Anticipated Financial Aid

Financial aid-in-progress, or anticipated aid, will display within Mainestreet and on student invoices for each term.  Although anticipated aid is considered to reduce the student’s overall account balance, the funds will not be transferred to cover charges unless all requirements are met as stipulated by the Financial Aid Office.  Loans will only display as anticipated once you have accepted the loan offer on Mainestreet.

Refunds

Prior to the beginning of classes and upon completion of the financial aid award process, financial aid funds are disbursed (or transferred) to the student’s account.   A check for the refund amount (awarded financial aid less tuition and fees) will be mailed to the student’s current address for the opening day of campus classes. UMA encourages students to enroll in direct deposit to receive their refunds. Instructions on enrolling or modifying may be found here.

If financial aid is awarded after the opening day of campus classes, excess financial aid refund checks are generally issued weekly.

If the student has excess financial aid and is registered at another University of Maine campus, UMA in most cases will transfer the aid to the affiliate campus prior to issuing a refund.  The student, however, is responsible to make certain that balances at all campuses are satisfied.

Policy for Return of Funds for Students Who Withdraw or Drop

IMPORTANT FACT:  In accordance with Federal regulations, financial assistance may be adjusted for financial aid recipients that reduce credit hours, withdraw during the semester, do not academically complete the semester, or receive external contributions (such as third party sponsorship, scholarships, waivers, etc).  A portion of his or her financial aid will be refunded to the Title IV programs as required by the U.S. Department of Education.  Such financial aid calculations due to changes in information used in the calculation of aid award may result in the student owing a balance to the University.

Failure to report outside assistance may result in the need to repay financial aid funds.

Please contact the Financial Aid Office at (207) 621-3412 prior to withdrawing to see how withdrawing will affect you financially.

Return of Title IV, State, & Institutional Funds

When a student withdraws from all classes, University policies and federal requirements may result in a reduction of charges and financial aid.  If a student withdraws before the 60 percent point of the enrollment period, a federal calculation is performed. This calculation follows a specific percentage of adjustment based on the date of withdrawal and may require a return of financial aid to federal, state, and institutional aid programs.

The day the student officially withdraws is determined to be the withdrawal date.  If the student ceases attendance without providing official notification of withdrawal to the institution, the mid-point of the enrollment period will be the withdrawal date for the purpose of calculating the return of funds.

Order of Return of Funds

Funds are returned to the appropriate aid accounts as the result of withdrawal in the following order prescribed by law and regulations:

  • Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan/Direct Loan
  • Subsidized Federal Stafford/Direct Loan
  • Federal PLUS Loans
  • Federal Pell Grants
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
  • Other Title IV Aid Programs
  • Other federal, state, private, or institutional aid
  • Student

For more information, please contact UMA’s Financial Aid Office.