Students do not want to appear ungrateful for getting this money back because every bit helps.

The deal from the university includes the plan to refund $26 to each student, plus $2.25 per credit hour. So, if you’re taking 12 credits a semester, you’ll get a measly $53 taken off your tuition next semester.

Anything is better than nothing, but when sweating over your tuition bill that’s at least a few grand for a semester, that extra money isn’t exactly going inspire a huge sigh of relief.

But it’s a start.

This is almost one textbook we’re talking about here or barely a full tank of gas for some cars.

It’s not that significant, and it seems as if the university is a little more excited about this potential refund than students.

While these students are trying to pay for rent, car insurance, cell phones and groceries, among other bills, that small refund makes about as much of an impact as looking for a needle in a haystack.

Which isn’t saying much — especially when trying to maintain a frugal lifestyle.

The university has made the big announcements and talked to all of the media outlets almost as if they were doing this great justice to students. In reality, it’s not going to be that much of a boost when making our next tuition payment.

And what about graduating students? It looks like they won’t be getting money back because they won’t be enrolling in classes next semester.

So where is that money going? It would be easier and more beneficial to put these refunds toward the entire university’s future, in order to prevent another tuition hike.

Because what appears to be peanuts to individual students could add up for the greater good.

Not that we wouldn’t love to see our bank account balances $60 higher, but we won’t be able to actually use this money because it’s automatically going back into our tuition funds. Would this refund make more of an impact if it were given to us directly?

If so, you would have to take into account the cost required to print off and circulate thousands upon thousands of these checks that aren’t even worth that much to begin with.

We are very grateful for this money. It’s easy for us to complain about the small refund, but it’s imperative to take a second and thank the university for at least trying.

With more than 35,000 students and at least $50 back per person, it adds up to about $1,750,000 — not exactly a small chunk of change.

But for some individual students it’s exactly that.