Drop or Withdraw from a Class and Refund Policies

Dropping and withdrawing both remove you from a class, but they happen at different times during the term and have different impacts on your refunds and academic record.

Understanding the Difference Between Dropping and Withdrawing

Dropping a Class

  • Timing: During the refund period (the first seven calendar days of the course).
  • Transcript: The course is completely removed from your official transcript.
  • Refund: You receive a full or 50% tuition refund, depending on your drop date and the course length.

Withdrawing from a Class

  • Timing: After the refund period ends, up to the Last Day to Withdraw.
  • Transcript: The course remains on your transcript with a grade of "W."
  • Refund: No refund is issued for standard course withdrawals.
How to drop or withdraw from a class

Important Note: Dropping a course may impact your financial aid status and progress in your program. Before dropping, speak with an academic advisor and the Financial Aid Office.

You can drop or withdraw from a class online, in person, or by email. You cannot submit a request over the phone.

  • Official Submission Methods: You must drop or withdraw online through myMCC, in person at the Registration Office, or by emailing mymcc@mchenry.edu from your student account. Informing your instructor, stopping attendance, calling, or not paying do not officially drop or withdraw you.
  • Full Refund Deadline (Class Drop): To receive a full refund (minus the registration fee) and remove the course from your record, you must drop within the first seven calendar days of the course start date. For refund deadline dates, refer to Loading...
  • Withdrawal Deadline (Grade of W): After the refund period ends, you can officially withdraw up to the published Last Day to Withdraw for your term. The course remains on your transcript with a grade of "W" and does not qualify for a standard refund.

See Loading... (opens in a new tab) for the refund amount after class starts, the Last Day to Withdraw, and the date final grades are due

How to Drop or Withdraw from a Class Online

The online process for dropping or withdrawing from a class is identical. Self-Service automatically records a drop or withdrawal based on the date you submit your request.

  1. Visit myMCC (opens in a new tab), select Self-Service, then select Student Planning
  2. Under the Student Planning tab at the top, select Plan and Schedule
  3. Select a section from your current schedule and select Drop.
  4. In the Register and Drop Sections dialog box, select any additional sections you want to drop or add.
  5. Select the reason you need to drop the course.
  6. Select Update to process the changes.

Confirmation Note: The planned section will remain on your schedule, but if the drop was successful, you will no longer appear as registered for the course.

How dropping or withdrawing affects your grade point average
  • Dropping a Class (Early): Dropping a course during the refund period removes it completely from your record. It does not appear on your transcript and has no effect on your GPA or completed credits.
  • Withdrawal Grade (W): Withdrawing after the refund period places a grade of "W" on your transcript. A "W" does not affect your GPA, but it counts as an attempted course toward your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and completion rate for financial aid.
  • Failing Grade Warning: Stopping attendance without officially withdrawing online, in person, or by email may result in an earned failing grade (F) on your transcript, which directly lowers your GPA.
How and when you get a refund
  • Refund Processing Schedule: MCC issues refunds only after the drop refund period for your term ends (typically after the first two weeks of the semester).
  • Effective Date of Drop: We base your tuition and fee refund on the effective date of your drop—the day you formally submit your request online, in person, or by email to the Registration Office.
  • Class Attendance: If you fail to attend class, MCC may drop you from the course.
  • Canceled Classes: If MCC cancels a class or section, you will receive a full refund for tuition and course fees.
  • Refund Exception Requests: MCC does not issue standard refunds after the drop deadline. If you must leave a class after the refund period ends due to extenuating circumstances, you can submit a Refund Exception Form (opens in a new window) within two weeks of the end of the semester.
  • Payment Method: MCC reserves the right to determine how we issue your refund.
  • Processing Timeline: Once the Student Accounts Office processes a credit or debit card refund, your bank may take up to 14 days to post the funds to your account.

