Census Date and Disbursement

Financial Aid Census Date

Census refers to the day a snapshot is taken of a student’s registration for financial aid purposes. Federal Pell, TEACH and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants are based on SRU credit hours registered by 11:59 pm EST on this date. There is a census date for each semester.

Be sure you are fully registered by this date. Courses added after this date will not be considered for financial aid eligibility.

2023-2024 Academic Year Census Dates

• Summer 2023: June 29, 2023
• Fall 2023: September 11, 2023
• Spring 2024: February 5, 2024

NOTE: There is no census date for  winter session, since it is not considered a stand-alone term.

What is disbursement?

The process of releasing financial aid and posting the funds directly to the student’s account. A disbursement can be positive or negative. While a positive disbursement will apply funds to your student account, a negative disbursement will withdraw funds from your account. Negative disbursements may occur as a result of an overpayment of a financial aid award.

What is a refund?

The process of taking the credit balance on a student’s account and returning it to the student according to the Student Accounts Office  refund policy.

Disbursement Schedule

Financial aid disbursements will begin on or after the dates shown on the timeline below and will run through the end of the academic year. Outstanding eligibility requirements, such as items listed on the student’s MySRU Financial aid requirements, may delay the disbursement of one or more funds. Financial aid funds are disbursed directly to the student’s Slippery Rock University student account, with the exception of Federal Work-Study which is paid directly to the student via paycheck.

PA State Grant Financial Aid Award Disbursements

PA State Grant funds are disbursed to the student account after the student is fully enrolled for the term.  Students with late start courses will have their PA Grant funds disbursed once they begin the latest start date course.

Summer 2023

*Summer Pell Grant funds will disburse based on your attending hours per each summer session.  Students awarded summer Pell Grant based on the 2023-24 year (we chose the grant that benefits students the most) will have their Pell grant disbursed after July 4, 2023.

Fall 2023, Spring 2024

As a reminder, students must satisfy all eligibility requirements to receive financial aid. Changes to enrollment status after the disbursement date may require a partial or full repayment of funds.

Information is subject to change without notice due to changes in federal, state and/or institutional rules and regulations. Students must complete a FAFSA every year. Students must be making satisfactory academic progress to continue to receive financial aid.