What should I do if my off-campus rent is due before my ASU financial-aid refund arrives?

Compare the money due under your lease before move-in with funds you can actually access by each deadline. Ask ASU financial aid to confirm your expected refund amount, release date and any outstanding requirements; ask the landlord about a written payment arrangement before rent is late.

Make a dated cash-flow list from the actual lease: rent, deposit, mandatory fees and any other payment due before the refund is accessible. Separately list available funds and the refund amount that Arizona State University confirms after school charges and any aid requirements. An aid offer and money available for rent are different things.

Contact the financial-aid office before the payment deadline to check disbursement, refund processing and any holds or missing documents. Ask what school payment-plan or emergency-support options, if any, apply to your situation; do not assume a school payment plan covers a private landlord.

Ask the landlord whether it will agree to a different due date or installment arrangement and get any agreement in writing. The lease payment remains due unless the landlord agrees otherwise. If a gap remains, compare only funds you can actually access and repay, including their fees and due dates, or a lower-upfront-cost housing option. Do not promise a payment based on an unconfirmed refund date.