The cost of college continues to increase every year. It increases by approximately $800 to $1000 per year, depending on the school. Many colleges have frozen tuition increases in the past couple of years, but future students should not expect that to remain in place.
For a four-year program, the increases are significant, especially for a college student barely getting by. It often leaves students wondering if they will be able to afford college. In addition to the cost of college increasing, almost everything else is rising too. Tuition, books, room and board, school supplies, and buying scantrons are increasing along with the cost of clothes, food, and other items you may need while attending college.
There is some good news when it comes to paying for college. Aside from new online opportunities for college students to make money, a substantial amount of financial aid is available to students. Students must apply for financial aid to determine their eligibility for grants and cheap student loans. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form helps to determine federal aid. It also helps colleges and trade schools determine how much financial aid a student needs.
With the ever-mounting costs of attending college, students might wonder whether they can even afford a degree. However, despite rising tuition, there are plenty of financial aid opportunities for college hopefuls to seize.
What online schools give refund checks?
Short Answer: A student is eligible for a refund when there’s more aid than expenses. Online schools that give student refund checks include Purdue University Global, University of Phoenix, Capella University, Saint Leo University, and Walden University.
In addition, once financial aid is set, some colleges determine you may need free or discounted equipment, like a free laptop. Student financial aid is intended to cover all expenses for education, such as room and board, tuition, books and supplies, fees, and transportation.
How Do Student Refund Checks Work?
Not everyone gets a refund check. When you’re due a refund check, it’s often direct deposit in your bank account or given in a paper check. Colleges first apply gift aid to your tuition and fees, such as grants and scholarships. It often results in a refund for students. However, this refund is left over from student loans and must be paid back at some point after graduation.
The refund money could sit in your bank account and accrue interest until it’s time for repayment. You will have to pay the money back at some point, but if you need it, you should use it. If you can’t find safe income-producing assets, giving the money back could be better.
Remember, the money is given to use on books, computers, monitors with built-in speakers, and other items related to your educational needs. Students should not waste the money on trendy clothes, Southwest vacation deals, or buying a car.
What Online Schools Give Refund Checks?
Here’s a list of online schools that give financial aid refund checks. In addition, we’ve included which online schools give the fast refund checks and how long it takes to get the money.
1. Purdue University Global
Purdue University Global is a good school that’s a regionally accredited nonprofit public online institution. Its online class platform helps adult students achieve a degree from a school within the Purdue University system. The Wall Street Journal ranked Purdue university in the top 10 best public universities.
You can learn 100% online for more than 175 programs from anywhere in the world. In addition, the online classroom platform has interactive live seminars with a traditional and campus-based teaching approach.
Ways to Get Refund Checks: Paper check or direct deposit
Expected Time to Get a Refund Check: Refunds are processed and sent at the end of each 10-week term. Delivery times will vary and take longer for a paper check vs. faster availability of funds using direct deposit.
Benefits of Attending Purdue University Global
- Hands-on learning with its interactive online classroom
- No-cost tutoring in science, math, and writing
- Career counseling services help find the best jobs for extroverts or introverts.
Get an online degree from the respected Purdue University system that offers student advisors, live online tutoring, and career services.
2. University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is an accredited online college with over 100 programs and more than 300 degrees and occupations. It’s easy to get a degree because it’s a 24-hour college open 365 days a year. The university offers degrees for all personalities, such as jobs where introverts work alone or marketing careers with daily interactions.
Ways to Get Refund Checks: Paper check or direct deposit
Expected Time to Get a Refund Check: It takes the University of Phoenix about 14 days to credit your student account with the disbursement payment.
The main campus for the University of Phoenix is in Arizona and accepts FAFSA and transfer credits upon review.
3. Capella University
Capella University is an online accredited university with experienced faculty with around 80% holding doctorate degrees. The average student is 38 years old, 71% attend part-time, and around two-thirds receive financial aid.
Capella University has over 50-degree programs and over 140 specializations.
Ways to Get Refund Checks: Paper check or direct deposit using bank account routing number
Expected Time to Get a Refund Check: It takes an estimated three business days for your refund check credit to post in your account. The refund check is credited fast after your student loan disbursement. Then, it takes an additional 7-10 days to process your direct deposit. Finally, it takes an additional 10-15 days to receive and then cash a check for your college refund.
