Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The financial aid Cost of Attendance (COA) budget includes an allowance for room and board. Once financial aid is processed, funds are first applied to a student’s university charges (such as tuition and fees). If a credit balance remains after these charges are paid, the remaining amount is refunded to the student.

Students who live off campus may use their refund to cover rent and other living expenses. However, financial aid refunds are not issued before the start of each semester, so students should plan to ensure they can meet early housing and living costs.

Students at USCA cannot charge textbooks to their university accounts and should plan to cover the cost personally in case financial aid refunds are delayed.

USCA is among the most affordable four-year institutions in the University of South Carolina system. For detailed information, please review the current tuition and fee schedule.

For dependent students, Parent PLUS Loans can help cover educational expenses up to the cost of attendance. Parents must apply for a Parent PLUS Loan. If the loan is denied, the student may become eligible for additional federal unsubsidized student loan funds. It is important that the PLUS Loan application is submitted and denied before the student can access these additional funds.

For more details, contact the Office of Financial Aid. Additionally, non-federal loans may be available as an alternative option.

Reach out to the Office of Financial Aid to discuss your situation and explore available options.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number used to determine a student’s eligibility for federal financial aid in the United States. It is calculated from information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and reflects a family’s financial strength.

Colleges use the SAI to decide how much need-based aid a student may receive. It considers factors such as income, assets, household size, and number of family members in college.

A lower SAI indicates greater financial need and may qualify the student for more aid, while a higher SAI suggests less financial need.

The SAI replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) beginning with the 2024–2025 FAFSA cycle.

Your application date is based on when the Office of Financial Aid receives your FAFSA results.

Yes. Financial aid at USCA is administered separately from other USC System schools, so you would be considered a transfer student.

Graduate students at USCA are eligible for federal student loans and may also apply for private educational loans.

No. You need to submit a FAFSA once each academic year. For summer financial aid, a separate USCA Summer Financial Aid Application must be submitted in addition to that year’s FAFSA.

Click here for information on how to apply for financial aid.

To be considered for the State Need-Based Grant at USCA, you must complete the FAFSA. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s important to apply early. No later than March 1.

Some financial aid is limited, so applying early increases your chances of receiving funding. To have financial aid ready for August bills, complete the FAFSA and submit all required documentation by July 1.

For incoming freshmen, Financial Aid Award Letters are mailed and posted on Self Service Aiken (SSA) beginning around March 1, provided all requirements are complete.

Have you been admitted to USCA? FAFSA information is brought into our system and aid packaged for students who have been admitted. We do not package aid for students who are not yet admitted.

Has it been longer than three weeks since you completed the FAFSA? If it has, go back to the FAFSA website to check the status of your FAFSA.

• Make sure the student and parent (if required) have signed the FAFSA.
• Make certain USCA federal school code (003449) is included on the FAFSA.
• Verify that the student’s social security number and date of birth are correct on the FAFSA.
• Contact the Office of Financial Aid to follow up. We can check the Central Processor’s website, if necessary, to determine the status of the FAFSA.

No. Unless a student meets at least one of the criteria on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that establishes independent status, parental information is required. Please refer to the FAFSA guidelines for detailed criteria.

 Step 1: Confirm USC Aiken’s School Code

Log in to Federal Student Aid at studentaid.gov and review your submitted FAFSA.

• Ensure that USC Aiken’s school code (003449) is listed on your application.
• If the school code is not listed, add it and resubmit your FAFSA.

Once our office receives your FAFSA information, you will receive a notification in your USCA email account. All official communication is sent to your university email.

Step 2: If You Have Not Received an Email Notification

If you have not received confirmation that your FAFSA was received, you may need to provide additional information so we can retrieve your application.

To Locate and Submit Your DRN (Data Release Number):

1. Log in at studentaid.gov and access your completed FAFSA.
2. Locate the section displaying your name and Social Security number.
3. Write down the four-digit DRN (Data Release Number).
4. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and request to speak with a financial aid counselor. Provide your DRN so your FAFSA can be retrieved (typically the following week).

If you are unsure whether your FAFSA has been successfully processed, checking your FAFSA submission summary at studentaid.gov is the quickest way to verify your status.

