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Financial Aid Offer Resources

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From submitting your FAFSA to receiving your university bill, your financial aid offer is processed through many steps.

Our Financial Aid Office builds your financial aid package based on your FAFSA then works with the Office of the Bursar to apply payments to your account and process financial aid refunds.

Below, we have compiled several resources for your and your family to better understand your financial aid award and plan for your university bill. 

Additionally, Financial Aid team members are available for virtual individual appointments to discuss your offer and next steps. Click below to register for an appointment. 

Aid Offer Notifications

Radford University will notify you by email when your financial aid offer is ready to view. New students can review their offer in the Highlander Portal starting in March. Current students can review their offer in OneCampus starting in June. 

All students must accept their financial aid offer in OneCampus before funds can be disbursed. New students can accept their offer in OneCampus starting in May.

View Your Offer in the Highlander Portal

New Students Only

  1. New students: log in to your Highlander Portal to review your financial aid offer.
  2. Click the Financial Aid/Scholarships button at the top of the portal.
  3. Click "Review your Financial Aid Packet" in the yellow Status Update banner.
  4. Your financial aid offer is two pages. Use the arrows in the top right of your letter to move to the second page.
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View and Accept Your Offer in OneCampus

  1. Log into OneCampus then search for “Financial Aid Dashboard”.
  2. Click on the drop-down menu and select the appropriate aid year (2026-2027).
  3. Navigate to the “Award Offer” tab.
  4. Review your aid offer and use the final column labelled “Take Action” to accept, decline or modify the amounts then click “Submit” to finalize your responses.
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Understanding Your Aid Offer

Your financial aid offer can include a variety of federal, state and institutional aid options. We've outlined a few common types of financial aid below and you can find more detailed information about all types of financial aid here. 

Your offer is unique to you and based on information provided on the FAFSA. If your offer is adjusted for any reason (such as changes in eligibility, funding , university enrollment, domicile or outside scholarships), you will be notified by email. 

Institutional Scholarship Programs

Scholarships are gift aid that do not require repayment. Radford University offers several types of scholarships, including:

  • Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement. Students are automatically reviewed for merit-based scholarships by the Office of Admissions.
  • Talent scholarships are awarded based on the recommendation of a specific department, like Music, Esports or Athletics.
  • Donor-funded scholarships are awarded through the Radford University Foundation. Students must apply each year for consideration. 
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Grant Programs

Grants are need-based awards that also do not need repayment. Grant awards include, but not limited to:

  • Radford University Need-Based Grants
  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

Review a full list of federal, state and institutional grants. 

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Loan Programs

Loans help students defer the costs of their education until after graduation. They must be repaid. You may accept the complete loan amount offered, or a partial amount. A few common loan types include:

  • Federal Direct Subsidized Direct Loans do not accrue interest while students are in school. 
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Direct Loans accrue interest from the time the loan is disbursed to the time the loan is repaid in full.
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Information Used in Your Financial Aid Offer

  • Student Aid Index (SAI)

    This number is the amount a family can reasonably be expected to contribute to college costs. It is calculated using the information you provide on the FAFSA.

  • Cost of Attendance

    This amount is an overall estimate of expenses for a complete academic year, including direct costs (payable to the university) and indirect costs (additional expenses you may incur as a student, such as travel costs).

  • Housing/Residency

    Your status as an in-state or out-of-state student and whether you plan to live on or off-campus affects your overall costs and your financial aid offer. Changes to your housing or residency status will change your financial aid offer. 

Payment of Aid Awards

After you accept your financial aid offer in OneCampus, the Financial Aid Office and the Bursar’s Office can begin the process of disbursing funds. Typically, one-half of each award will be sent each semester.

Students must meet various criteria, including completion of all application pieces, award requirements and enrollment steps before funds are processed.

You will be notified by email when your funds are successfully disbursed. Each financial aid type will be credited directly to your student account:

Grant and Scholarship Funds

After your awards are verified, they will be credited to your student account. 

Federal Loan Funds

Loans are usually disbursed in two payments – each at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Direct loan funds will be credited to your account after enrollment is verified.

Other Financial Aid Types

Other financial aid types, including private loans and outside scholarships, will be credited to your account after funds are received and enrollment is verified. Outside scholarships can take longer to be received – be sure to follow up with the organization for more information on fund disbursements. 

Your University Bill

All University charges are billed to student accounts through the Bursar’s Office prior to the start of each semester. If your financial aid package does not cover your total direct charges, you are responsible for paying the remaining balance by the date listed on your e-bill.

We've included information about several payment methods below as well as answers to frequently asked questions about financial aid and your bill. Visit the Bursar Office website for additional information about all payment methods.

 

Review and Pay Your Bill 

  1. Sign in to OneCampus.  
  2.  Search and select "Account Summary."
  3.  On the QuikPay site, choose "View & Pay Accounts" in the menu.
  4. In the "Student Account Charges," click on the "View Account Details" link.
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Financial Aid and Your Bill

Will I see my financial aid on my university bill?

Your billing statement will include:

  • Estimated financial aid awarded
  • Remaining account balance

If your bill has a negative balance, you have enough financial aid to cover your charges and will receive a refund to your student account with this amount. If your bill has a positive balance, this outstanding amount is owed to the university and your responsibility. 

When will my bill be due?

Fall semester bills are typically posted in July and due before the start of the semester. You will be notified through email when bills are posted, with more instructions on how to pay and exact due dates. For more information, please visit the Office of the Bursar’s website.

When can I expect my financial aid refund?

Financial aid refunds are generated automatically by the Office of the Bursar once a financial aid overpayment shows on the student account. Students signed up for direct deposit can expect their refund within three business days after processing; students without direct deposit can expect a refund check sent to their mailing address within 14 days after processing.

What is a bookstore voucher and how can I request one?

Students with a financial aid refund can request a bookstore voucher of up to $600 to purchase their course books at the Campus Bookstore. Submit your request in OneCampus by searching “Bookstore Voucher” in the search box. The bookstore voucher opens for requests four weeks prior to the start of the fall/spring semesters and two weeks prior to the start of summer semesters

Who can I contact with questions about my bill?

For more information about paying your bill, please visit the Office of the Bursar website  or contact them directly by email at bursar@radford.edu or by phone at 540-831-5417.

Set up an Authorized Payer

Authorized payers are individuals other than the student who are given access to make payments on the student’s behalf. Authorized payers must be set up by the student in OneCampus.

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Payment Plan Enrollment

A payment plan splits up the cost of your bill into three, four or five installments. Enrollment for payment plans begins in June and is available until August. 

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