Important Dates

Students that have been awarded financial aid, are registered for financial aid eligible courses, and have excess financial aid after tuition and fees have been deducted, may purchase required books and supplies during the designated charge dates.

Students should plan to purchase all books and supplies during these times. There will be no book charges after the dates listed below. The Bookstore charge period will reopen for new students during the second session.

The DCC Castle Bookstore charge period typically starts two weeks prior to the first day of class and ends the last day to drop a class with a full tuition refund. If you must drop your classes, please return your book purchases for any available credit.

Semester Attending: Summer 2023   Book Charges: May 8 – June 1  Summer 2^nd 5-week Session: June 21 – July 3

Semester Attending: Fall 2023   Book Charges: August 7 – September 12  Fall 2^nd 8-week Session: October 9 – October 20

Semester Attending: Spring 2024   Book Charges: January 2 – January 30  Spring 2^nd 8-week Session: March 4 – March 15

Book Return Policy

• KEEP YOUR RECEIPT! Under all circumstances a purchase receipt is required for a refund.
• Textbooks may be returned for Full refund up until the last day to withdraw with a full tuition refund for each semester as posted in the College's published semester class listing.
• Textbook returns for late starting classes must be returned by the first day of class.
• Any books returned after the date mentioned above will be refunded at a percentage determined by the Bookstore manager, if any.
• In order to receive a refund, books must be in new resalable condition. (No writing, bent, soiled or wrinkled or missing pages, and no water damage).
• Shrink-wrapped books with multiple components cannot be returned with missing pieces.
• Access codes must be sealed and unused. (Exposed codes are assumed to have been used).
• Any software that may have come with the book cannot have been opened.
• Credits issued will be applied to the same method of payment used when the books were originally purchased. (This applies to purchases made by Pell Grant, Scholarship, or a third-party payer).
• There is no refund from the Bookstore on laptops or electronic items.

*For the full Return and Refund Policy, please refer to the Bookstore Purchasing Policy.

*Note: If for any reason financial aid does not cover the balance charged in the bookstore the student is responsible for paying that balance and will not be allowed to register until that debt has been satisfied.

Fall financial aid disbursements for students who are enrolled in regular term courses and who have no outstanding document requests from the financial aid office will begin in mid-to-late September.

Spring financial aid disbursements for students who are enrolled in regular term courses and who have no outstanding document requests from the financial aid office will begin early February.

Summer financial aid disbursements are typically late June to early July due to the need to the second session courses.

If you are in all late-starting courses (second 8 or 10 week or later MTT term courses), refunds will not begin until 3-4 weeks after the last day to drop courses for your latest starting term.

Students with remaining aid balances after tuition and fees are paid in full and after bookstore purchases have been deducted will receive the remaining balance in the form of a check, direct deposit, or debit card each semester. This depends on the refund option you have chosen to receive refunds from the College. Prior to processing remaining balances, the College must ensure that students have begun classes and have not been reported for non-attendance. Financial aid is adjusted and disbursed for students who are less than full-time to pay charges (e.g., tuition, fees, books). Once all charges are paid, any remaining credit balance is then prepared for a refund issued to the student.

The last day to drop with a refund must pass prior to disbursement. After the initial disbursement dates, the College will process new disbursements approximately once a week throughout the semester as awards are made. Students enrolled in late starting classes will have their disbursements held until after the add / drop period for those classes. Please check your address in the Student Information System (SIS) to be sure the correct mailing address is on file. Incorrect mailing addresses will cause a delay in receiving your refund.

Refunds will be made to students whose financial aid exceeds the amount of their tuition and bookstore charges as follows:

• Fall – Starting Late September
• Spring – Starting Mid to Late February
• Summer – Starting Late June/Early July       

DCC has contracted with Tuition Management Services (TMS) to process tuition reimbursements (revenue refunds, financial aid balance checks, and payment plan refunds) to students electronically. Your refund will be posted to your account in as little as 4-6 days with the ACH (direct deposit to checking or savings) option after the refund is posted in SIS. You will receive an alert when the funds are posted to your account. 

Outstanding tuition charges for any student whose aid does not cover his or her entire tuition and fee charges and who is not participating in a payment plan is due immediately and in full.

The last day to drop classes with a full tuition refund is the day before the Census Date for the full semester. The Census Date refers to the point at which your enrollment is locked for financial aid purposes. Credit hours are locked as of the Census Date and financial aid for the term is adjusted based on the eligible number of credits enrolled for the semester. Credits added after the Census Date has been reached will not increase a student's financial aid eligibility. Below are the Census Dates for the full semester.

Fall 2023 Census Date: September 8, 2023

Spring 2024 Census Date: January 26, 2024

Summer 2024 Census Date: May 31, 2024

Classes starting later in the semester will have a different Census Date.

Students who have borrowed one term only loans will see the first half disbursed during the regular disbursement period and the second half after the midpoint of the semester.