logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
7m 49s

Can You Return Unused Financial Aid Mone...

The College Investor
About this episode

Financial aid consists of loans, scholarships, and grants that help cover the cost of college. Depending how much you need to pay for books, tuition, and housing, you may have some money leftover in your bursar’s account.

What should you do with unused financial aid money? Should you spend it or save it for the future? More importantly, can you return it if you don’t need or want it?

Let’s dive deeper into the pros and cons of unused financial aid money and whether or not returning it is the right move to make.

Up next
Yesterday
Trump Administration Could Defund CFPB By 2026
<p>The Trump administration has escalated its campaign to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - setting in motion what could be its effective closure within a year.</p><p>In a&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.41898/gov.uscourts.c ... Show More
7m 2s
Nov 22
Could Your Nonprofit Job Lose PSLF Status?
<p>For nearly two decades, the&nbsp;<a href="https://thecollegeinvestor.com/22857/public-service-loan-forgiveness/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program</a>&nbsp;has offered a straightforward promise: make 120 qualifying payments while ... Show More
7m 56s
Nov 21
Trump Admin Moves Six Education Dept Programs As Breakup Begins
<p>The Trump Administration continues its efforts to hollow out the U.S. Department of Education by sending six programs to other federal agencies. The U.S. Department of Education announced the changes in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department- ... Show More
5m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2021
Financial Aid 101
In many ways, college financial aid can be even more complicated and anxiety-provoking than college admissions. Financial aid officer Matt joins Hannah and Mark to provide a simple introduction to the four tenets of Yale’s financial aid program: need-blind admissions, need-based ... Show More
25m 4s
May 2025
How to Create Huge Tax Savings Funding Your Kid’s College (& FIRE on Time!)
Paying for college is one of the biggest financial hurdles families face—even as you’re chasing or approaching FIRE. What’s the smartest way to save for higher education while also securing your financial future? Scott, Mindy, and Amberly are breaking it all down on today’s episo ... Show More
50m 8s
Dec 2023
414: A Crash Course in Paying for College & Common Affordability Myths
<p dir="ltr">On today's episode, Ethan is joined by Amanda Miller, who got her start in financial aid through the <a href= "https://collegeadvisingcorps.org/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">College Advising Corps</a> at Davidson College in 2014. A few thousand students, several ... Show More
56m 5s
Mar 2013
Why Do So Many College Students Fail to Graduate?
A new report says basing financial aid on college enrollment is not enough. Should it be keyed to graduation? Can it be adjusted without hurting those it's designed to help? 
52m 42s
Nov 2023
Tips for winning college scholarships
With the rising cost of college in the United States, you can’t sleep on scholarships. This week, Yanely Espinal chats with Youssef Hasweh, a scholarship wiz who got a full ride to University of Chicago, about finding the right scholarships for you, keeping those applications and ... Show More
15m 33s
Dec 2024
Ask HTM - Gold in Times of Unrest, Potential Student Loan Repayment Scams, and Weak Robo-Advisor Returns #916
  Let’s dive into the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step gu ... Show More
48m 58s
May 2025
Ask HTM - Pro Help to Break the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle, Down Payment Money Market Accounts, and Viable Student Loan Forgiveness Plans #979
Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide ... Show More
45m 33s
Feb 2025
212. Finance For College Students (Scholarships, Investing, Saving, AND Life Advice!) with Cherie Animashaun
College students or parents, friends of college students, if you're trying to graduate debt-free, or if you're trying to become financially literate, this is the episode for you! In this episode, I’m talking to teen activist and nonprofit founder, Cherie Animashaun, about all thi ... Show More
57m 22s
Sep 2019
211: Financial Aid Tips for International Students (and Their Counselors)
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is the last episode in a three-part series on paying for college. My guest is Joan Liu, a college counselor who has a giant heart to go with her giant brain. In this episode she draws on her years of experience helping international student ... Show More
40m 6s
Apr 2025
Student Loan Shakeup w/ Travis Hornsby #977
The Feds are cracking down on defaulted student loans! According to the new US Education Secretary, it’s time for student borrowers with federal loans to begin making payments. The clock is ticking and May 5th is the date that nearly 2 million borrowers are going to be moved into ... Show More
59m 33s