Skip to main content

Refund Policy for Tuition Accounts

A refund will be issued to the student or parent only when there is an actual credit balance on the tuition account.

Institutional and federal financial aid will disburse/credit to students' tuition accounts approximately four to five weeks into the semester if all the financial aid requirements are complete.

Nelnet Campus Commerce is the processor for student and parent refunds. Students must activate their refund account on the Nelnet system by following these steps:

  • Log into Leopardweb - https://leopardweb.wit.edu
  • Click on the "Student" tab
  • Click on "Manage Your Refund Preferences" 
  • You will be directed to the Nelnet site where you can complete your profile and sign up for direct deposit

The Student Accounts Office recommends that students update their refund preference to direct deposit to avoid lost or stolen checks. Please note that the cost to stop and re-issue a paper check may incur a fee charged to the student's account.

We also encourage students to add a second personal email address in addition to the Wentworth email address when setting up their refund accounts. This will enable students to access refunds after graduating or withdrawing from the institute.

Refunding Dates

  • Fall Semester  - Refunds are available mid October
  • Spring Semester - Refunds are available approximately mid February
  • Summer Semester - Refunds are available approximately mid June

Typically, there will not be a credit balance until all institutional and federal aid disburses. Once this occurs and if it creates a credit balance, any remaining credit(s) will be refunded as follows, in this order:

  • If a credit balance is a result of a credit card payment, and the payment was made within the past 90 days, the refund will be credited back to the credit card used for the transaction. If the credit card payment was made more than 90 days ago, the refund will be issued to the student based on the method of disbursement they have selected
  • If a credit balance is a result of federal Stafford loans, alternative loans and/or grants, the refund will be issued to the student based on the refund option they choose
  • If a credit balance is the result of a Parent PLUS Loan, the refund will be issued to the parent borrower. Refunds from proceeds of the PLUS will be issued to the student only if the parent requests it on the PLUS application
  • If a credit balance is a result of payment plan payments, the refund will be issued to the student. Any credit balances that result from over-payment of a payment plan will not be refunded until the plan is completed and/or withdrawn
  • If a credit balance is a result of payments made by or loans in the name of parents who are separated or divorced, Wentworth will refund to the student

Wire Payments and Credit Balances

Wentworth accepts wire payments via Flywire as one of the methods for students and families to remit tuition payment(s). Please wire the exact amount due on your EBill.   Any payments above the student account balance will be returned to Flywire.

Refund Timelines and Expectations

Students can expect to receive a refund from a credit balance within fourteen days from the date the credit balance appears on their EBill. Credit balances will be processed according to the following time frame only if all financial aid requirements have been completed. The dates below are approximate and are subject to change.

Credit balances for a specific semester will not be processed until after the add/drop period ends for that semester.

For most students, credit balances are the result of federal financial aid. Financial aid will not disburse until four to five weeks into the semester. If students are planning to use financial aid to buy books or pay for living expenses, please budget appropriately to cover those costs out of pocket before being reimbursed by your student loans according to the time frame below.

Expected Financial Aid Disbursement

  • Fall: The first or second week of October
  • Spring: The first or second week of February
  • Summer: The first or second week of June
  • Refunds Sent: Within fourteen days from the date the credit balance is applied to the student's EBill

PLUS Loan Policy Updates for Academic Year 2024 –2025

If the student has a Parent PLUS Loan applied to their account as payment and the parent borrower elects to receive a refund to themselves and not to the student, the parent PLUS loan (regardless of the date of disbursement) will be used to cover all eligible institutional charges (tuition, technology fee, housing and dining) per 34 CFR 668.164. Any remaining credit will then be refunded to the borrower.  

Please see the examples below:

Example #1

Ruggles has $5,000.00 of institutional charges posted on their student account.  Ruggles’s receives $3,000.00 of financial aid funds including loans, scholarships and grants. Ruggles’s aid is applied towards the $5,000 in charges leaving a $2,000 balance.  Ruggles’s Parent applies for and is approved for $5,500.00 in PLUS loan funds and elects for any refund from this loan to be sent directly to themselves.  

