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STUDENT REFUND Policies

Most credits, including financial aid refunds, are refunded automatically within 14 business days of the credit (negative) balance being posted your account. If you have a specific inquiry about a refund, please contact the Bursar's Office at 203-392-6140 or via email at bursarsoffice@southernct.edu. 

The Bursar's Office must first verify that a student is eligible for a refund; this can happen in any of the following ways:

  • The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships runs disbursement for eligible students and the Bursar's Office runs a report that shows students whose accounts have a credit balance (negative) as a result of the disbursement.
  • The Registrar's Office notifies the Bursar when a student withdraws or has a status change (Full-Time to Part-Time or vice versa);
  • The student will alert the Bursar's Office that they have a credit on their account and wish to receive a refund.

Once its determined that a student is eligible for a refund, it may take up to 14 days to have a refund issued. Please Note: If your credit balance is due to a credit card overpayment, your refund will be credited back to the credit card used when making the payment.

Owl Choice Card for Student Refunds

Owl Choice Card Debit MasterCardIn June 2012, Southern launched a new way for students to receive their student account refunds, through the Owl Choice Card from Higher OneŽ. Southern has partnered with Higher One, Inc., a financial services company focused solely on higher education to bring this new method of refund disbursement to campus. Through Higher One, Southern students will continue to have efficient, convenient and secure options for receiving their Financial Aid or school refunds. The new Owl Choice Card will provide Southern students with increased choice, including:

  • A same day deposit to the OneAccount, an FDIC Insured, no minimum balance checking account
  • Transfer to another banking account
  • Check payment mailed to student

To ensure you receive your refund as soon as possible, once you receive your Owl Choice Card log on to www.OwlChoiceCard.com and use your 16 digit Owl Choice Card number to activate your refund preference (be it the OneAccount, another bank account, or a paper check). Even if you do not receive financial aid, you may be eligible to receive a refund from Southern, for example if you drop a class during the add/drop period, or you withdraw, you may be eligible for a refund. It is important to keep your Owl Choice Card handy and never throw it away. Keep the card safe in case you need to access future refunds owed to you. 

Click here to learn more about the Owl Choice Card for Student Refunds.