Refunds

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If you are thinking about dropping or withdrawing from any classes, be sure to first read the Maricopa Community Colleges Refund Policy Refunds eligible for direct deposit or prepaid card include financial aid (scholarships, loans and grants), book advances, cash payments and payment plans.

To receive a refund, you must be an actively enrolled student at Rio Salado and enrolled in the Maricopa Student Refund Program (MSRP).

View the Return of Funds Policy

Note: The $15 registration fee is due on the date you register for classes. If you pay your fees online using self-service, please include the $15 registration fee with your tuition. You may be dropped from your courses for non-payment of the registration fee.

Refund Exceptions

If you withdraw from classes after the refund date, you must submit a request to the Office of Admissions and Records. Requests for a total withdrawal from the college can result in a prorated refund of tuition if you have not completed your courses. Please complete your request using the secured refund exception form. You can also call 480-517-8420 for details.

Refund Types

If you drop a class and made the tuition payment by cash, check or credit card, you will need to contact the Student Business Service Office to request a refund.

When you are eligible for a refund, you can choose how you would like to receive the money being returned to you. Refund types include:

  • Credited to a prepaid debit card
  • Direct deposit to your bank account
  • Issued to you as a paper check

Credit card payments: If you made a full tuition payment using a credit card, refunds are made to the same card that was used to make the payment.

If you request that your refund be returned to you as a paper check, allow 14 business days for processing and mailing.

Tuition payments paid with cash, check or credit card: Contact the Student Business Services Office to request your refund.

All other refund methods are refunded through the Maricopa Student Refund Program (MSRP) using NelNet's Student Choice Refund.

NelNet's Student Choice Refund

If you think you may be eligible to receive a refund now or in the future, you should enroll with NelNet's Student Choice Refund to set your refund type preference. If you make no preference, a paper check is mailed to you if are eligible for a refund.

Stop Payment Order Requests

If for any reason you want to void or stop payment on the refund approved for you, you can request a stop payment order. This is done by completing the Stop Payment Request form and returning it to the Student Business Services Office after you have completed it. Charges for stop payment requests are listed on the form.

One example of when you may choose to stop payment on an approved refund is if your check was mailed to a former address instead of your current address. Please ensure that your address in www.maricopa.edu/students is correct before completing your stop payment request.

Questions about Refunds?

You can email your questions about refunds to dl-rio-cashier@riosalado.edu using only your official student Maricopa email account. This protects privacy of your information. Email requests you send from other email accounts are automatically denied.

You can also call the Student Business Services Office at (480) 517-8330.

Refund Schedule

Please refer to your student center account statement page to view your official refund date. Please see refund schedule below.

Official 100% Refund Schedule
Length of Class Withdrawal Deadline
1-9 Calendar Days Prior To The Class Start Date
10-19 Calendar Days 1 calendar day including the class start date
20-29 Calendar Days 2 calendar days including the class start date
30-39 Calendar Days 3 calendar days including the class start date
40-49 Calendar Days 4 calendar days including the class start date
50-59 Calendar Days 5 calendar days including the class start date
60-69 Calendar Days 6 calendar days including the class start date
70+ Calendar Days 7 calendar days including the class start date

All refunds and deposits that may be due a student will first be applied to debts owed to the college. Refunds for students receiving federal financial assistance are subject to federal guidelines.
Refunds for out-of-state students may also be subject to state law.

Non-credit Classes

Unless otherwise specified, students must drop non-credit classes prior to the class start date to be eligible for a 100% refund.

Canceled Classes

When a class is canceled by the college, a 100% refund is made.

Other Refunds

Students withdrawing from college for one of the following reasons must submit a written request for a refund to the Office of Admissions and Records or designated college official:

  • A student with a serious illness, verifiable by a doctor's written statement that the illness prevents the student from attending all classes for the term. The doctor's statement must be on file with the college before a refund can be given.
  • Serious illness or death of a family member that prevents the student from attending all classes for the term. Appropriate documentation must be provided before a refund can be given.
  • Death of a student. Appropriate documentation must be provided before a refund can be given.

Requests for a total withdrawal from the college for one of the above reasons may result in a prorated refund of tuition, provided courses have not been completed.

Students in Military or National Guard

A student in the Armed Forces or the Arizona National Guard who is called to active duty and assigned to a duty station, verifiable by a copy of the orders, will be allowed to withdraw and receive a 100% refund of tuition, provided courses have not been completed.