In this scenario, assuming no other charges exist, Ruggles’s $5,500.00 would be applied to the $5,000.00 in charges and would result in a $500.00 refund to Ruggles’s Parent. Ruggles’s aid of $3,000.00 (assuming no other charges exist) would then be refunded to Ruggles.      

Example #2

Leopard has $4,500.00 of institutional charges posted on their student account. Leopard receives $3,000 of aid including loans, scholarships, and grants. Leopard’s aid is applied towards the $4,500.00 of institutional charges leaving a $1,500.00 student account balance.

Leopard’s Parent applies for and is approved for a $1,000.00 Parent PLUS loan. The $1,000.00 Parent PLUS loan would be applied to the $4,500.00 of institutional charges first, then the $3,000.00 of student aid would be applied towards the remaining institutional charges, leaving a $500.00 balance owed on the student account.

Example #3

Williston has $6,000.00 of institutional charges posted on their student account.  Williston is awarded $5,000.00 in scholarships, grants, and/or student loans credited to Williston’s student account, leaving a $1,000.00 balance.  

Williston’s Parent then completes the Parent PLUS application and/or loan requirements for a Parent PLUS Loan of $5,000.00 and requests the refund be sent to them.   The Parent PLUS loan is approved and disbursed to Williston’s student account. The Student Accounts Office then processes refunds of credit balances.  Williston’s Parent’s loan will cover the $5,000.00 of institutional charges and results in no refund for the Parent PLUS loan.   The Student Accounts Office then refunds $4,000.00 to Williston. 

PLUS Loan Policy Updates for Academic Year 2024 –2025

If the student has a Parent PLUS Loan applied to their account as payment and the parent borrower elects to receive a refund to themselves and not to the student, the parent PLUS loan (regardless of the date of disbursement) will be used to cover all eligible institutional charges (tuition, technology fee, housing and dining) per 34 CFR 668.164. Any remaining credit will then be refunded to the borrower.

Please see the examples below:

Example #1

Ruggles has $5,000.00 of institutional charges posted on their student account. Ruggles’s receives $3,000.00 of financial aid funds including loans, scholarships and grants. Ruggles’s aid is applied towards the $5,000 in charges leaving a $2,000 balance. Ruggles’s Parent applies for and is approved for $5,500.00 in PLUS loan funds and elects for any refund from this loan to be sent directly to themselves.

In this scenario, assuming no other charges exist, Ruggles’s $5,500.00 would be applied to the $5,000.00 in charges and would result in a $500.00 refund to Ruggles’s Parent. Ruggles’s aid of $3,000.00 (assuming no other charges exist) would then be refunded to Ruggles.

Example #2

Leopard has $4,500.00 of institutional charges posted on their student account. Leopard receives $3,000 of aid including loans, scholarships, and grants. Leopard’s aid is applied towards the $4,500.00 of institutional charges leaving a $1,500.00 student account balance.

Leopard’s Parent applies for and is approved for a $1,000.00 Parent PLUS loan. The $1,000.00 Parent PLUS loan would be applied to the $4,500.00 of institutional charges first, then the $3,000.00 of student aid would be applied towards the remaining institutional charges, leaving a $500.00 balance owed on the student account.

Example #3

Williston has $6,000.00 of institutional charges posted on their student account. Williston is awarded $5,000.00 in scholarships, grants, and/or student loans credited to Williston’s student account, leaving a $1,000.00 balance.

Williston’s Parent then completes the Parent PLUS application and/or loan requirements for a Parent PLUS Loan of $5,000.00 and requests the refund be sent to them. The Parent PLUS loan is approved and disbursed to Williston’s student account. The Student Accounts Office then processes refunds of credit balances. Williston’s Parent’s loan will cover the $5,000.00 of institutional charges and results in no refund for the Parent PLUS loan. The Student Accounts Office then refunds $4,000.00 to Williston.

Virtual Advisor Ruggles Icon Questions? Ask Ruggles