Capella University has a campus in Georgia that offers graduation ceremonies.
4. Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University is a top-rate Florida college for campus and accredited online classes with over 18,000 enrolled. It has over 50 undergraduate degrees, endorsements, certificates, masters and doctoral programs. About a third of its enrollment are armed forces, veterans, and family members.
Ways to Get Refund Checks: Direct deposit, paper check, or BankMobile Vibe account
Expected Time to Get a Refund Check: The college mails the check once the funds are dispersed after holding the check for 21 business days. Alternatively, if you have a BankMobile Vibe account, it takes Saint Leo University about 14 days to get your refund check fast once the financial aid payment is disbursed. But, it takes BankMobile 1-2 days to process your tuition payment.
Learn about the Saint Leo University dorms, nursing program, and football team to the whole collegiate experience.
5. Walden University
Walden University is an accredited online college with over 145 countries of students. It has over 100 certificate and degree programs with over 260 specializations and concentrations to start a career. They can help prepare you for a low-stress, high-paying job for introverts.
Ways to Get Refund Checks: Paper check or direct deposit using your bank routing number
Expected Time to Get a Refund Check: Walden University issues disbursement refund checks a few weeks after the start of each semester.
Walden University has a 100% acceptance rate for undergraduates with a high school diploma and doesn’t require a GRE for online master’s program admission.
What are the Best Online Schools That Give Refund Checks and Laptops?
Some places offer good laptops for online colleges, and refund checks may require students to pick up computers within the first semester of the first academic year. If students do not comply with the requirements, they may lose their ability to receive free equipment. Other schools may require students to complete a set number of credit hours.
Listed below are online schools that give refund checks and laptops.
- American National University
- Bethel University
- Chatham University
- Full Sail University
- Independence University
- Rochester University
- St. John’s University
- University of Minnesota-Crookston
Always do additional research, as online schools that give refund checks and computers for work are subject to change, especially during a pandemic. In addition, some schools include computers as part of the cost of attending, and you don’t need to be a low-income family to get a free laptop.
Does FAFSA Send You The Refund Check?
FAFSA may send a refund check with extra money because it’s considered leftover from financial aid. However, the money is only sent once the tuition and other educational fees are paid first.
Typically, you’ll receive your refund check a few weeks after the semester begins. However, not every student receives a check, and every check amount varies. The check can be $100 worth of extra money, or it could be a few thousand dollars.
How Can I Track My Student Loan Refund Check?
The US Department of Education issues financial aid and sends the information to your school. Once you select an online school that gives fast refund checks, your school reviews and accepts the award. The report shows how much the funds cover and what is left over after all fees have been paid.
Even though the Department of Education pays out the money, your school handles all refunds. As a result, you can track the status of your refund through your school’s financial aid online portal. The portal will provide updates every step along the way.
Once you log in to the portal, you must find the financial aid section to determine whether your funds were disbursed. In addition, you’ll be able to see all the transactions that have occurred on your loans and grants.
When you see the money has been refunded via the school portal, it can be sent to your account right away if you select direct deposit. The direct deposit times depend on the time of the day and how long your bank takes to process it. For example, Chime doesn’t have direct deposit limits and has Fast Pay.
If you want your refund via paper check, it may take about a week to receive it. Then use a cash cashing app to deposit your funds quickly.
See our guide on how Chime works with Zelle to transfer money.
Online Schools That Give Refund Checks Summary
Most people will agree that education is important. However, the rising education costs may begin to make college difficult for students to attend. There are many ways to offset the cost of education, such as financial aid.
When you’re awarded financial aid, you often receive more money than you can use. It means you may be due a refund from your financial aid. While it’s helpful knowing that many online schools offer refund checks and free laptops, that may not be enough information.
Checking the status of your refund is simple through your school’s online portal. The online school financial portal can give you an idea of how much your refund might be. The reimbursements won’t be six figures or seven figures, but they can be thousands of dollars.
See our guide on how to make money while in grad school.