Withdrawal and Dropped Classes

Implications for Financial Aid

If a student withdraws or drops all classes during a semester, several billing and financial aid calculations will take place as of the last date of attendance.  This date is determined by the drop or withdrawal date in e-Campus. Federal financial aid is subject to the calculations described below in the Title IV Funds (Federal Student Financial Aid) Return Policy. Students who do not begin attendance must repay all financial aid that was disbursed for the term.

Non-Title IV aid, which includes institutional aid and alternative loans, is refunded to its source on the same percentage basis as the institutional tuition refund schedule.  However, a student with an alternative loan who has an outstanding balance as a result of the refund calculation may be able to retain a greater percentage of the loan than that used in the refund calculation.  State aid and outside scholarships will be refunded to the appropriate agencies in accordance with their respective policies.

Federal Title IV Funds Return Policy  

Federal regulations require a return of Title IV financial aid if you:

  • Received federal assistance in the form of on or more of the following Title IV financial aid programs: a Federal Pell Grant; Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG); Federal Perkins Loan; Federal Direct Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized); PLUS (parent or graduate) loan; Federal TEACH Grant; and
  • Withdrew or ceased attending all classes on or before completing 60 percent of the semester, the Federal government mandates that you may only keep the financial aid you have earned up to the time you withdraw from all classes.

The federal government mandates that you may only keep the financial aid you have earned up to the time you withdraw from all classes. To determine the amount of federal aid earned up to the time of withdrawal, Enrollment Services will divide the number of calendar days you attended classes by the total number of calendar days in the semester (less any scheduled break of five days or more). The resulting percentage is then multiplied by the total federal funds that you accepted. This calculation determines the amount of aid that you earned and are allowed to keep.

The unearned portion of your aid must be returned to the federal Title IV program from which the aid was received by the University and/or by you. A notification letter will be sent to your permanent address if your financial aid is reduced and a return is required. If you are required to return any Title IV loan funds, you will be contacted by your Federal Direct Loan servicer with repayment information. If the University is required to return any Title IV funds, the change will be reflected on your student account. Financial aid return allocations must occur in the following order:

  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
  • Federal Direct PLUS Graduate Loan
  • Federal Direct PLUS Parent Loan
  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • Federal TEACH Grants
  • Other federal loan or grant assistance

If a student is thinking about withdrawing from all classes prior to completing 60% of the term, the student should contact Enrollment Services to determine how a withdrawal will affect financial aid.

Dropped Classes

How dropping credits affect your financial aid

Dropping credits may jeopardize student aid eligibility, including loans. Whether or not to drop a course is an academic issue. However, it is the student’s responsibility to understand the financial implications of this decision. Please contact Enrollment Services financial aid counseling if you have any questions.

Future student aid eligibility

  • If you drop below half-time enrollment (less than 6 credits as an undergraduate and 5 credits as a graduate), you may be ineligible for aid, including loans. Depending on the time during the semester that you drop a course(s), your aid may be adjusted.
  • You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress from one semester to the next or you may become ineligible for aid, including loans.

Dropping Credits Prior to the End of the Late Add Period

First day of classes through Late Add Period – See Academic Calendar                            

Impacts on your aid eligibility:

  • You will be responsible for the balance of your tuition bill if your aid is adjusted.
  • Your financial aid awards will be reviewed for enrollment changes at the end of the Late Add Period. Your financial aid award(s) may be adjusted if your award(s) requires full-time or half-time enrollment and your credits drop below the minimum required.
  • If you are a Federal Pell Grant recipient, the grant may be adjusted; for example, if you drop from 12 to 9 credits, your grant will be prorated.
  • If you have a loan(s) that requires a minimum number of credits, and the loan has not disbursed, you may become ineligible for the loan. Loan eligibility is determined at the time of disbursement.

Dropping Credits During the Late Drop Period

First day after Late Add Period ends through Last Day for students to Drop in e-Campus See Academic Calendar

Impacts on your aid eligibility:

  • You will be responsible for the balance of your tuition bill if your aid is adjusted.
  • Your undisbursed financial aid award(s) may be adjusted if your award(s) requires full-time or half-time enrollment and your credits drop below the minimum required.
  • For example, if you have a loan(s) that requires a minimum number of credits, and the loan has not disbursed, you may become ineligible for the loan. Loan eligibility is determined at the time of disbursement.
  • Late Dropping of Credits may jeopardize future aid eligibility. You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress or you may become ineligible for aid, including loans. If you receive financial aid for full time enrollment, but do not complete the full time number of credits, your financial aid eligibility may be negatively impacted for the upcoming semester(s).

Repeated course work

Federal regulations allow repeated courses to be included in determining financial aid enrollment status, as long as there is not more than one repeat of a previously passed course. If a previously passed course is being repeated more than once, credits for the course will not count in the determination of financial aid enrollment status or cost of attendance. For example, if you enroll for 12 credits while repeating a previously passed 3-credit course for the second time, you would only receive financial aid as a three-quarter-time student. All repeated courses as well as the original attempt are included in determining satisfactory academic progress.

Information regarding taking a leave of absence or withdrawal

Please visit our LOA/Withdrawal page for more information on how to take a leave of absence or an official withdrawal.

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Note:

The federal return of Title IV funds policy is a separate and distinct policy from our billing adjustment policy.