be provided in the notification. This bookstore credit is only available for a limited time period prior to the start of each semester. Typically, this time period runs from the date tuition charges are placed on a student’s account to the day before refunds are processed. Purchases with the bookstore credit become “charges” on student accounts. After the credit period has closed, the student’s refund will be processed as normal. (See the examples below.) A student is not required to take advantage of this bookstore credit. If a student chooses not to purchase his/her books with this credit, no action is necessary on his/her part and the full amount of the normal refund will be processed.
EXAMPLE 1
| Student Charges | $5,000 |
| Approved Financial Aid | $6,100 |
| Available Bookstore Credit | $ 600 |
EXAMPLE 2
| Student Charges | $4,500 |
| Approved Financial Aid | $4,700 |
| Available Bookstore Credit | $ 200 |
NOTE: If the student does not enroll in the upcoming semester, or otherwise becomes ineligible for all or part of their financial aid package, the student will be responsible for repaying the amount of anticipated aid used to purchase text books.