The Office of the Bursar blocks all student accounts with outstanding balances. These blocks prevent registration for future terms.

Check for a Block

You can check your balance and any blocks (also called service indicators) on your account in LOCUS. LOCUS will indicate if your block is from the Bursar, the Wellness Center, or the Dean's Office. The information below provides tips for clearing financial blocks placed by the Bursar.  

Finalize Your Financial Aid Processing

If all awarded financial aid has not been disbursed to your account, you may need to complete additional steps or submit additional documents to the Financial Aid Office (FAO). You can check the status of your financial aid awards through LOCUS. The Financial Account details your current account balance. To review your financial aid award, click on the Financial Aid tile from the Student Homepage. The To Do List explains any additional steps you need to complete in the financial aid process. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office. Generally, it will be at least five business days for documents to be reviewed by FAO staff, so it is to your benefit to submit any needed information to the Financial Aid Office well in advance of your scheduled registration time.

Special Circumstances

If your family has experienced a change of circumstance or financial hardship since you first filed FAFSA, you may complete a Special Circumstance Appeal form to request a re-evaluation of your financial aid eligibility. This appeal can be found on our website in the forms section.

The appeal form allows you to describe the financial change or hardship in detail and the impact it has on your ability to meet your educational expenses. Appropriate documentation (i.e., federal tax returns, medical bills, unemployment benefits statements) is required. Any award adjustment will be contingent upon your eligibility and the availability of funds.

FAO can work with the Bursar to combine the appeal review and consideration for registration. Generally, it will be at least 7-10 business days for documents to be reviewed by FAO staff, so it is to your benefit to submit any needed information to the Financial Aid Office before you are scheduled to register for classes.

Apply for Additional Funds

If all of your financial aid has disbursed and additional funds are needed to bring your account balance to $0, you may want to consider applying for additional loans. Credit-based private loans are available for students and Federal PLUS Loans are an option for parents of dependent students. The Mandel Short-Term Loan is also available for undergraduate students enrolled in 12 credit hours or more.

It is recommended that you begin the process of obtaining a PLUS loan at least two weeks before registration.  Private loans are also options, but based on new Truth in Lending rules, the time to receive a private loan is now at least double that of a Federal PLUS Loan.

Remember: You must apply for enough to cover your entire balance owed to the university before the Bursar will remove any blocks on the registration. Be sure you account for any loan processing fees when calculating the amount to borrow. All loans borrowed will be evenly allocated between the fall and spring semesters, so set the loan amount at a level that will cover the balance needed for the academic year. For example, if you owe $2,200 for the fall semester, the loan you apply for now must be a minimum of $4,400. Your account balance in LOCUS will help provide an idea of the funds needed for each term.

Parent Credit Problems

If you are a dependent, undergraduate student whose parent was denied a Federal PLUS Loan, we can award additional Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan (up to $4,000 for freshmen and sophomores and up to $5,000 for juniors and seniors).  Complete the Additional Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan Appeal through our forms page.

Contact the Bursar

If all your financial aid has disbursed and you cannot apply for additional loans, your registration will not be opened until the balance is paid in full. If you need additional information regarding your account balance, contact the Office of the Bursar at 773.508.7705 or bursar@luc.edu.