Receiving Your Financial Aid

Financial aid is not paid immediately after you submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA).

Before financial aid can be disbursed, you must:

• Submit any required documents
• Meet all financial aid eligibility requirements
• Be enrolled in eligible coursework

What Does This Mean for Me?

• If your financial aid file is complete and you meet all eligibility requirements, your aid will be disbursed according to the scheduled disbursement dates for the term
• Financial aid is applied to your student account first. If there are funds remaining after eligible charges have been paid, the balance may be issued to you as a refund

Important to Know

• Disbursement dates are estimates and may vary based on your eligibility, enrollment, and completion of required financial aid steps
• Enrollment in late-start classes or failure to begin attendance may affect when financial aid is disbursed
• Some financial aid programs may be paid in multiple disbursements throughout the term
• Continue monitoring your MyBC Self Service Student Portal and student email for updates regarding your financial aid eligibility and payment status

If your financial aid is greater than the amount you owe on your student account, the remaining balance may be issued to you as a financial aid refund.

Butte College delivers financial aid refunds through BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution powered by BMTX, Inc.

What Do I Need to Do?

• If you are a new student, you may receive information from BankMobile by both email and mail

• Watch your Butte College student email account for messages from BankMobile and your mailing address for a Refund Selection Kit delivered in a bright green envelope

• The Refund Selection Kit contains a Personal Code that allows you to select how you would like to receive your refund
• To avoid delays, make sure your mailing address is current in your MyBC Self Service Student Portal and regularly monitor your student email account

What Are My Refund Options?

BankMobile offers two refund delivery options:

• Electronic deposit to an existing bank account
• Electronic deposit to a BankMobile Vibe Checking Account (subject to identity verification)

Visit BankMobile Student Choices to review current refund options and select your refund preference.

Important to Know

• Receiving a Refund Selection Kit does not guarantee that you will receive financial aid
• You must still meet all financial aid eligibility requirements before aid can be disbursed
• Your refund preference should be selected as soon as possible to help prevent delays in receiving your refund
• If you lose your Personal Code or need additional assistance, contact the Butte College Fiscal Services Office at 530-895-2421

For additional information about how it works, visit BankMobile Disbursements.

Financial aid is not paid immediately after you submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Before aid can be disbursed, eligibility must be reviewed and all required processing must be completed.

Common Reasons Financial Aid Has Not Been Paid

• You have not completed all required financial aid documents
• Your financial aid application is still being reviewed
• You were selected for verification or another eligibility review
• Your enrollment does not meet the requirements for the aid you were awarded
• You recently added classes or changed your enrollment
• Your aid is scheduled for a future disbursement date
• You have submitted an appeal that is still under review
• Your eligibility is pending end-of-term processing

What Does This Mean for Me?

• Monitor your MyBC Self Service Student Portal regularly
• Review your Butte College student email for requests or updates
• Complete any requested documents as soon as possible
• Check the published disbursement schedule to determine whether your aid is scheduled for a future date

Important to Know

• Submitting a FAFSA or CADAA does not guarantee eligibility for financial aid or immediate disbursement of funds
• Financial aid can only be disbursed after all eligibility requirements have been met and processing has been completed

The amount of financial aid you receive may be different from the amount shown on your award notification. Financial aid eligibility and disbursements are based on several factors and may change throughout the academic year.

Common Reasons You May Not Receive Your Full Award

• Your enrollment level is lower than anticipated
  • When financial aid is first awarded, eligibility is generally based on full-time enrollment (12 or more units). If you enroll in fewer units, the amount you receive may be lower than the amount originally shown on your award notification
• You are enrolled in late-start classes that have not yet begun
• You are not enrolled in courses required for your program of study
• You added or dropped classes
• You were reported as a 'No Show' in one or more classes 
• Some aid has not yet reached its scheduled disbursement date
• You have not completed all required financial aid documents
• Your eligibility is under review
• Federal or state regulations required an adjustment to your aid

What Does This Mean for Me?

• The amount shown on your financial aid award is not always the amount that will be disbursed immediately
• Some aid may be paid in multiple disbursements, while other aid may be adjusted based on your enrollment and eligibility at the time funds are released

Important to Know

• Changes to your enrollment may affect both your current and future financial aid eligibility
• Financial aid eligibility is based on enrollment and attendance. If you never begin attendance in a class, your financial aid may be adjusted
• Monitor your MyBC Self Service Student Portal and student email regularly for updates regarding your financial aid

Federal regulations require financial aid to be paid only for coursework that applies to your declared program of study.

When determining your financial aid eligibility, Butte College reviews the classes in which you are enrolled to determine whether they apply to your current educational goal and program.

