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Student FAQs

If you have questions about Montgomery College, start here with our frequently asked questions. You may also visit Raptor Central on any campus, call 240-567-5000, complete the Raptor Central Online Request Formnew window, use our website search tool, speak to a recruiter, meet with a counselor, or contact the Office of Records and Registration.

Keep in mind that FERPA is a federal law that limits access to student education records. This means that the student, not a parent, friend, or partner, must contact the College with regard to their records including grades and class schedules.

Class Schedules

We’re offering in-person and online options for classes and student services. View COVID-19 information.

Admissions

You may submit an admissions application online, on paper by U.S. mail, or in person at Raptor Central or an Office of Records and Registration on any campus. Raptor Central staff are available to assist you with completing your application.

If you are applying for admission to Montgomery College as a credit student for the first time, submit your application. See the Admissions Application page for complete details. 

If you have ever applied to Montgomery College in the past, you do not need to apply again. However, if you have not taken a class in the last four years, you will need to reactivate your student account.

Dual Enrollment is available to advanced high school students admitted to Montgomery College. Select students are enrolled in college courses while still attending high school. Students may enroll in a variety of courses at the college, provided they meet the Dual Enrollment standards. The credits earned may be applied to a degree program at Montgomery College or may potentially be transferred to another institution.
Montgomery College welcomes a large number of visiting students from other colleges and universities each semester. See our resources for visiting students for more information. 
  1. Submit the admissions application, if you have not previously done so. There is a one-time application fee of $25.
  2. If the course you wish to take has an assessment level, and you wish to be exempt from the placement testing, you will need to present the Office of Records and Registration with an unofficial transcript from an accredited U.S. college or university showing that you have earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. You may override the English assessment requirement if you present an unofficial transcript from an accredited U.S. college or university showing that you have earned a "C" or better in a College-level English course.
  3. If the course you wish to take has a prerequisite, you will need to show your unofficial transcript to the appropriate academic department to have any prerequisites overridden.

You must be a degree-seeking student at Montgomery College to transfer credits into the College. 

  1. Submit the admissions application if you have not previously done so. There is a one-time application fee of $25.
  2. Have your official transcript sent to the Office of Records and Registration. You may hand-deliver your official transcript in a sealed envelope, or have your official transcript mailed or sent electronically from your original school to any of our three campuses.

See Credit for Prior Learning for more information. 

WDCE stands for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, the division of the College that offers noncredit courses. WDCE is designed for individuals in career transition, those reentering the workforce, those maintaining current technical skills, and those seeking enrichment experiences and continuing education. Registration in WDCE courses does not require payment of the $25 application fee. 

Montgomery College uses the Accuplacer, Accuplacer-ESL, and ALEKS tests to assess students on their reading, English, and math skills. These placement scores help counselors and academic advisors recommend courses that are appropriate for you.

You must take the assessment test unless you are exempt. Students may be exempt from taking the Accuplacer by providing minimum qualifying SAT or ACT scores in English and/or math. For more information on course placement, exceptions, and obtaining test results, see the Assessment Centers page. 

Counselors help students with their personal, career, and educational goals. Along with program advisors, Counselors can help you plan your education and meet your academic goals. There are various ways you can connect for assistance with academic planning. See Meet with a Counselor/Advisor for more information. 

Registration and Class Schedules

The MyMC portal provides students, faculty, staff, and alumni with information and sign-on access to various college applications, including registration, checking grades, and requesting transcripts. Students also access their Montgomery College email through MyMC.

At Montgomery College, there are multiple definitions of "noncredit:"

  • Workforce Development and Continuing Education: The College's WDCE division offers many noncredit courses. WDCE is designed for individuals in career transition, those reentering the workforce, those maintaining current technical skills, and those seeking enrichment experiences and continuing education. Registration in WDCE courses does not require payment of the $25 application fee.
  • Audit: A registration status that you may choose at the time of registration in a credit course and up until 20% of class meetings for the course. If you choose to audit a course, you have registered for a credit course and have chosen not to earn a grade. See Credit or Audit for more information. 
  • Developmental Course: A course that prepares students for success in subsequent college-level courses. Development courses typically have course numbers that begin with a zero (e.g., EN001, EN002, MA090, RD089). Credits earned in a developmental course will NOT count toward satisfying any degree or certificate program requirement. 
Yes, once you have submitted the admissions application, you may take classes at any of our three campuses: Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring.

Days
M - Monday
T - Tuesday
W - Wednesday
R - Thursday
F - Friday
S - Saturday
U - Sunday

Campus
G - Germantown
T - Takoma Park/Silver Spring
R - Rockville
D - Distance Education

 

Registration Errors are messages that you may encounter registering for a course if the registration system cannot find required information in your student record. Review a full list of registration errors and the action that you need take. 
"Audit" is a registration status in a class where no credits or grades are awarded.  The cost is the same as if the course were taken for credit. See Credit or Audit for more information.
A waitlist is created for a course when that course reaches maximum enrollment capacity. If you attempt to register for a course that is full, you will have the option to place yourself on the waitlist.  When a seat becomes available, and you are the next student on the waitlist, you will be notified via your MC email address. See Waitlist Information to learn more.
  1. Log in to MyMC
  2. Select "Edit My Class Schedule - Add or Drop" under "Registration Quick Links."
  3. Select the term in which you wish to drop your classes.
  4. For each course that you wish to drop, select "drop" from the dropdown menu.
  5. Click “Submit Changes."

If you are unable to perform this function in MyMC, contact us at 240-567-5000 or complete the Raptor Central Online Request Formnew window for further assistance. 