1. Log in
• Go to StudentAid.gov and sign in using your FSA ID (username & password).
2. Access your FAFSA
• Select “My Activity” and open your current FAFSA form.
3. Review your information
• Complete any missing sections and review the summary page.
4. Sign electronically
• Click “Sign and Submit”.
• Enter your FSA ID password to electronically sign.
5. Parent/Contributor signature (if required)
• A parent or contributor must log in separately with their own FSA ID and sign.
6. Confirmation
• After all required signatures are submitted, you’ll see a confirmation page and receive a confirmation email.

You do not need to wait for your tax return to be filed before submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

If your taxes are not yet completed, you may:

• File the FAFSA using a reasonable estimate of your income.
• Base your estimate on W-2 forms, final pay stubs, or the prior year’s tax return.
• Submit your application early to meet priority deadlines and avoid delays in aid processing.

After your tax return has been filed, you should:

• Log back into your FAFSA to review your information.
• Use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) (if available) to transfer your official tax data, or
• Update your FAFSA manually with accurate tax information.

Submitting the FAFSA on time — even with estimated income — helps ensure timely processing and maximizes eligibility for grants, loans, and other financial aid programs.

The University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) FAFSA school code is 003449.

You must include this code on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to ensure your information is sent to USCA and to be considered for financial aid.

When completing FAFSA online, you may also search for the university by name, and the correct school code will populate automatically.

No. Do not include the value of the home in which you live when reporting investments on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

The FAFSA definition of investments excludes:

• The home you live in (primary residence)
• Your car or other personal vehicles
• The value of life insurance policies
• Retirement plans (401(k), 403(b), pensions)
• Annuities and non-educational IRAs
• Keogh plans
• Cash, savings, and checking accounts already reported elsewhere on the FAFSA

Only report investments such as real estate (not your primary home), rental property, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, college savings plans, and other investment assets as requested.

Providing accurate information helps ensure your financial aid eligibility is calculated correctly.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is required to determine eligibility for federal student loans. Even if loans are the only aid offered, federal loans often provide important advantages over private or non-federal loans.

Benefits of federal student loans include:

• Deferred repayment: Payments are not required until after graduation, withdrawal, or dropping below half-time enrollment.
• Fixed interest rates: Rates are set by federal law and are typically lower than credit card or many private loan rates.
• No credit check required: Most federal student loans do not require a credit check. To qualify, students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, in good standing on prior federal student loans, and enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program.
• Potential tax benefits: Interest paid on student loans may be tax deductible for eligible borrowers.

Completing FAFSA also ensures you are considered for other forms of aid should additional funding become available.

After you submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), processing typically takes approximately one week.

Once processed, your FAFSA results are electronically transmitted to the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) Office of Financial Aid. Processing times may vary depending on the time of year and overall application volume.

Students are encouraged to monitor their email and financial aid portal for updates or additional document requests.

During peak processing periods, verification may take up to six weeks to complete after all required documents have been submitted.

To avoid delays, please ensure that you:

• Submit all requested documents promptly.
• Provide complete and accurate information.
• Respond quickly to any follow-up requests for additional documentation.

Timely submission helps ensure your financial aid eligibility can be finalized as quickly as possible.

A federal tax return is a form filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that reports your income, taxes owed, and any payments made during the year.

The information provided is used to determine whether you owe additional taxes or are eligible for a refund. The most commonly used federal tax return form is the Form 1040.

Federal tax returns are separate from state or local tax filings, which may also be required depending on where you live and work.

A tax extension allows a parent or student to request additional time to file their federal income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This request is submitted using IRS Form 4868.

If a tax extension has been filed, the following steps are required:

• A copy of the approved extension must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid.
• The file will be reviewed as part of the verification process.
• The financial aid counselor will be notified once verification requirements are satisfied.

Please note:

• No financial aid funds can be disbursed until verification is fully complete.
• Once signed federal tax returns and W-2 forms are submitted and verification is finalized, the counselor will be notified to release funds and adjust the award, if necessary.

Timely submission of all required documentation will help prevent delays in the disbursement of financial aid.

