Financial Aid Refund FAQs
Find helpful answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Financial Aid Refunds and Bookstore Credit Balance.
Financial Aid at TCC Beginning Fall 2025
Plan Today: Paying for College
Tuition and Fees: Before classes begin, financial aid will be used toward the term’s tuition and fees.
Textbooks and Learning Materials: Students will have options for using anticipated financial aid for textbooks and learning materials before the term begins, and during the first week of class.
Refunds to You: After the Census Date(s) for your class(es), financial aid refunds will be issued to eligible students who have been attending classes.
If You Owe a Balance: For students whose anticipated aid will not cover the entire cost of tuition and fees, be sure to pay or make payment arrangements.
Check Your Aid: Look at your financial aid in your student account in MyTCCTrack to see your anticipated aid, tuition costs, and account details.
Review the Disbursement FAQs for additional information.
General Questions
Refer to the Glossary at the end of the page for important terminologies and definitions
What is a Financial Aid Refund?
A financial aid refund is the credit balance issued to a student of any remaining amount after your term balance is fully funded.
Expect to receive financial aid refunds within a few days after your class census date, if you have attended your class(es).
The census date, also known as official day of record, is the deadline for TCC to certify your enrollment to the state to determine funding for our college.
Why isn't my financial aid disbursing before the term begins?
To reduce risks, enhance security, and to see that students receive the funds they need to be successful.
How do I know how much financial aid I'll receive?
You can view your award letter and other financial aid information in MyTCCTrack.
Where do I view my anticipated financial aid?
To view your anticipated financial aid:
- Log in to MyTCCTrack
- Select 2025 Fall
- Select Expand All
- Scroll down to Financial Aid; view the amount(s) in the Anticipated column
How does my anticipated financial amount differ from my financial refund amount?
Your anticipated financial aid is used to create your bookstore’s credit balance.
Once your financial aid has been disbursed onto your student account, and if it creates a credit balance, this will be the amount of your financial aid refund which will be issued to you after census date.
Will I be dropped from my classes if I lose aid eligibility after the term starts?
Yes, you could be at risk of being dropped if your financial aid does not pay out and you have not registered for a payment plan. If you are not planning to take a class, you are still responsible for dropping the class yourself to avoid any non-refundable tuition charges.
Why am I ineligible for part of my aid?
Contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions about your eligibility for aid.
How do I dispute my attendance records that resulted in financial aid ineligibility?
First, you will need to work with your instructor(s) to verify your attendance. Your instructor can correct attendance records (if necessary) with the Financial Aid Office.
Bookstore Credit Balance Questions
If you’ve been awarded financial aid, you may be eligible to use your bookstore credit to purchase required textbooks and learning materials. Review the Student Guide to Using Bookstore Credit for Required Books and Supplies (PDF)Listen for more detail.
When can I use my bookstore credit balance at the bookstore?
Your bookstore credit balance will be available as soon as 10 days before the term start date.
2025 Fall bookstore credit balance timeframe: August 15-28, 2025.
How will I purchase books/supplies since I won't receive my refund until after the census date?
You will be able to use your bookstore credit balance at the bookstore as soon as 10 days before the start of the term. Your financial aid credit balance is based on your anticipated aid minus your term balance.
What is the timeframe for bookstore credit?
Fall 2025 bookstore credit timeframe:
- August 15-28, 2025 (for classes beginning prior to September 6, 2025)
- October 10-21, 2025 (for classes beginning October 20-27, 2025)
Classes with non-standard start dates may fall outside of the bookstore credit timeframe. The bookstore credit balance may not be available during the entire bookstore credit timeframe.
Does MyTCCTrack display my bookstore charges?
Yes, however, your bookstore charges could take 24-48 business hours to show on your account.
Does the bookstore know my available bookstore credit balance?
Campus bookstores will know your bookstore credit balance information during the bookstore credit timeframe. The available balance will be based on anticipated aid minus your term balance. Changes in your available balance may take up to 24 business hours to update.
What if I want or need to purchase required books/supplies from another source?
If you wish to buy books and supplies outside of a TCC campus bookstore, up to $750 will be refunded to you (bookstore credit balance) by the 7th day of the term.
If you have used less than $750 in credit at the bookstore AND you have an available bookstore credit balance, you will be refunded your available credit minus your bookstore charges, up to $750, by the seventh day of the term.
For example, if you have $1,000 in available credit and spend $300 at the bookstore, you will be refunded $450 by the seventh day of the term, and the remaining $250 will be refunded after the census date.
Post Census Refund Examples
| Scenarios | Bookstore credit balance | Bookstore Charges | First Refund | Post Census Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example #1 | $1,000 | $300 | $450 | $250 |
| Example #2 | $500 | $300 | $200 | $0 |
When will I receive my remaining refund?
Your remaining financial aid refund will be processed after the census date(s) of your class(es), if you are attending class. If you have classes with different census dates, you will be refunded based on those dates; therefore, you may have multiple partial refunds.
What happens if my anticipated financial aid is reduced after I've already used my bookstore credit balance?
You are responsible for all charges incurred at the bookstore. Unpaid balances will result in registration holds and may be sent to collections if not paid in a timely manner.
Reduced Aid Examples
| Scenarios | Bookstore credit balance | Bookstore Charges | New bookstore credit balance | Amount Owed | Potential Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example #1 | $500 | $300 | $200 | $100 | $0 |
| Example #2 | $1000 | $300 | $0 | $300 | $0 |
| Example #3 | $1000 | $300 | $500 | $0 | $200 |
Can I get a detailed printout of my bookstore charges?
While your charges will be available on MyTCCTrack, if you need an itemized receipt, you will need to contact any TCC Campus Bookstore.
How will this affect my 1098T?
Bookstore charges will not be included on your 1098T. There will not be any changes to how your financial aid award is reported.
My bookstore charges look wrong. Who should I contact?
If you believe your bookstore charges were added incorrectly, please contact Business Services at 817-515-4729.
What if I return my bookstore purchase within the bookstore's full refund period?
Your student account will be credited with any refundable amount in accordance with the bookstore's refund policy. It may take 24-48 business hours for these changes to be made. If this creates a credit on your account, it will then follow the normal refund schedule.
Important Terminology and Definitions
It's important to understand these terminologies to effectively manage your financial aid and cover your educational expenses.
You may see these terminologies being used in your MyTCCTrack student account summary.
Financial Aid Award: The initial offer of financial assistance that helps students pay for college. This can include grants, scholarships, work-student, and student loans.
Anticipated Financial Aid: The amount of eligibility, based on the initial financial aid offer, enrollment intensity (actual number of hours), and the start date of each class. For classes that start after the first day of the term, this will appear 10 days before the class start date.
Financial Aid Credit Balance: This occurs when the transmitted financial aid applied to your student account exceeds the term balance.
Bookstore Credit Balance: The credit balance available to use at the bookstore for bookstore charges, which is based on anticipated financial aid minus your term balance.
Bookstore Credit Timeframe: The time during which your bookstore credit balance can be used at the bookstore.
Bookstore Charges: The cost for required books, supplies, and other educationally related goods you purchased using your bookstore credit balance during the bookstore credit timeframe.
Financial Aid Refund: The credit balance issued to a student of any remaining amount after your term balance is fully funded.
If you have any questions, contact the Financial Aid Office for clarification.
Updated August 22, 2025