With the exception of Federal Work Study, some departmental scholarships and all outside scholarships, financial aid processed by SFA will automatically be disbursed to your bursar account, provided that your application is complete and you have met the requirements for each aid type.

Prior to the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, any confirmed financial aid will be listed as a deferment (estimated payment) against your University charges. You will then be asked either to pay the balance of the charges or make payment arrangements. Information about BGSU's installment payment plan and other payment arrangements will be included with your bursar statement.

If you are offered student loans, Student Financial Aid will notify you if a student loan promissory note is required. The first semester you borrow a Federal Direct Loan at BGSU, you must also complete an entrance counseling session on line at U.S. Department of Education Online Entrance Counseling.

Private scholarship checks received by the University will be directly applied to your student bursar account (unless otherwise specified by the scholarship donor). Once SFA is notified of a private scholarship, it will be listed as part of your aid package.

When the semester begins, your deferred aid will be changed to disbursed aid on your bursar account, provided you are registered for the appropriate number of credit hours and have met individual program requirements. Federal financial aid will first be used to pay your University housing and meals, instructional, general, and non-resident fees, and special course fees. If the disbursement of financial aid exceeds these charges, you may authorize the bursar's office to apply the balance of your aid toward other miscellaneous charges. If disbursement of aid is more than enough to pay your bursar account charges, you may obtain a check in the amount of the credit balance from the Office of the Bursar following the start of classes.

A Short Term Extension Plan (S.T.E.P.) may be available from the Office of the Bursar to assist in making instructional, general, and non-resident fee payments on time. Before S.T.E.P. is approved, you must have a verifiable source of repayment, as well as make a minimum payment toward your University charges. This plan is assessed interest and must be repaid within 45 days.