Direct Deposit for Student Refunds (Required)
Direct deposit is required to receive student refunds issued from a student account.
Refunds issued via direct deposit are delivered electronically to an authorized U.S. checking or savings account and are typically available within 24–48 hours once processed.
Benefits of direct deposit include:
- The fastest and most secure method to receive your student refunds.
- Electronic delivery without additional processing or mailing time
Student Responsibility:
Students are responsible for ensuring their direct deposit information is accurate and up to date in CaneLink. Incorrect or outdated banking information may result in delays or the return of funds.
If a direct deposit is returned by the bank because the funds cannot be deposited, the refund may be reissued as a paper check, which requires additional processing time.
How to Enroll:
Log into CaneLink, navigate to the Financials menu, and select Direct Deposit/Bank Account.
For step‑by‑step instructions, click Enroll in Direct Deposit.
Note: Only U.S. bank accounts may be added in CaneLink for direct deposit.
Paper Check for Student Refunds
Paper checks are issued only in limited circumstances when a refund cannot be successfully delivered via direct deposit.
This may occur if:
- A student is not enrolled in direct deposit, or
- A direct deposit is returned by the bank and cannot be reprocessed as a direct deposit student refund
Paper check refunds require additional processing and may take up to 10 business days to be completed and received. Checks are mailed to the current address listed in CaneLink.
To avoid delays and ensure timely receipt of student refunds, students should enroll in direct deposit and regularly review their banking information in CaneLink.
Parent PLUS Loan Refunds
Parent PLUS loans are borrowed by a parent, and refund eligibility is determined by the refund preference selected by the parent borrower when applying for the loan through the U.S. Department of Education.
- If the parent borrower authorizes refunds to be issued to the student, the refund is treated as a student refund and is issued using the student’s refund method.
- If the parent borrower does not authorize refunds to the student, any excess Parent PLUS loan funds will be issued directly to the parent borrower via paper check, mailed to the address provided to the U.S. Department of Education when applying for the Parent PLUS loan.
Student Refund Check Cancellation Request
Students may submit a request to cancel a paper refund check using the following form:
Student Refund Check Cancellation Form
Important Reminders:
- Ensure the student refund check was issued at least two weeks prior to submitting a cancellation request.
- If you receive your student refund check after submitting a cancellation request, do not attempt to cash it
- A separate form must be submitted for each student refund check cancellation request
- Ensure your local and permanent addresses in CaneLink are accurate and up to date
- Enroll in direct deposit via CaneLink to receive refunds more quickly
For refunds checks issued to a Parent Plus Loan borrower, please email the Office of Student Accounts at officeofstudentaccounts@miami.edu if you need to request a check cancellation.
Note: Once a refund check is canceled, the excess that created the refund will result as a credit on the student account and may be applied to any unpaid balances, if eligible.
Student Account Over-Payments
All payments should be limited to educational expenses billed to the student's account. Incoming payments that exceed the balance due will be handled as follows:
- All check overpayments (including personal checks, 529 private plan checks, third‑party checks, and any other check payments) will be reviewed and returned to the sender by mail to the address listed on the check.
Note: Funds intended to cover personal and living expenses not billed to the student's account must be sent directly to the student, not to the University of Miami.
