Portland Community College Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Step 4: Receive your funds

disbursement icon

If 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. Find your fund below to see when it will be disbursed.

Disbursement schedule
Type of fund Spring 2022 Summer 2022 Fall 2022 Winter 2023 Spring 2023
Grants and Loans Apr 15 Jul 8 Oct 7 Jan 20 Apr 14
Direct Loan, 1st-time borrower
Disbursement for 1st-time borrowers is delayed 30 days.
May 5 Jul 28 Oct 27 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.
May 13 Aug 4 Nov 8 Feb 17 May 12
Work Study Funds are disbursed in paychecks throughout the term

What if the amount disbursed doesn'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.