Is it illegal to force students who have financial aid to buy books from your school?

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The school I attend forces students to buy books through the store which is not apart of the school. Whether the store is apart of the school or not, isn't it illegal to force student to use their financial aid for books. I have been to college in the past and this was not the case at all...It just looks like the school is trying to get every penny they can while making the student think it is more convenient when in the long run, the books are over-priced along with the interest you will be paying it back in the end... Any thoughts?

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Did you go to the school administrators and tell them you prefer to buy your own books?

I know I'd be really irritated if I had little choice on where to get my books.

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If i hear you right, they automatically put the amount of the "voucher" in your loan, regardless of whether or not you utilized the voucher at the school's bookstore? My loan also allows for a voucher at the bookstore but then clearly states that if I use it the the amount charged at the book strore will be added to my existing loan amount. If I don't then no extra money is added.

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well I have no problem not mentioning it but when I find out that they automatically put the books on my bill regardless because they apparently order books for everyone who has financial aid is where I not understanding... Do you get me? They are taking the funds anyway....

What kind of loan is it that you have?

I get stafford loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized and this is not the case at my school. We are issued a refund check before the start of the semester and whatever is left after our tuition is paid for is what we are issued in our refund. It is then our responsibility to use our refund as we choose, whether its to buy books, pay rent, or whatever else we want.

But to answer your question, it doesnt seem right that your school is doing this. I would contact the financial aid department and ask them to remove the books from your bill. Im not positive but I think the only thing that has to be charged to your account is tuition and fees, everything left over should be issued to you in refund form.

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From all your responses you are all thinking the way I am thinking. I am going to clarify with the school and make sure they are giving me the option to use my voucher because from the way it was for a friend of mine, she was told that she would not get reimbursed for the voucher that she didn't use and that it went automatically to them because they had already ordered a book for her which she did not request. It is not stated in their handbook or agreement either. The loan is a stafford loan...

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well is your loan, pell grant or student loan through a foundation. I know if its a pell you can buy books from where you want. if its a foundation loan it would depend what is in your contract. some schools are different though. I have never heard of anything like this before and Ive been in school for 3 years, Not in Nursing, but I will be in RN this fall.

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What kind of loan is it that you have?

I get stafford loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized and this is not the case at my school. We are issued a refund check before the start of the semester and whatever is left after our tuition is paid for is what we are issued in our refund. It is then our responsibility to use our refund as we choose, whether its to buy books, pay rent, or whatever else we want.

But to answer your question, it doesnt seem right that your school is doing this. I would contact the financial aid department and ask them to remove the books from your bill. Im not positive but I think the only thing that has to be charged to your account is tuition and fees, everything left over should be issued to you in refund form.

I WISH my school was like this!! We don't get our loan money until around 6 weeks into the semester!! Pell refunds come even later, which I understand because they don't have them at the beginning of the semester. It's apalling that we have to wait for money that WE are responsible for paying back!! Crazy!

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I WISH my school was like this!! We don't get our loan money until around 6 weeks into the semester!! Pell refunds come even later, which I understand because they don't have them at the beginning of the semester. It's apalling that we have to wait for money that WE are responsible for paying back!! Crazy!

LOL...I know what you mean, I used to go to a community college that didnt issue refunds until mid semester. But I think it depends on what type of school you attend, either a community college or major university. I go to Michigan State, so maybe major schools get their money first, who knows. Its also possible that the school just foots the bill until they get the money from the govt. But thats something that I absolutely LOVE about my school! I never have to stress about my books and things because I get my refund check 1-2 weeks before the semester starts...

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well I have no problem not mentioning it but when I find out that they automatically put the books on my bill regardless because they apparently order books for everyone who has financial aid is where I not understanding... Do you get me? They are taking the funds anyway....

This is the first I have ever heard of something like this happening. It's all going to go off your school policy and how they do things when they adjust your cost and how much will come to you. I would look and see if it is policy or if there is an option to opt out of it so you can get the best price for your bucks which would show your using your financial aide wisely ;)

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I've never heard of this. At my school, if you ARE using your financial aid package for books, you can only buy them at their bookstore. That's just because they are the only ones that can access and charge your financial aid.

However, we are allowed to buy books with our OWN money(not financial aid) anywhere we want, unless they are books specifically made for the school. For example, my psychology book is a special edition for my school, so I can't buy it on Amazon.

But my school does have an online discussion board on the schools website where you can buy used books from students and there is a used bookstore right across the road from the school.

Also, from what I understood, you can deny part of your financial aid. My school gives us the maximum they are allowed to by law, but if I wanted, I could request a smaller amount.

Oh and we don't get the refund until 5 weeks into the quarter. That's because the loan companies and the government don't actually don't disburse until then. The school would prefer to be officially paid before they refund the students.

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