An IRS tax return transcript is a document issued by the Internal Revenue Service that summarizes most line items from your originally filed federal tax return (such as Form 1040 and associated schedules).

A tax return transcript:

• Shows income, tax, and filing information exactly as originally submitted.
• Includes accompanying forms and schedules.
• Does not reflect any changes made after the return was filed.

In many cases, a return transcript satisfies documentation requirements for financial aid verification, student loans, and lending institutions such as mortgage providers.

How to obtain a transcript:

• Request it online at IRS.gov.
• Use the IRS “Get Transcript” tool.
• Visit a local IRS office for same-day service (availability may vary).
• Request it by mail.

Processing Time for Verification:
Verification typically takes up to two weeks after all required documents are received. Additional time may be needed during peak processing periods.

Visit the IRS website (www.irs.gov) for complete details and request options.

• Step 1: Log in to Self Service Aiken (SSA).
• Step 2: Select the Financial Aid tab.
• Step 3: Click “Award”, then choose “Award by Aid Year.”
• Step 4: From the Select Campus drop-down menu, choose USC Aiken, then click Continue.
• Step 5: From the Select Aid Year drop-down menu, select the appropriate aid year, then click Continue.
• Step 6: To review your financial aid, select the “Award Overview” tab.
• Step 7: To accept your financial aid, select the “Accept Award Offer” tab.
• Step 8: Choose one of the following options:
• Accept the full amount of all awards.
• Accept or decline the full amount of each award individually.
• Accept a partial amount of each award.

Important: For Federal Direct Student Loans, you must accept the full subsidized loan before accepting the unsubsidized loan.

Important Requirements:
Before accepting your state award, you must:

• Sign the SC State Scholarship/Grant Certification (for South Carolina Commission on Higher Education programs such as HOPE, LIFE, Palmetto Fellows, or SC Need-Based Grant).
• Ensure your South Carolina Residency status has been completed and approved.
  State awards cannot be disbursed until both requirements are met.

Step 1: Log in to Self Service Aiken (SSA).

Step 2: Select the Financial Aid tab.

Step 3: Click “Award”, then select “Award for Aid Year.”

Step 4: From the campus selection, choose USC Aiken.

Step 5: From the aid year drop-down menu, select the appropriate academic year.

Step 6: Select the “Terms and Conditions” tab and review the certification.

Step 7: Click to agree or disagree with the terms and conditions.

Step 8: Select the “Accept Award Offer” tab.

Step 9: Accept your state award.

Step 1: Log in to Self Service Aiken (SSA).

Step 2: Select the Admissions tab.

Step 3: Click “South Carolina Residency Certification.”

Step 4: Complete and submit the residency certification form for the appropriate academic term.

Note: Residency certification must be completed and approved before South Carolina state aid can be disbursed.

If your financial aid has not been posted to your student account, follow the steps below to determine the cause.

Step 1: Log in to Self Service Aiken (SSA) and review your financial aid record for any outstanding requirements or notifications.

Step 2: Confirm the Following Requirements

Review each of the items below to ensure all conditions have been met:

• Packaging Complete: Has your financial aid award been finalized?
• Verification: If selected for verification, have all requested documents been submitted?
• Class Start Date: Have classes officially begun? Financial aid does not disburse before the semester starts.
• Enrollment Status: Are you enrolled at least half-time (if required for your aid type)?
• Award Acceptance: Have you accepted your financial aid award in SSA?
• Master Promissory Note (MPN): If receiving federal student loans, has your MPN been signed?
• Loan Entrance Counseling: Have you completed the required entrance counseling session for federal loans?
• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): Are you meeting institutional SAP standards?

If All Requirements Are Met

If you have reviewed all items above and your aid has still not been credited, contact the Office of Financial Aid for further assistance.

You will receive an email notification once your financial aid award has been posted to your account.

Please note the following:

• Award Timing: Not all students are awarded at the same time. Processing depends on when your file becomes complete.
• Disbursement Timing: Financial aid for each semester typically begins applying to student bills 7–10 days before the first day of class.
• Refund Processing: If your financial aid exceeds your charges, refunds are processed after the semester billing due date.

