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Dates & Deadlines

Fall 2025

If you register:	Your payment is due:
On or before July 16	July 17
On or after July 17	Immediately

Winter/Spring 2026

If you register:	Your payment is due:
On or before November 30	December 1
On or after December 1	Immediately

Students are responsible for meeting all payment deadlines for the portion of their bill they owe. HCC’s Tuition Payment Plan is designed to help students meet those deadlines or bridge the period between the availability of financial aid (including loans or tuition assistance) and when payment is due.

An official drop within the refund period is the only way to be released from some or all financial obligations incurred during registration. Learn more about refund policies here.

These dates and deadlines apply to credit classes.
Payment for Workforce, Career, and Community Education courses is due at the time of registration.

Collection Procedures

HCC makes every effort to contact students with outstanding balances before further action is taken. If the college is unable to reach a student or the balance remains unpaid:

The account is referred to a collection agency.
An additional collection fee of up to 25% of the outstanding balance is added.
Students will not be able to register for future terms until the balance is paid in full.

Paying Once an Account Is in Collections

Students may pay HCC directly or pay the collection agency. In either case, they remain responsible for:

The full outstanding balance, and
Collection costs, as applicable.

Removing Holds

Holds are removed immediately when the account is paid in full by cash, credit card, or money order in person at HCC.
Accounts paid online must contact the Cashier’s Office to have the hold released.
Holds are not removed for 10 business days if the balance was paid in full by personal check.

Note: Debts referred for collection may affect your credit rating. See the Collection FAQs below for additional impacts.

If you need assistance or have questions, contact Collections@HowardCC.edu.

Collection FAQs

Do I have to pay the collection agency directly or can I pay HCC?

No. You do not have to pay the collection agency directly. Paying HCC directly will update your student account faster because we do not need to wait for confirmation or reporting from the agency. You may pay HCC with any accepted payment method.
Is there a payment plan so that I can register?

If you are in collections with MLR, please contact Collections@HowardCC.edu for more information about available options.

If you are in collections with CCU, payment plans are not available. You must pay your balance in full using a credit or debit card, cash, or money order.
What is the collection fee and why do I have to pay it?

The collection fee covers the cost charged to HCC by the external collection agency for recovering delinquent accounts. This fee is up to 25% of your outstanding balance and is added to your student account once the debt is referred for collection.
Why is my account in collections if I did not attend, dropped, or withdrew from classes?
Failure to attend classes does not release you from your financial obligations. It is the student’s responsibility to officially drop any classes they do not plan to attend. Nonpayment does not guarantee that you will be dropped from your courses.

For credit classes, students must officially drop the class by the posted deadline to be eligible for a refund.

Fall and Spring (15-week terms):
- By the end of Week 1: 100% refund of tuition, consolidated fee, and course fees
- By the end of Week 2: 50% refund of tuition and consolidated fee (course fees not included)
- Week 3 and beyond: No refunds, though students may still drop the class
Summer, Winter, and Variable-Length Sessions
(late start, fast track, express classes, etc.):
Refunds are available only during the first few days of the section. Students are eligible for:
- Either 100% of tuition, consolidated fee, and course fees,
- Or 50% of tuition and consolidated fee, depending on the published schedule for that section.
After the posted refund period, no refunds are available.

For full details on refund deadlines, visit the Credit Class Refund Policies page.

For noncredit classes, most courses offer:
- 100% refund of tuition and fees if the college receives your withdrawal before the class begins (exceptions appear in specific course descriptions).
- Once the class has started, only tuition is refundable—not fees.
- After a class has ended, no refunds are available.
For more information, please visit the Noncredit Refund Policies page.
Will the hold be removed right away once payment is completed?

If you make your payment directly to HCC using a credit or debit card, cash, or money order, your hold will be removed immediately.

If you pay by check, the payment must clear first. Check payments are held for 10 business days to allow time for bank processing. Once the check clears, the hold will be removed.
How can I contact the collection agency?

These are the current collection agencies that HCC uses. Please check your student account before providing information.

MLR Solutions, Inc.

PO BOX 60536
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-364-5071
www.MLRSolutionsInc.com

Central Collection Unit – CCU

300 West Preston Street, First Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-767-1220 or 1-888-248-0345
www.dbm.Maryland.gov/ccu
How long do collections accounts stay on your credit report?

A collections account can remain on your credit report for up to seven years from the date the account first became delinquent. Even if the balance is later paid and marked “satisfied,” the record of the judgment or collection will still remain on the credit report for the full seven-year period.

HCC cannot remove a collection entry from your credit report. Only credit bureaus control what appears on your report.
How does being sent to collections affect a student's credit?
A collections account has a negative impact on your credit score. Once the account is reported to the credit bureaus, you may see an immediate drop in your score. The impact depends on your existing credit history:
- If your score is in the 700s, the drop may be more significant.
- If your score is in the 500s, the change may be smaller because the risk is already reflected.
In addition to lowering your credit score, being in collections may lead to:
- Accrued interest on the outstanding debt
- The possibility of a lawsuit filed by the collection agency
- Ongoing contact from collectors
- Your credit report showing the debt as unpaid
- Tax refund interceptions (depending on agency and circumstances)
- Difficulty or inability to obtain new credit, such as car loans, home mortgages, or other financing