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Bursar’s Office Division of Administration & Business Affairs

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Refunds & Disbursements

Regulations governing the refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, for students enrolling at the California State University are included in Section 41802 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations. For purposes of the refund policy, mandatory fees are defined as those systemwide and campus fees that are required to be paid in order to enroll in state-supported academic programs at the CSU.

Refund Policy & Account Credits

Students are responsible to drop their own classes if they are not attending.

Once the term begins, prorated registration fees will be charged for each calendar day that a student remains enrolled.

It is the student’s responsibility to become familiar with policies and procedures concerning add/drop, withdraw, and refund deadlines.

This policy applies even if you have not made a payment. Withdrawing or dropping units could result in charges for (including but not limited to):

  • Prorated registration fees
  • Late payment fees
  • Repayment of Financial Aid
  • Prorated Housing charges
  • Cancellation fees for Housing

If a refund is processed for you:

  • Refunds will first be applied to any outstanding debt owed to the University.
  • Refunds of credit card payments will be refunded back to the credit card.
  • Refunds of check payments are subject to a waiting period of 10 business days.

Students who OFFICIALLY withdraw or drop units by the published deadlines do not need to request a refund or credit to their account, as these will be processed beginning after the first two weeks of the term.

Students who believe they have extenuating circumstances that might warrant a refund after the published deadlines may submit a Refund Application with a complete explanation of the circumstances and any supporting documentation to the Bursar's Office.

  • The deadline to withdraw and receive a 100% refund is August 23, 2024 for Fall 2024. After this date students are eligible to receive a pro-rated refund (or credit to their account) only if withdrawing from all classes.
  • Students who officially withdraw from the University (Access the digital form "Semester Withdrawal form" via OnBase here) prior to the first day of instruction will receive a 100% refund of registration fees and course fees (minus a $10 processing fee).
  • Beginning with the first day of instruction through the 60% date (October 30, 2024) of the semester, refunds (and account credits) will be on a prorated basis using the official withdrawal date.
  • Students are not eligible to receive a refund (or credit to their account) for withdrawing after the 60% date (October 30, 2024). The prorated refund will be calculated by the number of CALENDAR days from the first day of the semester through the date of withdrawal.
  • To officially withdraw you must digitally submit a Withdrawal Form (Access the digital form "Semester Withdrawal form" via OnBase here).

  • The deadline to drop units from full-time (more than 6 units) to half-time (6 units or less) and receive a refund (or account credit) is Census Date, September 23, 2024, for FALL 2024.
    • Students who drop by this date are eligible to receive a 100% refund (or credit to their account) of the difference in registration tuition fees, minus a $10 processing fee.
  • Students who drop from full to half-time after this date are not eligible to receive a refund (or credit to their account).
  • Please note that the processing of drop-in-unit refunds and account credits will not begin until after Census Date.

  • A student who receives aid and drops units, withdraws, drops out, is expelled, etc. after receiving that aid will be reviewed in accordance with the Federal Title IV Return of Title IV Policy.
  • Federal regulations require using the pro-rata calculation if the student withdrew on or before the 60% date of the enrollment period, October 30, 2024.
  • Students who withdraw after the 60% date October 30, 2024, will be reviewed in accordance with the policy, referenced in California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Sections 41802 (resident) and 41913 (non-resident).
  • The credit or repayment is always determined by the student’s withdrawal date. Students are required to officially withdraw from the University (Access the digital form "Semester Withdrawal form" via OnBase here). In the event that the student’s progress does not reflect attendance (i.e., 0.00 GPA resulting from “W” or “WU” grade), the unofficial withdrawal date used will be the mid-point of the payment period for which aid was disbursed or a date documented by Sacramento State.
  • A repayment situation may occur when a student receives aid then drops units or ceases attendance. Sacramento State must determine the student's revised eligibility.

  • Students requesting a refund of parking fees must complete a Refund Application.
  • The Application for Refund will be processed by the Bursar's Office.
  • No refunds are issued for weekly permits.
  • Contact University Transportation and Parking for a current schedule of refund amounts.