If you have not received an email notification and believe your file is complete, log in to Self Service Aiken (SSA) to review your award status.

Yes. The amount of your Pell Grant is based on your enrollment status at University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA).

• Full-time (12+ credit hours): Receives 100% of the Pell Grant award.
• Three-quarter time (9–11 credit hours): Receives 75% of the award.
• Half-time (6–8 credit hours): Receives 50% of the award.
• Less than half-time (<6 credit hours): Eligible for a smaller portion, based on enrollment.

Your Pell Grant is applied directly to your student account to help cover tuition, fees, and other educational expenses. Adjusting your course load can change the amount of aid you receive.

Federal Pell Grants are awarded based on federal eligibility requirements and the information provided on your FAFSA®. You may not qualify for a Pell Grant if any of the following applications:

• Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is above the Pell Grant eligibility range.
• You have already earned a bachelor’s degree.
• You are a graduate student.
• You are enrolled in a Teacher Certification program.

Eligibility is determined by the federal government, and students must meet all requirements to receive a Pell Grant.

No. The South Carolina Tuition Grant is only available to students attending private colleges in South Carolina.

However, University of South Carolina Aiken students may be eligible for the South Carolina Need-Based Grant, a state-funded program that provides financial assistance to qualifying students based on demonstrated financial need.

The Federal TEACH Grant has specific eligibility requirements that must be met to receive funding. These requirements include enrollment in a TEACH-eligible program, maintaining certain academic standards, and agreeing to fulfill a teaching service obligation in a high-need field at a low-income school.

For complete details on eligibility and application instructions, please review the official guidelines on the Federal Student Aid website.

In most cases, the scholarship provider sends the funds directly to the USCA Office of Business Services, where they are applied to your student account.

An outside scholarship may affect your financial aid package. In most cases, it reduces loan eligibility rather than grant or scholarship aid. Notify the financial aid office as soon as you learn you will receive an outside scholarship. If the funds require an adjustment to aid that has already been awarded, you will be issued a revised financial aid award notice.

You can explore external scholarship options by conducting online searches or visiting your local library for scholarship directories and resources. We also recommend using FastWeb, a comprehensive online scholarship search engine that helps students identify funding opportunities that match their background and qualifications.

An external scholarship is financial aid awarded by an organization other than University of South Carolina Aiken. These awards may come from civic or community groups, churches or religious organizations, employers, foundations, or state programs outside South Carolina.

USCA offers a variety of scholarships each year for both incoming and currently enrolled students. Most scholarships require an application and are awarded based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of both. Visit the university’s scholarship webpage for detailed eligibility requirements and deadlines.

Students admitted to University of South Carolina Aiken are automatically considered for academic scholarships. To maximize eligibility, incoming freshmen should submit their application for admission by December 1 or February 1 of their senior year of high school.

To be competitive for awards, students are generally expected to:

• Graduate in the top 15% of their high school class
• Earn a minimum SAT score of 1100 (math and verbal combined) or an ACT score of 24
• Maintain at least a 3.5 GPA on the South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale

USCA offers departmental scholarships of varying amounts to both incoming and current students through many academic departments.

Some awards may require a separate application, portfolio submission, or audition. However, most departmental scholarships do not require an additional application. Students are encouraged to contact their academic department in early spring to learn about scholarship opportunities, eligibility criteria, and availability.

Transfer students admitted to University of South Carolina Aiken by July 15 are automatically considered for transfer scholarship funding, if available. Consideration is given after renewal awards have been offered to current scholarship recipients.

To be eligible, transfer students must generally:

• Transfer at least 30 credit hours but fewer than 90 credit hours
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 from all previously attended institutions
• Not be currently receiving a scholarship
• Have successfully completed at least 67% of all attempted coursework

Athletic scholarships are awarded to student-athletes based on athletic ability and program needs.

Step 1: Contact the appropriate athletic coach for your sport to express interest in participating.

Step 2: Participate in the recruitment and evaluation process as determined by the coaching staff.

Step 3: Meet all eligibility requirements established by the coach and the Athletic Director.

Step 4: Maintain academic and athletic eligibility standards as required by the institution.

