Menu When your account receives funds greater than your balance, you receive a refund. This can happen when your financial aid award exceeds tuition costs, for example. It can also happen when you drop classes.
Your Tuition Refund eligibility for dropped classes depends on three dates:
- Your class start date
- Your class end date
- The date you officially drop the class
It is your responsibility to verify that adding or dropping actions were successfully completed, as these will affect your tuition balance.
Refund Amounts
100% refund: Drop class at least one day before class starts.
80% refund: Drop class before 11% of the class is completed.
60% refund: Drop class after 11%, but before 20% of the class is completed. Classes dropped during any refund period do not appear on your transcript as an officially attempted class or have a grade assigned.
0% refund: Drop class after 20% of the class is completed. Classes dropped after the 60% refund period remain on your transcript and receive a final grade of "W" (withdrawal).
These percentages are based on the time period between class start and end dates, not by the number of class meetings that occur.
Actual refunds can only be calculated after the class is dropped and tuition recalculation is run.
You may withdraw from your classes until 90% of the class is completed. You can view the Last Date to Drop for your classes in myMadisonCollege under Academic Calendar Deadlines.
Dropping classes may affect your financial aid or Veterans benefits. You may be required to repay funds received. It is wise to check with the financial aid office before dropping classes.
Refund Estimation Calculator
To find out your refund dates, use the Refund Estimation Calculator below. You will need to know the official class start and end dates to use the calculator.
How to Setup E-Refunds
Refund checks are sent to your mailing address unless you have set up e-refunding. E-refunding allows us to electronically deposit your refund into your bank account.
To set up e-refunding, follow the directions below. Be sure you have your bank's routing number and your account information before you begin.
- Log into myMadisonCollege
- Click on “My Finances”
- Select the Payment & E-Refund option
- Click on “Set Up E-Refund”
- Click “Set Up Account”
- Enter the requested information, then click on Continue
- Review the information, check “I Agree”, then click on Continue
- Verify the page has the correct information
Note: The timeframe in which you receive your refund depends on the U.S. Postal Service for a paper check, or your bank’s policies for e-refunding.
Contact Financial Operations at bursar@madisoncollege.edu if you have e-refunding questions.
Refunds Under Special Circumstances
If a circumstance arises that impacts your education, talk with your instructor(s). Most are willing to make alternate arrangements for you to complete class work. You may qualify for an Incomplete if you can complete 75% of course material before the term ends. If you meet these requirements, both you and your instructor(s) must fill out the Incomplete Request Form (PDF).
If you do not qualify for an Incomplete and need to drop your classes, you may qualify for Tuition Refund Under Special Circumstances. Requests may be granted when life events have created an unforeseen student hardship. If granted, you will receive no less than 60% of the course fees for dropped courses. Additionally, the college may charge a processing fee not to exceed 1%.
Qualifying Reasons
- The death of an immediate family member
- A physical and/or mental medical emergency for you or your dependent
- Military obligation with notification received after classes began
- If you were a victim of a crime
- Other significant life altering situations (e.g., public health crisis, destruction of home, national emergency)
Non-qualifying Reasons
- Failure to drop classes
- Failure to receive an invoice
- Past due account balance
- Inability to pay
- Military obligation with notification received before classes began
- Situations that are academic in nature. If the situation is related to coursework and/or instruction, please share your concern.
- Wage/Tax interceptions
Before You Apply for a Refund
- If you have already been granted a Tuition Refund Under Special Circumstances, you are not eligible to submit another request for the same reason.
- Submitting a request does not extend the tuition due date. Past-due tuition will stop you from registering and must be paid in order to register for future classes while your request is reviewed.
- If you were not active in your classes prior to the special circumstance, you are not eligible to apply for a Tuition Refund Under Special Circumstances.
How to Apply
Complete the Tuition Refund Under Special Circumstances Packet (PDF).
Submission Deadlines
- Fall: February 15th
- Spring: July 31st
- Interim or Summer: September 30th
Refund Policies
When we refer to refunds, this not only includes money being returned, but debt removal from your student account. Refunds are processed according to the Wisconsin Technical College System refund policy found in the state's Administrative Code Chapter TCS 10.
Refund eligibility depends on the date you officially drop your class, whether the class was dropped online or with assistance from college staff. Mailed drop requests are processed per the date received.
- A full refund is ONLY provided when you drop a class at least one day before it begins or when the college cancels a class.
- You cannot drop your class by talking to your instructor, and no one else may drop classes for you.
- Stopping payment on a check is not equivalent to dropping a class.
- Not attending classes does not entitle you to a refund. The college will not drop your classes due to non-payment or non-attendance.
- Dropping classes may require you to repay financial aid or Veterans benefits.
- Enrollment Services can help you understand drop dates and estimate refund amounts. However, actual amounts cannot be provided until the class is dropped and your tuition is recalculated.
Get More Tuition Refund Information
Log into the myMadisonCollege student portal to view your financial information