The start of the new academic year can get busy quickly. Between checking your schedule, buying books, finding classrooms, logging into D2L and getting ready for the first week, it can be easy to overlook your financial aid.

Before classes begin, take a few minutes to review your financial aid, check your bill and make sure you understand what to expect next. A quick check-in now can help prevent confusion later.

Review Your Financial Aid Offer
Your financial aid offer shows the grants, scholarships and loans you may be eligible to receive. At LCC, students can view their financial aid information in Banner Self-Service by going to their Financial Aid Record.

It is important to remember your financial aid offer is not always the amount that will be applied to your tuition balance. Some types of aid may require additional steps before they can be used. For example, loans may need to be accepted or declined on the Offer tab of your Financial Aid Record. First-time loan borrowers may also need to complete Entrance Counseling and sign the Master Promissory Note before loan funds can be authorized and disbursed.

Before the semester starts, check your Financial Aid Record and make sure you understand what aid is being offered, what has already been accepted and authorized, and whether you have any outstanding requirements.

Check Your Actual Bill
Another important step is reviewing your student account. Your financial aid offer may show your estimated aid eligibility, but your actual bill shows what you owe LCC after any financial aid has been applied.

Your bill may include tuition, fees, bookstore charges, payment plan charges, supply advances, book voucher charges or other institutional charges. If your schedule changes, your charges and financial aid eligibility may also change.

Students should navigate to their TouchNet account to review their account balance, payment information and refund preference. If you are unsure whether your aid will cover your charges, it is better to ask questions early instead of waiting until the payment deadline.

Understand the Cost of Attendance vs. Your Bill
A common area of confusion is the difference between LCC’s cost of attendance and the amount owed on your student account.

Cost of attendance is an estimate used for financial aid purposes. It may include tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food, transportation, personal expenses, loan fees, and other education-related costs. This estimate helps determine financial aid eligibility, but it does not mean you will be charged that full amount by LCC.

Your actual bill is different. Your bill is the amount charged to your student account. This is mainly tuition and fees, plus any other charges placed on the account.

When planning for the semester, compare your financial aid to your actual account balance, not just the full cost of attendance estimate.

Plan for Books and Supplies
Books and supplies are another area where planning ahead can make a big difference.

Some LCC students may be eligible for a Financial Aid Book Voucher if they have enough authorized aid after tuition, fees and other charges are covered. The Book Voucher can be used through the Barnes & Noble College Online Bookstore. LCC also has a Supply Advance request form for eligible students who have authorized aid greater than their total charges.

However, these options are not automatic for every student. Eligibility depends on your authorized aid and your student account balance. If your book or supply costs are higher than the amount available, you may need to pay the difference.

Before classes begin, check your course materials. Some classes may require textbooks, access codes, lab supplies, uniforms, software or other materials. Knowing what you need ahead of time can help you avoid surprises during the first week.

Know What to Expect with Refunds
Financial aid refunds are not immediate. A refund may be issued if your disbursed financial aid is more than your student account balance.

At LCC, financial aid is generally disbursed to the student account later in the semester (on Sept. 22 for the fall 2026 semester).

This means students should not expect refund money on the first day of class. If you are counting on a refund to help pay for books, supplies, transportation, rent or other expenses, make sure you understand the timeline and have a plan while you wait.

Students should also make sure their refund preference is set up in TouchNet so there are no unnecessary delays once a refund is processed.

Borrow Only What You Need
Student loans can help cover education-related expenses, but they should be used carefully. Unlike grants and scholarships, loans must be repaid, usually with interest.

At LCC, students can accept, decline or reduce offered loans through the Offer tab of the Financial Aid Record in Banner Self-Service. Before accepting loans, think about what you actually need for the semester. You do not have to borrow the full amount offered if you only need part of it.

Borrowing less now can make repayment more manageable later.

Watch Out for Financial Aid Scams
The start of the semester is also a good time to be careful with financial aid scams. Students may receive emails, texts, calls or social media messages that look official but are actually trying to steal personal information.

Be cautious with any message that asks for your FSA ID, Social Security number, banking information or payment in exchange for financial aid or scholarships. This information should never be shared with anyone without confirming the legitimacy.

LCC students should regularly check their LCC email for official college communications. If a message seems suspicious, do not click links or provide personal information. We encourage students to reach out to us if anything seems suspicious.

Start the Semester with a Quick Financial Aid Check-In
Before classes start, take a few minutes to complete a financial aid check-in:

• Review your Financial Aid Record in Banner Self-Service.
  • Check for outstanding requirements.
  • Review your financial aid offer.
  • Accept only the loans you need.
• Check your student account balance in TouchNet.
  • Set up your refund preference.

Watch your LCC email for updates.

Starting smart does not mean having everything figured out perfectly. It means checking your account, asking questions early and making a plan before the semester gets busy.

If you are unsure about your financial aid, student account, payment options or refund timeline, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 517-483-1200, option 1, or financialaid@star.lcc.edu.