What Does This Mean for Me?

Classes that do not apply to your program of study may not be included when determining your financial aid eligibility.

As a result:

• Your financial aid enrollment status may be lower than your registered enrollment status
• Your financial aid award amount may be reduced
• Your financial aid disbursement may be adjusted
• You may not receive financial aid for courses that do not apply to your program

Multiple Programs of Study

• At Butte College, students may have up to two active eligible programs of study considered for financial aid purposes
• Students on an approved Maximum Timeframe (MT) Appeal are limited to one approved program of study. Only courses that apply to the approved program may be considered for financial aid eligibility

Important to Know

• It is your responsibility to ensure your declared program of study accurately reflects your educational goal. If you change your major or educational objective, you should update your program with the college as soon as possible

Adding or dropping classes may affect both your financial aid eligibility and the amount of financial aid you receive.

The impact depends on when the change occurs, your enrollment level after the change, and the type of financial aid you are receiving.

What Does This Mean for Me?

If you add classes:

• Your financial aid eligibility may increase if you become eligible for additional aid
• Financial aid adjustments are not always immediate and may require additional review
• If you enroll in late-start classes, some financial aid may be delayed until those classes begin

If you drop classes:

• Future financial aid disbursements may be reduced, delayed, canceled, or recalculated based on your updated enrollment
• Some financial aid programs require a minimum enrollment level to remain eligible

Important to Know

• Financial aid eligibility is based on your actual enrollment in eligible coursework
• Changes to your enrollment may affect both current and future financial aid disbursements
• Before dropping classes, consider how the change may affect your financial aid eligibility
• Students are responsible for any charges that remain on their student account if financial aid is reduced due to enrollment changes

Review your enrollment carefully before adding or dropping classes and monitor your MyBC Self Service Student Portal and student email for updates regarding your financial aid.

Students who enroll after the beginning of the semester may still be eligible to receive financial aid if they meet all eligibility requirements.

What Does This Mean for Me?

• You must submit all required financial aid applications and documents
• You must be enrolled in eligible coursework
• Your financial aid eligibility must be reviewed before funds can be disbursed
• Financial aid is not automatically available on the day you register for classes

If you enroll in late-start classes, some financial aid may not be disbursed until those classes begin and your attendance can be confirmed.

Important to Know

• Financial aid is generally disbursed according to the published disbursement schedule
• Students who enroll later in the semester may receive financial aid on a later disbursement date
• Enrollment in late-start classes may affect when financial aid is paid
• You remain responsible for any charges on your student account until financial aid eligibility has been determined and funds have been disbursed

Withdrawing from one or more classes may affect both your current and future financial aid eligibility.

The impact depends on when you withdraw, how many units you remain enrolled in, and the type of financial aid you are receiving.

What Does This Mean for Me?

If you withdraw from one or more classes:

• Your enrollment level may change
• Future financial aid disbursements may be adjusted
• You may become ineligible for certain financial aid programs that require a minimum enrollment level
• Your progress toward completing your educational goal may be affected

Withdrawing from classes may also affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) because withdrawn units are generally considered attempted units but not completed units.

How Could This Affect Future Financial Aid?

Financial aid eligibility is not based only on the classes you complete during the current semester. Your cumulative academic record is also reviewed.

Multiple withdrawals may affect:

• Your GPA*
• Your Pace of Completion*
• Your Maximum Timeframe (MT) eligibility*
• Future financial aid eligibility

*Visit the "KEEPING Your Financial Aid" page to learn how withdrawals may affect your future financial aid eligibility 

KEEPING YOUR FINANCIAL AID

Important to Know

• Before withdrawing from classes, consider how the change may affect your financial aid eligibility and academic progress
• If you are considering withdrawing from a class, you are encouraged to review your options with the Financial Aid Office and your counselor before making a decision
• Withdrawing from one or more classes is different from withdrawing from all classes. If you stop attending all classes, additional financial aid rules may apply

If you withdraw from all classes before completing the semester, your financial aid eligibility may be affected.

Federal regulations require Butte College to review your enrollment and determine whether you earned all of the financial aid that was disbursed to you.

What Does This Mean for Me?

If you withdraw from all classes:

• Your financial aid eligibility may be recalculated
• A review of your financial aid will be required
• You may be required to repay a portion of the financial aid you received
• Future financial aid eligibility may be affected
• You may owe a balance to Butte College

Important to Know

• Withdrawing from all classes is different from withdrawing from a single class
• The amount of financial aid you are allowed to keep may depend on when you stop attending classes during the semester
• Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing may also be subject to a financial aid review
• Review the information below to learn more about Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) and how withdrawing from all classes may affect your financial aid

If you stop attending classes but do not officially withdraw, you may still be considered withdrawn for financial aid purposes.

