Cost and Refunds

Remaining grant, loan or scholarship money after tuition, fees and book charges have been paid.

Excess Title IV funds occur when the total amount of Title IV aid disbursed to your student account exceeds charges for tuition, mandatory fees, room and board contracted by NCMC, and books/supplies as mentioned above. Federal regulations state that any federal funds disbursed to a student’s account in excess of allowable charges must be refunded to the student (or parent in case of an undergraduate PLUS loan) within 14 days.

Excess Grants and Scholarships
First refund date for a semester *

Excess Loans Requested Across Multiple Terms & Program Funds
Fall, Spring, Summer – Second refund date for a semester*

Excess Loans Requested for One Term Only (Require 2 Disbursements) – Second Disbursement
Fall and Spring – Fourth refund date for a semester*
Summer – Third refund date for a semester*

*See NCMC’s Refund Schedule for actual refund dates.

NCMC's Refund Schedule

Option 1 – Electronic transfer to my personal bank account
Receive your refund as a direct deposit (EFT) to your personal bank account of choice. Your refund can be deposited into either a checking or savings account. PLEASE NOTE: Refunds will be deposited into your bank account by the end of the day on the scheduled disbursement dates. As NCMC is not the only business involved in the transaction, a specific time that deposits will occur cannot be provided.

Option 2 – Send my check by mail
Receive a paper check from NCMC through the U.S. mail to the address you have on file with the institution. Please note that it may take 7-14 business days to receive your refund if you choose this option. Any credit balance created by a PLUS Loan that is to be refunded to the borrower will be issued via paper check.

How you receive your refund is dependent upon your selection in the Refund Preference section of myCOMPASS. Your selection will be valid for the entire period that you are enrolled at NCMC, including multiple academic years. If you want to change your refund preference, please note that all changes must be submitted two business days prior to the publicized refund date.

Title IV funds are federal student aid funds, which are from federal student aid programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education. It does not include scholarships or grants from NCMC or other private organizations. A listing of Title IV programs is provided below:

• Federal Pell Grant – A Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree, and your award amount is based upon your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant – This grant is for undergraduate students with exceptional need. At NCMC, this grant is awarded to as many of the students with a zero EFC as possible. The funding is limited and awarding is on a first-come first-served basis.
• Federal Work Study – The Federal Work Study program is designed to provide jobs for students with financial need to assist with paying for their educational expenses. Federal Work Study wages at NCMC currently coincide with the State minimum wage.
• Federal Direct Loan – Federal Direct Loans are either subsidized or unsubsidized. A subsidized loan is awarded based on financial need, and the interest payments do not accrue until the student begins repayment. An unsubsidized loan is awarded based on cost of attendance, and the interest accrual starts when the loan is disbursed.
• Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) – PLUS loans are federal loans that graduate or professional degree students and parents of dependent undergraduate students can use to help pay education expenses. A credit check will be performed during the application process. A student whose parent is denied a PLUS loan, is eligible to borrow additional funds from the Federal Direct Loan program.
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant – Like other federal grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants provide money to college or career school students to help pay their education expenses. However, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants have special eligibility criteria.

For more information regarding Title IV funds:  More Title IV Information

Assistance available from Federal, State, Local and Institutional Programs:  Review assistance

A 100% refund will be made when students officially drop courses during the published Add/Drop period, typically the first week of fall and spring semesters. For summer and irregularly scheduled classes, check the Academic Calendar on the website or inquire in the Registrar’s Office for the Add/Drop period.

Students receive a 100 percent refund of tuition and fees for any class cancelled by the College.

Students failing to meet attendance/participation requirements for a class at the start of a term will be considered a “No-Show” and the class will be administratively dropped from the student’s schedule.  Any classes left on a student’s schedule will be charged at the full tuition rate. The attendance/participation requirements are:

1. On-ground
   • In an 8-week or full semester on-ground class, if a student fails to attend during the first ten (10) calendar days of the semester, an administrative drop will occur.
   • In a 4-week on-ground class, if a student fails to attend during the first six (6) calendar days of the semester, an administrative drop will occur.
2. Distance Learning Attendance in a Distance Learning course is determined by a student’s active ACADEMIC participation in a course at the start of the semester. Students must engage in a substantive academic activity in order to maintain their financial aid status. Signing into Blackboard without participating in a Distance Learning academic activity does not constitute attendance.
   • In an 8-week or full-semester online class, if a student does not complete at least one substantive activity (activity or assignment that impacts the final grade) during the first ten (10) calendar days of the semester, an administrative drop will occur.
   • In a 4-week online class, if a student fails to complete at least one substantive activity (activity or assignment that impacts the final grade) during the first six (6) calendar days of the semester, an administrative drop will occur.

In the event a student becomes seriously ill, is hospitalized or critically injured and physically unable to attend ALL classes, a refund may be given. A written appeal to the Dean of Student Services requesting special consideration must be made at the time the student officially withdraws from all classes. Medical documentation is required and a determination is made on a case-by-case basis. Requests received after the semester has ended will not be considered.

Students called up for military duty in the United States Armed Forces during a school term must present a copy of their orders to active duty to the Registrar of NCMC. The student may choose one of the following options:

1. If 80% of the course work is completed with at least a C grade average, the student may make a request for early completion of the course. With the approval of the instructor and student, a plan would be constructed so that the course work is completed and a grade received by the student prior to the date to report for active duty.
2. If the criteria for the first option are not met, or if the student chooses, the student may withdraw from the courses not completed and a refund of all fees for those courses will be made to the appropriate entities.
3. If the student wishes to have additional options, or requires special consideration, then the student may fi le an appeal with the Academic Standards Committee. Students should declare their intentions, and which option they would like to choose, in the same semester in which they are called to active duty.