To obtain a refund, a course must be officially dropped by the refund deadline.  The refund deadline for each course is listed on the student schedule/bill and in MyMC.

Montgomery College will always operate on its regular schedule unless otherwise announced.  Changes to the College’s operational status will be communicated through the following means:

  • Montgomery College homepage and MyMC
  • College telephone number: 240-567-5000.  A recorded message will be available.
  • MC Alert - cell phone text messages and/or email messages are sent to registered users 
  • Montgomery College Television - Cable Channel 10, in Montgomery County
  • Commercial radio and TV stations

Grades and Student Records

You may request an official transcript online, via U.S. mail, or by visiting the Office of Records and Registration on any campus. You cannot request a transcript by telephone, e-mail or by fax. See Request an MC Transcript for complete instructions. 

Degree-seeking students at Montgomery College can earn credit and advanced standing for prior learning. You may be able to use college-level course work that you have already completed to satisfy degree requirements and reach your educational goals in a shorter time period. Visit the Credit for Prior Learning page for more information.

Please Note: Non-degree-seeking and visiting students do not need to submit official transcripts. They may present unofficial transcripts to the Office of Counseling and Advising or a Department Chair to be waived into a course that has prerequisites that have been met at another regionally accredited U.S college or university.

You may update personal information by completing the Student Information Change/Declaration of Permanent Domicile form. See the Update Your Student Information page. 
You may change your major by completing the Declaration or Change of Program of Study form. See Change Your Program of Study (Major) for more information. 
Access your midterm and final grades online in MyMC by selecting “My Grades” on the MyMC home page. Grades are typically available 7-10 days following the end of each semester. The College does not mail grades, and grades are not provide via phone or e-mail.

Cost and Financial Aid

Fall semester: May 15
Spring semester: November 1

You may still apply for financial aid after the priority deadlines. However, your file may not be approved before classes begin, which means you may be responsible for making alternative payment arrangements. See How to Apply for Financial Aid for complete details.

There may be  limited options for summer financial aid.  Contact the Financial Aid office at 240-567-5100 for more information. 

See the Current Tuition Rates. Tuition and fees are based on residency classification and are subject to change.
As a registered student, you pay tuition according to your residency classification using criteria outlined in "Determination of Residence for Tuition Purposes" found in the Appendices section of the College Catalog. Residency classification is determined by information on your admissions application. See the Residency Policy for more information. 

Students in the following categories or studying in certain programs may be eligible for reduced or waived tuition: 

  • Active duty military and their dependents 
  • Maryland National Guard members
  • Students with disabilities
  • Seniors (ages 60 and up)
  • Business and industry tuition rate agreements
  • Statewide programs
  • Health Workforce Shortage Program

See Special Tuition Waivers for more information. 

As a veterans of the armed services, you may be entitled to various education benefits depending on when and how long you served. See VA Education Benefits for more information. 

Payment or payment arrangements are expected the day you register. Unpaid classes will be deleted for non-payment on specific dates during each registration period. All registrations occurring after the scheduled delete dates are considered binding and will not be deleted for non-payment. 

If you register for classes, you are responsible for all charges.  Failure to pay, failure to officially withdraw by the refund date or failure to attend will not relieve you of the responsibility for these charges. In order to avoid financial responsibility, you must officially drop your classes by the refund deadline, if you decide not to attend. DO NOT assume you will be automatically dropped.

Visit the payments overview for more information on payment options and payment deadlines. 

You are individually responsible for your tuition and fees.  If you register for class, you are responsible for all charges.  Failure to pay, failure to officially drop by the refund deadline or failure to attend will not relieve you of the responsibility of these charges.  Non-attendance or failure to pay does not constitute an official withdrawal.  In order to avoid financial responsibility, you must officially drop your classes by the refund deadline, if you decide not to attend.  DO NOT assume you will be dropped automatically.

To obtain a full refund, a course must be officially dropped by the refund deadline. The refund deadline for each course is listed in MyMC and on your student schedule/bill. It is your responsibility to officially drop a course if you no longer wish to attend. Non-attendance or failure to pay does not constitute an official withdrawal. No full refunds will be issued for classes dropped after the refund deadline. To view your specific refund deadlines:

  1. Log in to MyMC.
  2. Under the “Student Quick Links” click on “My Class Schedule."
  3. Select the current term.
  4. Click on “View Drop Deadline Dates” at the bottom of the page.

See the Refund Policy for Credit Courses for more information.

Parking, Security, and Student ID Cards

A student ID card with a current semester registration sticker will allow you to check out library books, use computer/writing labs and swimming pools, and receive free transportation on Ride-On buses within Montgomery County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your ID card must be validated each semester by placing the current semester registration sticker on the card.

To obtain a student ID card, you will need to visit the Office of Safety and Security. See Student ID Cards for complete instructions. 

The Safety and Security Offices are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on each campus: 

Germantown

240-567-7777
Sciences/Applied Studies 287

Rockville

 240-567-5111
Counseling & Advising 101 

Takoma Park/Silver Spring

240-567-1600
The Commons 211

Emergency phones are also available at several locations on all three campuses.

You must have a permit to park in any Montgomery College lot. You can obtain a permit once you have registered and paid for classes. See Parking and Transportation for more information. 

Please wait 24 hours after registration before requesting your permit. Also, be sure to update your address with the Office of Records and Registration before proceeding, as your parking permit will be mailed to your address of record.

There is no additional cost for the parking permit. 

Have another question you didn't find answered here? Complete the Raptor Central Online Request Formnew window, or call 240-567-5000.