Guides · Funds & spending
EMA Funds & Spending, Explained
Once you're awarded, your scholarship money lives in your EMA account and moves on a set rhythm. Here's how it arrives and the three ways to put it to work.
When the money arrives
Funds are deposited into your student's EMA account four times a year, on a rolling basis — after each round it can take up to two weeks for every account to update. Each quarter you log in to EMA to review and approve (or deny) the payment, so keep an eye on your email and your account.
| If accepted / enrolled by… | Funds arrive around… |
|---|---|
| Mid-summer (≈ June 15 / July 15) | September 1 |
| September 15 | November 1 |
| December 15 | February 1 |
| February 15 | April 1 |
Dates are set by Step Up For Students and can change — confirm the current schedule inside your EMA account.
The three ways to spend
- MyScholarShop — a pre-approved online store for curriculum, instructional materials and more. Vendors are paid directly from your account: no out-of-pocket cost, no reimbursement paperwork.
- Find Providers — in your EMA dashboard, go to Marketplace → “Find Providers” to book approved tutors, schools and services that bill the scholarship directly.
- Reimbursement — pay out of pocket for an approved expense, upload your receipts in EMA, and get repaid by direct deposit (ACH), check, or PayPal. Allow up to 60 days once your documents are complete.
A tip that saves headaches
Commit funds to your must-haves (like private-school tuition, if that applies) first, then use what's left for materials, tutoring, and enrichment. And always spend through EMA — using outside/third-party software with your account isn't allowed and can put your info at risk.
New to the portal? Start with how to log in. Getting odd messages about your funds? Check our scam guide.
Sources: Step Up For Students Fund & Spend pages and MyScholarShop page (stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/private-school/fund/, /spend/, /myscholarshop/); PEP program page. Independent guide — amounts, dates and features change; confirm in your EMA account.