All financial aid is received at the Financial Aid Office and released to students through their UAOnline accounts. Disbursement is usually in equal amounts: one half of the total award is disbursed at the beginning of each semester. Proceeds of any financial aid will be used to pay tuition, fees, and all other eligible amounts due to the University of Alaska. Any remaining balance will be issued to the student in the form of a refund check or a direct deposit through the student’s respective Bursar’s Office. Students receiving Pell Grants may have their disbursements adjusted if they make changes to their schedules before the listed Financial Aid Pell Recalculation  Date.

The Financial Aid Office will disburse financial aid funds no earlier than ten days before the start of the term to the student's account; however, the actual receipt of aid is dependent on the completeness of each student’s financial aid application. The Bursar’s Student Accounts Office is responsible for issuing refund checks. Students  should refer to the Student Refunds page for more information.