Refund & Direct Deposit

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Student Financial Services encourages all students to enroll in direct deposit.

Direct Deposit refunds are processed and disbursed by the University within 2-3 business days. Please be advised that an additional 1-3 business days may be required for banks to process and post to your bank account. 

Refund Checks are processed and mailed by the University within 2-3 business days. The delivery date is based on the USPS service in your area.

Please sign up for Direct Deposit to get your refund faster.

Refunds

Student Financial Services processes all refunds in accordance with federal and University guidelines and makes every effort to ensure that refunds are processed in a timely and efficient manner.

At the start of each semester Student Financial Services will begin issuing financial aid refunds due to overpayment by loans, scholarships, grants, and other financial aid items, one week prior to the start of classes via direct deposit or check by mail only. Refund checks cannot be held for in-person pickup. Refunds due to Parent PLUS Loans will be returned by check to the parent or guardian only. Please remember that Student Financial Services can only issue a refund once a credit or negative balance is present on your student account.

Overpayment by cash, check, money order, or electronic check (ACH) can be refunded via direct deposit or check by mail, while overpayments due to credit cards or debit cards will be refunded/credited back to the same card used to make the payment.

Very Important: Please be aware that student who have registered for courses and later decide not to attend must drop all coursework prior to the start of the semester to receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees. Per the class schedule students who drop on or after the start of the semester will receive a prorated refund of tuition and fees. See the Fees section of the applicable class schedule for more details.

Direct Deposit

CSUDH offers Direct Deposit as an option for receiving refunds. Examples of possible refunds are financial aid, tuition over-payments, dropped classes, deposit returns for keys or housing, or unneeded parking permits. CSUDH will process direct deposits to your designated bank account or mail checks to your mailing address of record.

By establishing a direct deposit of the refund(s) to your bank checking or savings account you will receive your University refund in a timely manner; normally within 2 – 3 business days of the refund posting date. To sign up for direct deposit follow the instructions on the Direct Deposit Enrollment Guide [PDF].

Why do Direct Deposit?

  • It's faster — get your refund within days, instead of waiting a week or more
  • It's convenient — no check to wait for or deposit
  • It saves money — no check-cashing fee to pay


Check by Mail

Refunds issued by check are mailed using the United States Postal Service to the mailing address on file with the University. To ensure accurate and timely delivery, please be sure your current mailing address is up to date in your Student Center. Please allow 7 – 14 days from the refund posting date to receive your refund check. Additional processing and mailing time may apply due to federal holidays and/or postal service constraints.


Credit Card / Debit Card Refunds

Credit balances due to overpayment by credit card or debit card will be refunded/credited back to the same card used to make the payment. Additionally, Student Financial Service typically begins issuing refundable credits due to credit card or debit card overpayments approximately three weeks after the last day to add/drop courses for the Fall and Spring semesters. See the applicable Academic Calendar for details. Once processed please allow 2-3 business days from the processing date for the funds to return to your card.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is direct deposit?

Direct deposit is a way to have student refunds electronically deposited into your bank account instead of waiting for a check to be mailed.

Where do I sign up for direct deposit?

Sign up at my.csudh by following the instructions in the student user guide.

If I set up my direct deposit information through the Wells Fargo refund preference site, do I have to do it again?

Yes. For security reasons, the information provided through the Wells Fargo direct deposit preference site will not be transferred to the CSUDH direct deposit site. You must log into the student portal at my.csudh, and enter the bank account information where you want your refund sent. If you do not provide any bank information, you will receive your refund via check.

What are the benefits of direct deposit?
  • Receive your refund faster, in approximately 2 to 3 days, instead of 7 to 10 business days for a mailed check
  • Save time, there is no need to make a trip to the bank
  • Eliminate lost or stolen checks and additional waiting time to receive a replacement check
What information do I need to set up direct deposit?

You should have your bank routing number and checking or savings account number. It is critical that the information is accurate when you enter it. If the information is not accurate, your refund will be delayed.

Why should I provide my bank account information if I do not expect a refund?

There is no requirement to provide bank account information. However, if you provide it now and the university needs to deliver a refund to you in the future, the process is already complete and you will receive your money without a delay. Most students receive at least one refund during their time attending the university, so keeping your preferences current will allow you to get your money quickly and easily.

What should I do if my refund was not deposited in my account?

Please allow up to three business days from the date the refund was posted on your student account to see the funds in your account. The timing depends on the bank you use. If the funds are not received by your bank after three business days, contact:

CSU Dominguez Hills
Student Financial Services
sfs@csudh.edu
(310) 243-3780
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

What if my bank account was closed after I chose my refund preference?

You are the only one that can change your bank account information. You should immediately go to your Student Services Center on my.csudh and enter the new account number, or choose to have your refund mailed to you in the form of a check.

Why was my refund a different amount than I expected?

For a detailed explanation of your refund amount, please refer to your Student Services Center at my.csudh.edu. If you need further assistance, contact:

CSU Dominguez Hills
Student Financial Services
sfs@csudh.edu
(310) 243-3780
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

How do I get my refund if I don’t have a bank account?

You can have your refund mailed to you via check, then cash that check at a bank. You can go to any Wells Fargo banking location to cash the check, as long as sufficient cash is available. Please bring two forms of valid, unexpired identification. Wells Fargo bankers may offer other options for assisting you with your refund.

What address does CSUDH use to send me a refund check?

Your student account will normally have a permanent and a mailing address associated with it. We will use the mailing address on your student file with the university to mail the refund check to you.

To ensure that your refund check is sent where you want it to go, confirm the mailing address on your student account and change it as necessary. You are the only one who can change your address on your student account.

Can I have a check sent to an international address?

Mailing refund checks to international addresses can be accommodated by CSUDH, but it is discouraged. We recommend changing your foreign mailing address on file with the university to a valid domestic address. A better option would be to have your refunds directly deposited to a domestic US bank account. Refunds cannot be direct deposited internationally to a bank located outside the United States.

If I choose to receive a check, will a hold be placed on my refund when I deposit to my bank account?

Holds on deposited checks depend on a number of different factors, so you should ask your financial institution whether a hold will be placed on your refund check. For the fastest access to your funds, sign up to have your money deposited directly into your bank account.

What if my refund check gets lost in the mail?

Any refund check that is lost in the mail can be replaced. Ten (10) days after the issue date of the check, you must sign an affidavit for stop payment at the Student Financial Services Office (WH270). Upon completion of the affidavit, the stop payment will be placed, and a replacement check will be issued and sent to the mailing address on your student account. You should review your mailing address and keep it current for faster receipt of refund checks.

A better option is to enroll in direct deposit on your Student Services Center to avoid issues with lost mail.

How long does it take to receive a replacement check that was lost in the mail?

A replacement check will be mailed to the mailing address on your student account within two to five days of receiving the stop payment. You should review your mailing address and keep it current for faster receipt of refund checks. A better option is to enroll in direct deposit on your Student Services Center to avoid issues with lost mail.