Athletic scholarship funding decisions are made by the coaching staff and the Athletic Director, not the Office of Financial Aid.

Subsidized Loans
Subsidized loans are awarded to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. The key benefit is that the federal government pays the interest:

• While you are enrolled at least half-time
• During your six-month grace period after leaving school
• During approved deferment periods

Because the government covers the interest during these times, your loan balance does not grow while you are in school.

Unsubsidized Loans
Unsubsidized loans are available to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Financial need is not required.

With an unsubsidized loan:

• Interest begins accruing as soon as the loan is disbursed.
• You are responsible for all interest charges.
• If you choose not to pay the interest while in school or during grace or deferment periods, the unpaid interest will accrue and be capitalized (added to the principal balance).

As a result, unsubsidized loans generally cost more over time if interest is not paid while you are enrolled.

Financial aid funds are first applied directly to your student account to cover tuition, fees, and other institutional charges.

If your financial aid exceeds your total charges, the remaining balance will be issued to you as a refund.

Congress sets annual federal student loan limits to help students manage debt responsibly. At USCA, the maximum federal loan amounts per academic year are:

• Freshmen: $5,500 (up to $9,500 for independent students or those whose parents are denied a PLUS Loan)
• Sophomores: $6,500 (up to $10,500 for independent students or PLUS Loan denials)
• Juniors and Seniors: $7,500 (up to $12,500 for independent students or PLUS Loan denials)

These limits may not cover the full cost of attendance, so students may need to explore additional scholarships, grants, or other financial resources.

Students with a high Student Aid Index (SAI) may not qualify for need-based aid such as grants or scholarships. However, federal Direct Loans are still available to help cover educational expenses. You have the option to accept all, part, or none of the loan funds offered to you.

A Parent PLUS Loan is a federal loan that the parent(s) of a dependent undergraduate student can apply for to help cover educational expenses not met by other financial aid. These loans often have more favorable interest rates and repayment terms compared with private alternatives.

To apply, parents must:

• Complete the FAFSA
• Submit a PLUS Loan Request Form to the University of South Carolina Aiken Office of Student Financial Aid

The university will use this information to certify the student’s cost of attendance and account for other financial aid already awarded.

To apply for a Parent PLUS Loan:

The student must first complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Parents then submit a PLUS Loan request and complete the Master Promissory Note at StudentAid.gov.

Loan funds are credited to the student’s account to cover tuition and fees. Any remaining balance after charges can be refunded to either the parent or the student, depending on what was indicated on the request form.

Parents also have the option to defer loan payments when signing the Master Promissory Note.

Loan Entrance Counseling is an online session required by the U.S. Department of Education before federal student loan funds can be disbursed. It educates students about their rights and responsibilities as borrowers and helps them understand how to manage their loans responsibly. The counseling can be completed at StudentAid.gov.

A Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal agreement in which you promise to repay your federal student loan along with any applicable interest. It is typically completed online and signed using your 4-digit FAFSA PIN (or FSA ID), allowing your loan funds to be disbursed to your student account.

To sign your Federal Direct Loan MPN, visit StudentAid.gov. The MPN is signed electronically using the FSA ID you used for your FAFSA.

Make sure your name on the MPN exactly matches your Social Security card to avoid delays in disbursing your loan funds.

A private education loan is offered by banks, credit unions, or other private lenders to help cover the difference between the total cost of your education and the amount you can borrow through federal student aid programs. Unlike federal loans, private loans do not require FAFSA forms, and eligibility is often based on your credit history and credit score.

After you apply for a private loan, please allow up to 10 business days for our office to review and process your application for the lender.

• If additional information is needed, you will receive an email directing you to check a message in Self Service Aiken. Your loan processing will be placed on hold until the requested information is submitted.
• If you do not receive an email within 10 business days of applying, no further action is required from you at that time.

Once your loan has been processed, you will receive an email notification that your financial aid award package has been updated. This indicates that private loan processing has been completed on our end.

After the university certifies your loan electronically with the lender, please allow approximately 10 additional business days for the funds to be sent to the university.

Your private loan lender will also email you with your loan disbursement date, which is the date the funds will be applied to your USCA student account.

