Managing Your Financial Aid
Receiving financial aid is an important step toward paying for college, but there are ongoing responsibilities to keep your aid on track. Understanding important dates, maintaining your eligibility, and knowing how your aid is applied can help you avoid delays and make the most of your financial assistance throughout the year.
Stay On Track
Before classes begin and throughout the semester, be sure to:
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- Complete any requested Financial Aid Forms
Access Financial Aid Forms - Review the Academic Calendar for important dates
View the Academic Calendar - Set your refund preference in the My MC Portal
- Monitor your academic progress to remain eligible
- Check your student account and email regularly
- Complete any requested Financial Aid Forms
Financial Aid Information
Select links below for more details
Disbursement Dates
The disbursement dates listed below are for the traditional terms that Midland College offers. If you are in an interim or flex class, the refund dates will vary, depending on the census date.
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Fall 2026 Fall 16-Week & Fall I Fall II |
Spring 2027 Spring 16-Week & Spring I Spring II |
Summer 2027 May Mini Summer I |
Please note: All refund dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.
If your FAFSA or Midland College Direct Loan Application has not been submitted for at least four to six weeks prior to the disbursement dates, you should expect to receive your refund at a later time. Midland College normally releases funds approximately every two weeks.
Disbursements & REfunds
After you meet all requirements and attendance is confirmed, eligible funds are applied to your bill. If financial aid exceeds charges, the college might issue you a refund. This money is meant to help you get through school – paying for books and supplies, buying groceries, or paying rent are a few examples.
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- Make sure you’ve set your refund preference on My MC Portal. Students may choose a bank account they already for direct deposit, set up an account through Herring Bank to receive a direct deposit, or wait for a physical check to be printed and either picked up or mailed.
- If you withdraw from any class(es) during the term, you might owe back some or all of your financial aid. This is called Return to Title IV and might mean that you’ll have a balance due to Midland College.
- Student aid can be reduced for a variety of reasons, such as reduced cost of attendance budget, change of enrollment status, late awarding of scholarships, etc. in accordance with the Financial Aid Displacement Advisory.
If you have questions, contact the Financial Aid Office.
Beginning approximately two weeks before the first day of class, eligible students may use certain types of financial aid to purchase books and supplies at the MC Bookstore.
Your financial aid is first applied to tuition and fees. If funds remain after those charges are paid, you may use them for eligible bookstore purchases. All purchases and returns must be completed by the end of the Monday following the first day of class (typically about one week after classes begin).
What Is Census?
Census is when enrollment is reported to the state. At that point, your enrollment is “locked in” for the term and is used to calculate certain types of aid.
Adding/dropping classes after census can change your aid and create a balance due back to Midland College. Check the Academic Calendar for important college dates.
To remain eligible, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP):
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- Keep a minimum 2.0 GPA
- Successfully complete at least 67% of all attempted credits
- Stay within maximum attempted hours (150% of your credential)
View the Full SAP Policy (pdf)
Special Considerations
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- Dropping, withdrawing from, or failing classes can affect SAP and future aid.
- Appeals may be available if extenuating circumstances affected your progress.
If your family income changed significantly or your dependency status is unusual, you can request a professional judgment review, which might change the amount of aid you receive. Documentation is required.
Pell Grant is limited to the equivalent of six full-time years. Use your eligibility wisely and meet with an advisor to plan your path to completion.
Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of what it may cost to attend Midland College for one school year. Cost of attendance budgets are prorated based on enrollment status.
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- Full Time (12+ hours) - 100%
- Three-Quarter Time (9-11 hours) - 75%
- Half Time (6-8 hours) - 50%
- Less-than-half Time (1-5 hours) - 25%
The Financial Aid Office must make sure that the combined total of federal, state or institutional financial aid awarded does not exceed the student’s COA. Midland College’s Cost of Attendance budgets are revised and recorded annually with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.