Please visit the College of Continuing Education websites below for Summer and Winter session refund information:

Disbursements & Direct Deposit or eRefund

If you have been awarded financial aid and have completed the required documentation, your aid may begin to disburse the week before the first day of instruction. At the time of disbursement, the aid will apply to the registration fees and debts before any balance is given to you. The remaining funds will be sent as a paper check unless you are signed up for direct deposit (eRefund).

If the aid disbursed does not cover the full amount of the registration fees owed, you will be responsible for the balance.

  • Financial Aid checks (except those in which Perkins, Goethe or Nursing Loans are included on the check ) will be mailed to the address on file with Admissions and Records.
  • PLUS loans are mailed to the parent borrowers.
  • Scholarship check disbursement varies.

If your check is not received in the mail, you must wait one (1) week from the disbursement date before requesting a replacement check.

Check Replacement Form

eRefund is direct deposit for any refunds that you are expecting from the University – including financial aid. This is a faster way to receive your funds, rather than waiting for a paper check to come in the mail.


To sign up for this FREE service, follow these steps:

Follow these steps:

  1. Log into your Student Center
  2. In the Finances section, click Account Inquiry
  3. Click Sign up for eRefund (direct deposit)
  4. Click Sign Up
  5. Read and agree to the terms, enter a password to meets the requirements and click Continue.
  6. Enter your bank account information, click Continue
  7. Confirm banking information and click Complete

When we send you a refund, you will be notified by email. Here is how the process works once you get that email:

  • The University authorizes our bank to send the funds out to the other banking institutions.
  • Then, each of those banks will follow their own procedures to deposit the funds into the individual accounts.
  • You should begin to see the funds in your account within two days of the email.
eRefund Account Setup Tutorial

Edit your Banking Information

Need to change your bank account information?

Follow these steps:

  1. Log into your Student Center
  2. Click Account Inquiry
  3. Click Sign up for eRefund (direct deposit)
  4. Click My Account
  5. Click the pencil icon next to EREFUND in the Direct deposit refunds section
  6. To edit the linked bank account, click Change/To Withdraw from eRefund, click Cancel direct deposit refunds, then confirm
  7. Next to Payment method, click Change
  8. Click New bank account
  9. Enter your updated information, click Continue
  10. Confirm banking information and click Complete

Edit your eRefund account tutorial

Need to change your bank account information?

Follow these steps:

  1. Log into your Student Center
  2. Click Account Inquiry
  3. Click Sign up for eRefund (direct deposit)
  4. Click My Account
  5. Click the pencil icon next to EREFUND in the Direct deposit refunds section
  6. To edit the linked bank account, click Change/To Withdraw from eRefund, click Cancel direct deposit refunds, then confirm
  7. Next to Payment method, click Change
  8. Click New bank account
  9. Enter your updated information, click Continue
  10. Confirm banking information and click Complete

Edit your eRefund Account Tutorial

Need to change your bank account information?

Follow these steps:

  1. Log into your Student Center
  2. Click Account Inquiry
  3. Click Sign up for eRefund (direct deposit)
  4. Click My Account
  5. Click the pencil icon next to EREFUND in the Direct deposit refunds section
  6. To edit the linked bank account, click Cancel direct deposit refunds
  7. Confirm your choice by clicking Cancel direct deposit refunds

Withdrawing/Cancelling eRefund tutorial

If the funds are not deposited into your account within two days of the email, you may contact your bank regarding their deposit process.

If they are not able to assist you, it may be because the account information you entered was not correct, or was not updated if you have changed banks and/or accounts. If so, your bank will not be able to match the eRefund to your account, and they will need to send the funds back to the University.

When the University receives returned funds, we will notify you by email that we have suspended your eRefund enrollment. AFTER receiving that email, you can re-enroll for eRefund with the correct information. We will then re-disburse the funds. If you have re-enrolled in eRefund, we will send another eRefund. If not, we will issue and mail a paper check to the current address you provided on your MySacState account.