Exit counseling is a federal requirement for all Federal Stafford Loan borrowers. It is designed to ensure you understand your rights and responsibilities as a loan recipient. The session provides guidance on:

• Repayment options and strategies
• How to manage your loans effectively
• Ways to protect your credit if you encounter repayment difficulties

Completion of exit counseling is required before you leave school or graduate.

To receive summer financial aid at University of South Carolina Aiken, you must complete a separate summer aid application.

• The application is available in Self Service Aiken from April 1 to May 15.
• You must be enrolled in your summer classes and have submitted a FAFSA for the fall/spring of the same academic year.
• Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours across all summer sessions to qualify.

For detailed instructions and eligibility requirements, visit the university’s financial aid page.

To remain eligible for federal financial aid, continuing students must meet the university’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. SAP is evaluated at the end of each semester to determine continued financial aid eligibility.

For detailed criteria and the full policy, review the university’s SAP policy.

Federal regulations require students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to remain eligible for financial aid. Falling below the minimum required GPA or credit hours can result in a loss of financial aid eligibility.

Students may receive federal financial aid for only one repeat of a previously passed course. If you earn a grade of D or higher, you can retake the class once and still receive aid. No federal financial aid is available for a third attempt of the same course.

Financial aid is awarded with the expectation that students will complete the semester. If you are considering dropping a class or withdrawing from USCA, contact the Office of Financial Aid first.

• Some students may be required to repay aid already disbursed to their account.
• Withdrawing can also affect Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and may impact federal student loan repayment.

To remain eligible for federal financial aid, students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards:

GPA: Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Credit Completion Rate: Students must successfully complete at least 67% of attempted credit hours.

Maximum Time Frame: Students must complete their degree within 150% of the required credit hours, including any transferred credits.

Some financial aid programs may have stricter requirements, so check the specific criteria for your awards.

Yes, a withdrawal can impact your SAP standing. Depending on your progress at the time of withdrawal, you may become ineligible for future financial aid. Review the university’s SAP policy for details on how withdrawals are evaluated.

Not necessarily. If a federal loan repayment adjustment is required after withdrawal, a portion of your loan may be returned to the lender, which reduces your overall loan debt.

For example, if your loan is reduced by $1,000, that amount goes back to the lender.

You are then responsible for repaying the same amount to University of South Carolina Aiken immediately.

Always contact the Office of Financial Aid before withdrawing to understand the financial impact.

If you are out of school for six months or more, you must begin repaying your federal student loans. Your loan servicer will contact you with repayment details.

• If you return to school within six months, your loans remain in deferment, but you must ensure the lender is notified of your re-enrollment.
• At University of South Carolina Aiken, the Registrar’s Office reports enrollment status to the National Student Loan Clearinghouse after the drop/add period each semester.

If you withdraw from USCA, your financial aid may be adjusted based on the date of withdrawal. Federal law requires the Office of Financial Aid to prorate aid according to the number of days you attended each semester.

A Return of Title IV Funds calculation will determine if any aid must be reduced or returned.

If adjustments are necessary, charges may be applied to your student account, and you will receive a notification letter detailing the changes.

If you withdrew due to mitigating circumstances and are not meeting SAP standards, you may appeal using the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal form. Appeals are reviewed by a committee and may take several weeks to process.

At USCA, financial aid is applied directly to your student account after you submit all required paperwork and documentation.

• If you have been offered a student loan, you must complete loan entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN), if required, before funds can be disbursed.

Financial aid is first applied to cover tuition, fees, and other charges on your student account. Any remaining excess funds will be refunded to you via direct deposit or a check in the mail, depending on your selected refund preference.

Most financial aid is applied to your student account at the beginning of the semester. If additional aid is awarded during the semester, it will be applied as it becomes available.

• Any excess funds after charges are paid are refunded within several days of posting to your account.
• Refunds are issued via direct deposit to your bank account (if set up) or by mailed check.

If your financial aid exceeds your student account balance and you do not have direct deposit set up, your refund will be mailed to the permanent address you have on file with USCA.

If your financial aid refund has not been received, contact the Office of Business Services at USCA at 803-641-3543 or by email at busserv@usca.edu.