Financial Aid Disbursements

Financial aid awards during the academic year occur in equal disbursements across each quadmester. The scheduled disbursements are the first Wednesday of the first week of class, or upon completion of financial aid requirements, whichever is later. Missing requirements may be reviewed through the financial aid tab in ESTHER. 

General Refund Information

Refunds typically occur from schedule adjustments, over-payments, and/or financial aid payments. The Bursar’s Office will send refunds directly to you as the student should any of these occur.

Refund Process

• Default Method: Refunds are issued as a paper check to the student’s mailing address listed in ESTHER. Paper checks may take up to three weeks to be received.
• Direct Deposit: Students can enroll in direct deposit for faster electronic refunds. This option allows refunds to be deposited directly into a designated bank account immediately upon the initiation of the refund process.
• • Steps to Enroll in Direct Deposit

1. 1. 1. Log into ESTHER: Use your Net ID and password.
      2. Navigate to Payment Suite: Go to Student Services > Payment Suite.
      3. Set Up Electronic Refunds: Select Electronic Refunds in the My Profile Setup menu.
      4. Follow steps to enroll

Important Notes

• Keep Information Updated: Ensure your bank account information is current to avoid delays.
• International Direct Deposits: Students can opt for refunds to be deposited into an international bank account in the local currency.

For any questions or assistance, please email the Bursar’s Office at bursar@rice.edu or reference their website bursar.rice.edu.