Direct Deposit and Student Refunds

Credit balances may appear on a student's account due to excess financial aid awards, stipends, overpayments, or charge adjustments. Refunds may generate automatically or students may need to request a refund of credit balances. Contact us to request a refund.

Refunds can be distributed by direct deposit and by check. If you have not signed up for direct deposit when a refund is generated, you have 24 hours to do so before the refund is issued by check.

Receiving Refunds by Direct Deposit

To sign up, you must be a registered, full-time, undergraduate, graduate, or professional student, and the primary account holder of the account used for direct deposit. 

Refunds issued by direct deposit will appear in your bank account within 2-3 business days.

How to Sign Up

1. Go to Nelnet Business Services and log in using your Cornell NetID and password. Cornell's Two-Step Login is required for authentication.
2. Verify or edit the Student Profile Information.
3. Select Direct Deposit and enter the routing and account number for your U.S. checking or savings account.
4. Sign up for SMS messaging to receive a text when your refund is on the way.

Notes:

• Your default primary e-mail address in Nelnet is your Cornell e-mail address, and it cannot be changed. You can add additional e-mail addresses once you’re enrolled.
• You will receive an email when direct deposit refunds or stipends have processed.

Important Information About Refunds

Before you receive or request a refund, examine your bill carefully to make sure all of the charges you expect to incur have been paid (for example, dining, housing, fitness center charges might not yet be on your bill) and that all prior-term balances have been paid. Please check Cashnet or contact us to confirm your balance.

Make sure to consider any Cornell aid adjustments you expect have posted to your student account. If your aid is reduced for some reason, you cannot later receive additional financial aid to cover the refund. If you have any qeustions about the validity of your refund, please contact us.

Receiving Refunds by Check

Checks are made payable to the student and will be available withihn 7-10 business days of being generated. To have your refund check mailed to you, please contact us from your Cornell email account and provide your preferred mailing address.

The Office of the Bursar conducts all its business directly with the student. Just as monthly charges are listed in the student’s name, so are any awards, grants, scholarships, and loans that might produce a refund. Therefore, direct deposits/refund checks are drawn in the name of the student.

The Office of the Bursar reserves the right to withhold any refund check when the student has a Bursar/Cornellcard or Cornell Installment Plan balance. Cornell is authorized to use any credit balances to offset any debts owed by the student to the university.