Refunds
Brightpoint offers refunds when students receive financial aid after they have paid their tuition, or when students drop classes.
Refunds from Financial Aid
When financial aid exceeds college charges for tuition, fees and books, a refund will be generated. You will receive a notification in the Student Information Center when your refund has posted.
Refunds from Dropping Classes
Students may drop their classes and receive tuition refunds through the first 15 percent of the class session. Students are responsible for confirming the correct refund deadlines for their classes. Please note that tuition refunds will not be processed until after the last day to drop with a refund for the specified session/term.
Virginia Community College Policy 4.3.2 states that students are eligible for refunds for those credit hours dropped during the add/drop period. After the add/drop period has passed, there shall be no refunds, except as provided in subsections 4.3.2.2 (Exceptional Cases), 4.3.2.3 (Military Service), and 4.3.2.4 (Refunds for Certain Federal Student Financial Aid Recipients). Refer to the policy for more information.
Receiving a Refund
How you receive your refund depends on how you paid your tuition and fees.
Students Who Paid Online
If you paid your tuition and fees online with a credit card in myBrightpoint, your tuition refund will be issued to the card that was used. No further action is necessary. Funds are usually available within 3-4 business days after your refund is posted in the Student Information System.
Students Who Paid in Person or with Financial Aid
Brightpoint Community College has partnered with Nelnet to process electronic financial aid and tuition refunds for students who paid their tuition and fees on campus or received financial aid, as well as payment plan refunds. Nelnet will send the money to Brightpoint’s Financial Services Office, which will disburse refunds directly to students.
Disbursements will be held until after the census date of the last class for students taking all classes outside of regular 15-week session. The census date is the point at which your enrollment is locked for financial aid purposes. At this point in the term, credit hours are locked and financial aid for the term is adjusted to reflect the official number of enrolled credits.
Register in the Refund Portal
At the start of each semester, all new students and students who have not already registered with our refund partner Nelnet will receive an e-mail from noreply-refunds@nelnet.net with directions on how to select your refund preference. If you no longer have your e-mail from Nelnet, simply go to the Nelnet website to enroll.
Even if you do not expect to receive a refund this semester, we recommend setting up your refund preference. You may need to drop a course unexpectedly, the college may have to cancel a course, or you may receive unexpected financial aid. If you do not make a selection, you will receive your refund as a paper check. Sign up early, so your refund won’t be delayed.
You can choose to receive your refund in one of two ways:
Direct Deposit (ACH)
If you select direct deposit (ACH) as your preferred method you will receive an email notification when a refund has been deposited to your account; funds are usually available within 5-7 business days after your refund is posted in the Student Information System.
Paper Check
Checks will be mailed to your mailing address listed in your account in the Student Information System. Allow 10 to 14 business days after you see the refund posted on your Student Information System account for the check to arrive at your mailing address.