Return of Title IV Funds

Students sometimes find it necessary to withdraw from all classes during a semester. Depending on when this occurs, students may receive a refund of all or part of tuition and fees. If the student is a financial aid recipient, the University and student may be required to return the aid, or a portion of it, to the federal government.

Tuition Refund Policy: The University has a tuition refund policy stipulating the amount of tuition and fees refunded to a student who withdraws from all classes during a term. The Registrar’s Office determines specific tuition refund dates each term and selects "Registration Deadlines" for the specific semester.  Students must notify the Registrar’s Office immediately by following specific withdrawal procedures. Visit the Office of the Registrar for hours of operation. 

Unofficial withdrawals: The federal government considers an unofficial withdrawal one in which a failing grade is received when a student does not attend or stops attending, a class for which he/she is enrolled. In these cases, students can be required to repay the aid received. If you have questions about enrollment and aid eligibility, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for assistance.

Returning Title IV (Federal) Financial Aid

When a student withdraws from all classes, the federal government requires that any unearned financial aid be returned. This aid must be returned in the following order:

  1. Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
  2. Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
  3. Federal Direct PLUS (Parent) Loan or Grad PLUS Loan
  4. Federal Pell Grant
  5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  6. TEACH Grants

How Return of Title IV Funds Works

When a student withdraws, only the aid they have "earned" up until the withdrawal date can be kept. Any excess funds must be returned to the federal government by the University or the student.

To calculate the "earned" amount:

  • We divide the number of days the student attended by the total number of days in the semester (excluding breaks longer than 5 days).
  • This percentage is then multiplied by the total federal aid disbursed for the semester to determine how much aid the student has earned.

For example, if a student attended 25% of the semester, they’ve earned 25% of the financial aid disbursed. The remaining unearned aid must be returned.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursement

In some cases, students who withdraw may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement if they’ve earned additional aid. For this, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Submit a valid FAFSA before withdrawal.
  • Have been offered federal aid by the University (including a signed loan agreement for Direct Loans).