What Does This Mean for Me?

Simply stopping attendance does not automatically remove you from your classes.

If you stop attending and do not complete the official withdrawal process:

• Your instructors may report an FW grade
• Your last date of academic attendance may be used to determine your withdrawal date
• Your financial aid eligibility may be reviewed
• A Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation may be required
• You may be required to repay a portion of the financial aid you received

What Is the Difference Between an Official and Unofficial Withdrawal?

• An official withdrawal occurs when you follow the college's withdrawal process and officially drop your classes
• An unofficial withdrawal occurs when you stop attending classes without completing the withdrawal process

Important to Know

• Financial aid eligibility is based on both enrollment and attendance
• If you are unable to continue attending classes, you should complete the college's official withdrawal process whenever possible
• Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing may still be considered withdrawn for financial aid purposes

An Excused Withdrawal (EW) is an academic designation assigned under specific circumstances. While an EW may affect your academic record differently than a standard withdrawal, it does not automatically exclude the course from financial aid review.

Financial aid eligibility is determined using federal and state financial aid regulations, which may differ from academic policies and grading practices.

What Does This Mean for Me?

Financial aid eligibility is determined using federal and state financial aid regulations, which may differ from academic policies and grading practices.

Depending on your situation, courses with an EW grade may still be considered when reviewing:

• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)*
• Pace of Completion*
• Maximum Timeframe (MT)*
• Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4)
• Other financial aid eligibility requirements

*Visit the "KEEPING Your Financial Aid" page to learn how withdrawals may affect your future financial aid eligibility 

KEEPING YOUR FINANCIAL AID

Important to Know

• Receiving an Excused Withdrawal (EW) does not automatically prevent a financial aid review or guarantee that a course will be excluded from financial aid calculations
• Each situation is reviewed individually based on the specific financial aid program requirements and applicable regulations
• If you have questions about how an EW may affect your financial aid eligibility, contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance

Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) is the federal process used to determine how much financial aid you earned before withdrawing from all classes or otherwise ceasing attendance.

Federal financial aid is earned over time as you attend and participate in your classes. If you stop attending before completing the semester, federal regulations may require Butte College to review your financial aid eligibility and determine whether any adjustments are necessary.

What Does This Mean for Me?

If you withdraw from all classes or stop attending before the end of the semester:

• Your financial aid eligibility may be recalculated
• The Financial Aid Office will review the amount of aid you earned based on your attendance
• Some financial aid may need to be returned
• You may be eligible for additional aid that had not yet been disbursed

How Is Earned Financial Aid Determined?

In general, the amount of financial aid you earn is based on how long you attended during the semester:

• The longer you remain enrolled and participating in your classes, the more financial aid you earn
• Students who complete more than 60% of the semester generally earn 100% of their federal financial aid eligibility for that term

Important to Know

• R2T4 applies only to federal financial aid programs
• An R2T4 review does not automatically mean you will owe money
• Every student's situation is reviewed individually
• Federal regulations require Butte College to complete this review whenever a student withdraws from all classes or otherwise stops attending during the semester

Maybe. Whether you are required to repay financial aid depends on your individual situation, including when you stopped attending, the type of financial aid you received, and the results of any Return of Title IV (R2T4) review.

What Does This Mean for Me?

You may be required to repay financial aid if:

• You withdraw from all classes before completing the semester
• You stop attending classes without officially withdrawing
• You receive financial aid for classes that you never begin attending
• Federal regulations determine that some of your financial aid was not earned

If repayment is required, the amount owed will vary based on your individual circumstances.

Who Might I Owe?

Depending on the type of financial aid you received and the results of the review:

• You may owe a balance to Butte College
• You may owe funds directly to the U.S. Department of Education
• You may owe both

How Will I Know If I Owe Money?

• If a review determines that repayment is required, you will be notified through your Butte College student email account
• The notification will explain any required repayment, next steps, and available options

Important to Know

• Not every student who withdraws from classes will owe money
• An R2T4 review does not automatically result in repayment
• The amount of financial aid you are allowed to keep generally depends on how much of the semester you completed before withdrawing
• Failure to repay required funds may affect future financial aid eligibility and your ability to register for classes

Important: For most students, summer financial aid is awarded from the ending academic year. Students enrolled in eligible programs that begin on July 1, such as the Fire Academy or Basic Law Enforcement Academy, may receive financial aid from the new academic year.

Important: Students enrolled in eligible programs that begin on or after January 1, such as the Fire Academy or Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Academy, may be eligible to receive financial aid during the winter intersession.