Financial Aid Not Showing on Bill?

• Not seeing Federal Direct Student Loans?

  Reasons:  Federal Direct Student Loans could be missing from the bill for a variety of reasons. 

  • You did not accept the loan yet, or you just accepted the loan (it takes 2-3 business days to process once you accept the loan, if all other requirements are satisfied).
  • You are not enrolled in at least  6 credits (undergraduate students); 3 credits (graduate students)
  • You have not submitted your final high school transcript to Admissions (unsatisfied requirement).
  • You have not completed online Entrance Counseling or a Master Promissory Note (MPN) with the Department of Education.   

  Check your financial aid status for unsatisfied requirements:

  • Log into Binghamton's portal at my.binghamton.edu
  • Click on the BU BRAIN Self Service icon on the top of the page.
  • Click on "FINANCIAL AID" tab
  • Under "Home"  view "UNSATISFIED REQUIREMENTS" that may result in aid NOT being credited on your bill.

  Your next steps:

  You must first accept your loan(s) via BU BRAIN. First-time borrowers must also complete the following requirements:

  Federal Direct Student Loans

  First-time borrowers must complete an MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans and Entrance Counseling online before the loan can credit the student's account and disburse.

• Not seeing private loan funds?

  Reason: Funds from a private lender are ONLY CREDITED when loan funds are received by Student Accounts at Binghamton University.

  Your next steps:

  If we certified your loan, it will appear in your financial aid award offer.  It usually takes up to 10 business days after we certify the loan for the funds to get to Binghamton.  If it is over 10 days and we have not received the funds, contact your lender directly to determine when the funds will be sent to Student Accounts.  Note: All disclosures and self-certification forms must be completed and on file with lender before funds will be disbursed to school.

  Credit for recently received funds will appear on future bill statement(s). This can be viewed on QuikPay.

• Not seeing Federal Work Study?

  Reason:  FWS funds are not applied as a credit on a student's semester bill.  Students who are employed in a federal work study (FWS) job, are paid directly (via a paycheck) using the funds awarded.   

  Your next steps:

  If you have FWS as part of your financial aid package, you can apply for FWS positions.    

  For more student employment information and to apply for FWS positions, go to hireBING.   

• Do you have an unsatisfied final high school transcript requirement?

  Reason:  If you have not submitted a final high school transcript to Admissions yet, this will appear as an unsatisifed requirement in BU BRAIN, Financial Aid tab, Eligibility section.  Your financial aid will not credit your bill and/or generate a refund (if applicable) until the requirement is satisfied.

  Your next steps:

  You must submit a FINAL high school transcript to:

  Binghamton University
  Office of Undergraduate Admissions
  PO Box 6001
  Binghamton, NY 13902-6001

• Not seeing outside scholarships? 

  Reason: Private, outside scholarships are only credited to your bill when funds are received by Student Accounts at Binghamton University.

  Your next steps:

  Contact the organization or agency that awarded your scholarship to ensure they know where to send the funding.  The mailing address for Student Accounts is:

  Student Accounts
  P.O. Box 6003
  Binghamton, NY 13902-6003

• Not seeing a Parent PLUS or Graduate PLUS loan?

  Reasons:  PLUS loans could be missing from the bill for a variety of reasons. 

  • The PLUS application has not been completed or received by Binghamton.
  • The PLUS MPN has not been signed or received.
  • It could be timing.  The PLUS loan can take up to a week to apply to the bill after the application is completed and approved, and all requirements are satisfied.

  Your next steps:

  • Check your application and that an MPN for the type of PLUS loan you applied for is on file.
  • First-time parent PLUS or graduate PLUS borrowers must complete an online PLUS MPN and Entrance Counseling.  Notification of your approval will be sent to Binghamton University within 48 hours of completing these requirements.
  • For Parent PLUS loans, a refund, if applicable, will be made out to either the student or parent based on parent preference noted on their application.
• Not seeing SUNY Tuition Credit?

  Reason: Must be approved for TAP award by NYS HESC.  Eligible students must be a New York state resident and have completed a TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) Application.

  The SUNY Tuition Credit will be awarded and available for credit toward the bill once a student's New York state TAP award status listed in BU BRAIN is "Confirmed by NYS Agency" which is HESC.

  Your next steps:

  If not confirmed, go to HESC.ny.gov,  Ensure that your TAP application is complete.

• Not seeing TAP or another NYS Scholarship, including Excelsior?

  Reasons:

  • You did not complete a TAP application for the applicable aid year.
  • You completed the TAP application but there is something missing.  Go to NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) to check the status of your application. 
  • Income Verification Process (IVP) is not complete.
  • You have the wrong School Code on the TAP application.  Be sure it is listed as "Binghamton University (Undergrad)."
  • After New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) receives and verifies your information from filing the TAP application, Binghamton University is notified of your award status, if approved. The award will then be changed from the original Estimated amount to an amount Confirmed by NYS Agency. Once confirmed, the award will appear as a credit toward the bill, pending final TAP certification during the 5th week of classes, and pay during the 6th week of classes.
  • Note: the Confirmed TAP award may be different than the original Estimated TAP award due to verification of income information completed by HESC.
  • To verify that your TAP award is confirmed, go to BU BRAIN, Financial Aid tab, Award section.

  Your next steps:

  • If not confirmed, go to HESC.ny.gov, or set up an appointment to speak with a HESC representative at hesc.ny.gov/contact-hesc.html. Ensure that your TAP application is complete.

  Reason for not seeing other New York state scholarships, including Excelsior:

  (NYS MERIT, STEM INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND OTHERS):

  • Must apply for New York state scholarships by going to HESC.ny.gov.
  • Income Verification Process (IVP) is not complete.
  • Must apply for the Excelsior Scholarship by the application deadline noted on the HESC website. 
  • After HESC verifies, approves eligibility, and you have signed any applicable scholarship contract, Binghamton University will be notified of your award status and funds will appear as a credit toward the bill.
  • Check your billing statement in QuikPAY for an updated award.

  Your next steps

  For questions about a NYS scholarship or your student's eligibility, go to HESC.ny.gov or set up an appointment with a HESC representative at hesc.ny.gov/contact-hesc.html.

Note: If there are any unsatisfied requirements for financial aid, this will prevent your aid from crediting your bill.  You can check if you have any unsatisfied requirements by logging into your BU Brain account and following the steps below:
1. Login to the Portal at my.binghamton.edu
2. Click on the BU BRAIN Self Service icon on top of the page.
3. Go to the FINANCIAL AID tab.  
4. Under "Home," view "Unsatisfied Requirements. Click on the "unsatisfied" requirement to be directed to a link, if applicable.  Click on the arrow next to any "unsatisfied" requirement for more detailed information.