Refunds

If your financial aid and personal payments exceed your term charges, you are eligible for a refund of the credit balance. A credit balance happens when funds credited to a student's account exceed the total amount of tuition and fees. Credit balances are refunded directly to a student no later than 14 days after the end of add/drop or the day the funds are disbursed to a student's account, whichever occurs first. Some credits may require additional review, which may result in a refund taking some additional time to process.

  • Federal financial aid cannot be used for non-institutional charges, including late fees, late registration fees, and health insurance—unless the student completes a Title IV authorization form for the insurance charge. Students must pay any remaining balance with personal payments, private loans, or non–federal aid.
  • Regulations require that a student's unpaid charges on their account be paid in full before a refund can be issued. 
  • Federal regulations require the university to verify that a student began attending classes in order to be eligible for a refund.

Application of Payments

Charges such as tuition, housing, meals, and fees are applied in order of priority. Payments, including scholarships, grants, loans, and personal payments, are then applied in their own priority order.

  • Charges are applied in order starting with tuition, followed by university fees, housing, meal plans, and other miscellaneous fees.
  • Payments are applied on the basis of funding type, term, and aid year, ensuring that financial aid covers eligible charges first.

Refund Processing

If a student has excess funds after payments are applied, a refund may be issued using the original payment method:

  • Check/ACH payments: Refund by check or direct deposit.
  • Credit card payments: Refund back to the original card (convenience fees are non-refundable).
  • Wire transfers: Refund processed through PayMyTuition or CIBC.
  • Parent Plus Loan payments: Refund check sent to the borrower unless designated to the student.
  • Other refunds: Processed as direct deposit or checks and mailed to students at the official address on file with the Registrar's Office.

Important Reminders

  • Keep your mailing address and direct deposit information up-to-date.
  • Refunds are processed only after payments have been fully applied.

    Contact Us

    Office of Student Accounts
    80 Fifth Avenue, 8th floor
    New York, NY 10011
    myaccount@newschool.edu
    212.229.8930

    In-Person Office Hours
    Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
    Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m.

    To schedule time with a staff member, visit The New Queue.

    Virtual Office Hours
    Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
    Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

    Payment Mailing Address
    The New School—Mail Services
    Attn: Student Accounts
    55 West 13th Street, lower level
    New York, NY 10011

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    Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy

    The New School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.