FAFSA Update: The 2024-2025 FAFSA is available to complete online. Due to Federal delays in releasing FAFSA information, Northeastern will require additional time to process your offer of financial assistance. Please visit our FAFSA Updates Page for more information and timely announcements.

Effective Fall 2023, Northeastern University has implemented a new policy regarding late fees. Learn more about this policy.

As of February 28, 2024, 1098-T statements for the 2023 tax year are available to current eligible students in the student hub. Learn more about how to access your 1098-T.

Policies & Procedures

Student Refunds

Credit balances on a student’s account will be automatically refunded. To ensure funds are received promptly, we strongly encourage the following:

  • All students are encouraged to enroll in direct deposit. Students who are enrolled in direct deposit will have their refunds deposited directly into the bank account on file, typically within 3 to 5 business days.
  • Please ensure that your mailing address is accurate. If you are not enrolled in direct deposit, your check will be mailed to you directly, which may take up to 10 to 14 business days. Checks will not be held for pick up in the Office of Student Financial Services. 

Auto-Refund Timeline

Refunds are automatically processed twice a week. You must have a credit balance on your account to be eligible for a refund. Anticipated credits will not be automatically refunded.

Some credits may require additional review, which may result in your refund taking some additional time to process. If you have not received a refund for your credit balance after 30 days, please contact our office for assistance.

Please note that if a credit card has been used to pay any portion of the amount due, the refund must be made first to that credit card. If the credit balance on the account exceeds the amount that was paid via credit card, these additional funds will be refunded by check or direct deposit.

If the credit balance in your account resulted from a Parent PLUS Loan, the funds will be automatically refunded to the borrower. Any additional credit not from this loan will be refunded to the student.

Auto-Refund FAQs

The university will automatically issue refunds for eligible students whose account reflects a credit balance. Students are no longer required to submit a refund request.

The auto-refund process will give students faster access to their refunds and eliminate the need for students to submit a refund request.

If a credit card has been used to pay any portion of the amount due, the refund will be made to the credit card first. If the credit balance on the account exceeds the amount that was paid via credit card, these additional funds will be refunded via direct deposit or check.

If the credit balance is a result from a Parent PLUS Loan, the funds will be automatically refunded to the borrower. Any additional credit not from this loan will be refunded to the student.

If an eligible credit balance on the account is a result of payments made via Flywire, the refund will be sent directly to Flywire.

Refunds are automatically processed twice a week. Some credits may require additional review, which may result in your refund taking some additional time to process. Students who are enrolled in direct deposit will have their refunds deposited directly into the bank account on file, typically within 3 to 5 business days. If you are not enrolled in direct deposit, your check will be mailed to you directly, which may take up to 10 to 14 business days.

Occasionally, there may be additional review required for your refund. This does not occur in most cases. If you see a credit balance on your account (not anticipated) and have not received a refund for two weeks, please contact the Office of Student Accounts for an update on your refund status.

Refund checks are mailed to your permanent address on file. Please ensure this address is up to date. We recommend enrolling in direct deposit for the fastest receipt of funds.

To enroll in direct deposit, you must log into your Student Hub and complete the Direct Deposit Form, located under “Resources”, and “Financial Services.” To be eligible to enroll in direct deposit, you must have a U.S. checking or savings account. Please note that initial set up will take 3 business days for direct deposit to become active.

Students who do not wish to receive a refund for a credit balance on their account may complete the opt-out process. This will remove you from the auto-refund process for the full academic year. Please note that if you choose to opt out you will not be able to receive any refunds for the academic year. If you still have a credit balance at the end of the academic year, it will be automatically refunded to you.

Please submit the check stop payment request if it has been more than 14 business days from the refund issued date.

  1. Log into the Northeastern Services portal
  2. Click on “Student Financial Services”
  3. Click on “Solutions for Students”
  4. Click on “Student Accounts Requests”
  5. Select “Check Stop Payment Request”

The refund will be reissued after the check stop payment request has been processed, typically within 7-10 business days. We recommend enrolling in direct deposit for the reissue and future refunds.

If you wish to opt-out of the auto-refund process, students must complete the “Refund Opt-Out” form. To complete this form, log into your Student Hub. Under the “Financial Services” tab you will see a link for “Student Account Self Service”. Select this link and then choose “Refund Opt-Out” to complete the form.

Some types of financial aid can only be used to pay for certain types of charges. Therefore, you could receive a refund even if you have an outstanding charge on your student account from the current or previous terms. Activity such as registering for additional classes, newly incurred fees, or loss of certain aid after your refund was generated maybe the reason for having an outstanding balance on your account. You are responsible for paying the outstanding balance on your account even after you’ve received a refund.

Off-Campus Housing

It is possible to use financial aid and alternative loan funds to pay for rent outside of the university. You will need to calculate the amount of funds you will need to cover your rent and utilities for the academic year in addition to your billed costs. If you need assistance with this, your Financial Aid Counselor will be happy to work with you to create a financial plan.

Please keep in mind that refunds are not issued until after the start of the term, especially if you need funds for the 1st of the month (such as in September, January, and May). For example, do not rely on fall term funds to pay September’s rent.