Refund Schedule by Course Length

Percentage of refund based on course duration and drop date
Course Length 100% Refund Deadline Partial / Reduced Refund
Rate of refund Classes less than 9 weeks Classes 9 or more weeks long
100% within the first 7 calendar days of the course start date within the first 7 calendar days of the course start date
50% not applicable within 8 to 14 calendar days of course start date
0% after 7 days after 14 days

For the exact refund dates, see Loading... (opens in a new tab)

How to request an exception after the refund deadline

MCC recognizes that our students face significant hardships.

Submit an Exception to Refund Form if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Facing significant financial or physical circumstances. Attach supporting documentation to your request.

    Extenuating circumstances include:

    • Serious injury or illness
    • Chronic illness
    • A medical issue of a family member for whom you are the caretaker
    • A mental health condition
    • A sudden or consistent lack of transportation
    • Military Service
    • A significant cost of living increase
    • Other critical circumstances beyond your control that have hindered your ability to be successful in your courses
  2. Have withdrawn from the course
  3. Have not received a grade for the course

Do Not Fill Out this Form if You…

  • Have dropped the course and received a full or partial refund
  • Have a classroom concern

    Discuss all course-related questions or concerns with your instructor first. If you are not satisfied with the resolution, contact the appropriate Academic Dean:

    Dr. Joseph Sullivan

    Dean of Arts and Humanities

    Email: jsullivan9415@mchenry.edu

    Phone: (815) 479-8996

    Subjects: Animation (ANI), Art (ART), Audio Video Digital Media (AVD), Communications (COM), Digital Media (DGM), English (ENG), French (FRE), German (GER), Graphic Arts (GRA), Journalism (JRN), MCC 101/College Experience (MCC), Music (MUS), Philosophy (PHI), Reading (RDG), Spanish (SPA), Theatre (THE)

    Dr. Christina Coclanis-Loding

    Dean of Math, Science, and Health Services

    Email: ccoclanis-loding@mchenry.edu

    Phone: (815) 455-8713

    Subjects: Agriculture (AGR), Biology (BIO), Cancer Registry Management (CRM), Chemistry (CHM), Computer Science (CSC), Earth Science (EAS), Geography (GEG), Geology (GEL), Health Sciences (HCE), Health Information Management (HIM), Horticulture (HRT), Kinesiology and Health Sciences (KHS), Math (MAT), Nursing Assistant Education (NAE), Nursing (NUR), Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), Physics (PHY), Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA), Radiologic Technology (RAD), Respiratory Therapy (RSP), Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SON)

    Dr. Mona Nowroozifar

    Dean of Manufacturing and Advanced Technology

    Email: mnowroozifar@mchenry.edu

    Phone: (815) 479-7764

    Subjects: Software Application Design and Development (ADD), Architectural and Engineering Design Technology (AET), Automotive (AMT), Architectural Technology (ARC), Automation, Robotics, Mechatronics (ARM), Computer Information Systems (CDM), Construction Management (CMT), Computerized Numeric Controller (CNC), Engineering (EGR), Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC), Industrial Management Technology (IMT), Network Security (NET), Welding (WLD)

    Dr. Dawn Britton

    Dean of Business, Social Sciences, and Public Services

    Email: dabritton@mchenry.edu

    Phone: (815) 455-8783

    Subjects: Accounting (ACC), Anthropology (ANT), Administrative Office Technology (AOT), Business (BUS), Criminal Justice (CJS), Culinary and Pastry Management (CLM/PAS), Early Childhood Education (ECE), Economics (ECO), Education (EDU), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Fire Science (FRS), History (HIS), Law (LAW), Management (MGT), Marketing (MKT), Political Science (PLT), Psychology (PSY), Sociology (SOC), Social Work (SWK)

  • Have not withdrawn or have received a grade for the course
    • If you received a grade for a course, but need to request a Late Withdrawal, review the Academic Policies and Standards Late Withdrawal explanation.
    • You may be subject to Administrative Withdrawal if you have excessive absences, are not actively pursuing the completion of course objectives (without having made arrangements with the instructor), have an extenuating circumstance, or have a disciplinary issue.
    • To request a withdrawal, contact the appropriate Dean from the list above.

Access the Refund Exception Form (opens in a new tab)