Your refunds will be available approximately three business days after you see the Refund of Financial Aid or Refund transaction posted to your student account. If you see a negative balance on your student account, that means you have a credit balance and a refund will be issued to you. You will know that your refund has been generated when the negative credit balance goes to a zero balance.
Most refunds will be processed in the upcoming weekly cycle that the University runs; however, the following types of payments are subject to a waiting period before CUNYfirst is able to release refunds back to students:
1) Checks: 21 days
2) 529 Plan Payments: 21 days
Yes, it is recommended that students enroll in Direct Deposit. During your enrollment at CUNY, a refund may be generated for you because of a scholarship, an excess of financial aid received, a loan, or due to an overpayment of your tuition and fees.
You may be viewing your pending aid which is aid that you have been awarded but has not yet been released to pay your tuition and fees.
Refund checks for students who have not signed up for direct deposit are sent to the student’s mailing address. To verify this address, students should log in to CUNYfirst Self -Service > Personal Information:
If your parents are borrowing through the PLUS Loan program, any excess funds will be refunded to them directly. Refund of PLUS Loans will be issued by paper check.
It is important to keep your direct deposit information up to date. You can change your Direct Deposit information in CUNYfirst Self-Service.
Most likely, the refund will be returned to CUNY from your bank as a direct deposit rejection. We will update CUNYfirst by reversing the refund.
Most likely, the refund will be returned to CUNY from your bank as a direct deposit rejection. We will update CUNYfirst by reversing the refund.
The next time CUNY creates refunds, a new refund will be generated to you. This process takes about two weeks. We will inactivate your invalid direct deposit account so make sure to update CUNYfirst with your new bank account information. Checks will be issued to your mailing address if new bank account information is not entered.
Contact your Bursar’s Office of your bank if you have specific questions about a direct deposit rejection.
Not cashing a refund check does not cancel any loans that have been disbursed to your student account. To cancel a loan, you must return the check to the Bursar’s Office with an explanation that you do not want it. Make sure to also consult with your college Financial Aid Office.
There are several reasons why students may be issued a check and owe a balance on their student account. You are responsible for paying the balance on your account if one remains even after you receive a Refund of Financial Aid:
Checks expire 5 months or 150 days from the check date. Students should cash their refund check promptly by depositing it into their bank account or cashing it for free at any Citibank branch.
No. Students must enter a United States mailing address to be issued a check. Checks are not mailed to international addresses.
Reach out to the office of the Bursars to inquire about a replacement check.
Active FWS students may view their FWS payment information by navigating to CUNYfirst Self-Service > Payroll and Compensation > View Work Study Paycheck.
FWS checks for students who have not signed up for Direct Deposit are sent to the student’s home address. To verify this address, students should log in to CUNYfirst Self -Service > Personal Information:
Visit CUNYfirst Self-Service (Self-Service -> Payroll and Compensation -> View W-2/W-2c Consent) and click the check box to consent. You will receive an email when your Form W-2 is available.
CUNY will send you an email to your preferred email address notifying you that the form is available. You can manage your email addresses on CUNYfirst Self-Service.
Your Form W-2 may be accessed, downloaded, and printed on any hardware device that can open, read and print Adobe PDF documents. For your convenience, the college provides students with computers on campus with the necessary hardware and software. Ensure that you have the latest update of Adobe.
Pop-Up Blockers: Turn off all pop-up blockers so the PDF form can open without difficulty.
You can navigate to Self-Service -> Payroll and Compensation -> View W-2/W-2c Consent and click the check box to withdraw your consent. You will receive future Form W-2s via USPS at your mailing address. Or you can contact the Federal Work Study Coordinator.
It will be sent to your mailing address. You can review or modify your mailing address directly on CUNYfirst Self-Service. To verify this address, students should log in to CUNYfirst Self -Service > Personal Information:
Students who do not select the electronic option will receive a paper Form W-2 sent to the mailing address listed on CUNYfirst Self-Service.
