Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Step 4: Receive your funds

disbursement iconIf you’re getting more money than you owe in tuition and fees, you’ll receive a “financial aid refund”. After completing Step 3: Review and accept award, follow the steps below to receive your funds.

How to get your money

  1. Watch your PCC email

    Soon after accepting your award, you’ll get an email about MyRefunds.

  2. Choose your refund method

    To choose how you want to receive your money, go to the Paying for College tab in MyPCC and click Manage MyRefunds. (It’s under the Financial Aid Dashboard.) Do this by the first Saturday of the term, or your refund could be delayed by up to two weeks.

  3. Wait for disbursement

    On the disbursement dates shown below, check your My Account channel in MyPCC to see refund amounts.

  4. Get your money (takes 1-3 days)

    Need books? Most students can charge books to financial aid, even before their money is disbursed.

    Your refund will be delivered to your account within 1 to 3 business days – see MyRefunds for more info. You’ll get an email when your refund has been delivered.

Disbursement schedule

Different funds are disbursed at different times. See below for specific disbursement dates.

Disbursement schedule
Type of fund Summer 2023 Fall 2023  Winter 2024 Spring 2024
Grants and Loans Jul 7 Oct 6 Jan 19 Apr 12
Direct Loan, 1st-time borrower
Disbursement for 1st-time borrowers is delayed 30 days.
Jul 28 Oct 26 Feb 9 May 4
Direct 1-term Loan, 2nd disbursement
One-term loans are distributed in two disbursements. The 2nd disbursement is the mid-point in the term.
Aug 4 Nov 7 Feb 17 May 12
Work Study Funds are disbursed in paychecks throughout the term

What if disbursed funds don’t cover your charges?

Tuition and fees not covered by financial aid must be paid by you – see ways to pay.

Note: the amount disbursed may be less than the amount in your award letter

The amounts shown in your award letter are based on full-time enrollment (12 credits per term). If you are enrolled for fewer than 12 credits when your funds are disbursed, your award amounts might have been adjusted. If you have questions about your award amounts, contact the Financial Aid Office.

After you receive your funds…

After you get your funds, make sure you keep your funds: learn more at Step 5: Maintain eligibility.