Current Students | Financial Aid & Tuition |

Aid Disbursements & Refunds

Disbursements
If a student is awarded financial aid prior to the payment deadline the aid should show in MyRecords as a pending
credit. The total amount of financial aid, shown on the MyRecords Award Notice, is generally credited to the
student bill in two installments (half in the fall semester and half in the spring semester). Grants, loans and
installment payments credited to student accounts will be applied to all outstanding tuition charges before refunds
are generated. Students are issued refunds if the credited financial aid is more than the charges.

Students who have been awarded Federal PELL Grant before the first day of classes will be able to retain
their classes without payment until the Official Day of Record for the term, provided that the student's
tuition and fee debt is less than, or equal to, the amount awarded. Payment will automatically be made
to the Business Office on the Official Day of Record.
If the student's tuition and/or fee debt is more than the award for the term the student must make that
payment on or before the payment due date listed in the Schedule of Classes for the term.
Students who are awarded Federal PELL Grant after the start of classes for the term will be award based
on their enrollment level on:
1. the student's Official Day of Record or,
2. the date their file is completed in the financial aid office, whichever is later

Outside scholarships will not be credited to a student's account until the check arrives at the college. Scholarship
balance refunds are issued to students according to the donor's specifications.

Grant and LSCS Scholarship Refunds
Financial aid refunds generally occur during the fourth week of each semester if all paperwork has been submitted
in a timely fashion, and the student is registered for the amount of hours used to determine financial aid eligibility.
Students who enroll in late-start classes (flex/mini-term) will be mailed the check for the balance (if any), to their
mailing address approximately two weeks after the Official Day of Record for the late start class.

Stafford/ Parent PLUS Disbursements
Most students apply for a Stafford loan in the fall to cover expenses during the fall and spring terms. Under the
terms of this loan, half of the loan is disbursed in the fall and half is disbursed in the spring. When a loan is
requested to cover expenses for one term only, funds are disbursed in two installments during that one semester
(e.g., a fall only loan). LSCS will only certify up to half the annual loan limit for one term only applications
(depending on eligibility requirements).

30 Day Waiting Period
LSCS cannot disburse loan funds until after the 30th class day. If multiple disbursements are required within one
term (i.e. one term only loan), the secondary disbursement will be released after the midpoint of the semester has
passed. Tuition, fees, or other allowable institutional charges remaining from the beginning of the semester will be
deducted from loan proceeds and the remaining balance will be transmitted to a debit card. If a student chooses
to receive the refund in the form of a paper check instead of the debit card, funds will be mailed to the address on
file with the Admissions Department.

Flex/Mini-term Classes
Students who enroll in late-start classes (flex/mini-term) will not have their funds released until approximately two
weeks after the Official Day of Record of the class with the latest start date. Please contact the Financial Aid
Department for specific information regarding late-start classes.

Dropping Courses
If a student drops below six credit hours, any portion of the loan that has not been released will be cancelled and
the lender will be notified that the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time. Students are required to
complete an Exit interview if this occurs.
Students who apply for loans will have their eligibility and enrollment level based on the date the loan is certified
and again the date the check is released. Students who change enrollment to a level below half time, or who fail
to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress after the loan is certified will have their loans cancelled.

Parent PLUS Loans
Parent PLUS disbursements will arrive at the school in check form. They will not be automatically credited to the
student's account. The student account must be at a zero balance before the PLUS funds can be disbursed to the
parent.

Refund Policy
The refund policy for Lone Star College is based upon the assumption that student tuition and fees provide only a
portion of the actual incurred costs to provide educational opportunities. When a student enrolls in a class a place
is reserved which cannot be given to another student. This represents a significant cost to LSCS whether or not
class enrollment is continued.
Title IV (Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, and Stafford Loans)recipients are subject to a different policy upon complete
withdrawal of classes. Refunds for tuition are processed from Lone Star College System four to six weeks after the
official day of record. Refunds for courses scheduled outside the sessions listed in this section will be made on a
prorated basis in accordance with the refund policy.

Semester Length Courses Fall and Spring Semesters

Prior to the first calendar day of the semester	100%
During the first 15 calendar days of the semester	70%
During the 16th through 20th calendar days of the semester	25%
After the 20th calendar day of the semester	None

Six-Week Summer Semester

Prior to the first calendar day of the semester	100%
During the first five calendar days of the semester	70%
During the sixth and seventh calendar days of the semester	25%
After the seventh calendar day of the semester	None