If you receive financial aid and withdraw from the University, you may be required to repay all or part of the aid that was awarded to you. You may also be required to complete an exit loan counseling session.
If you find it necessary to withdraw from the University (i.e., drop all of your courses) during a given semester or term, you must complete and submit a Withdrawal Authorization Form to the Office of the University Registrar. As part of this withdrawal process, you are required to secure approval of your withdrawal from our office.
If you withdraw from all of your classes prior to the first class day, you must repay all the financial aid you received. If you withdraw on or after the first class day, all courses dropped will be counted towards your attempted hours for the purpose of maintaining satisfactory academic progress, and you may have to repay a portion of any aid received.
If you withdraw from the University before completing 60% of the semester, you will have your financial aid adjusted based on the percentage of the semester you did complete.
For example: If you withdraw from classes 30% into the semester, you did not earn 70% of the aid awarded to you.
What happens to my financial aid when I withdraw from the University?
Upon withdrawing, you will receive a letter detailing the exact amount of aid that was not earned and that now must be returned to the University and/or the U.S. Department of Education.
What if I don't withdraw? What if I just stop going to class?
If you "unofficially" withdraw from the University due to non-attendance, you will have your aid readjusted using the semester midpoint as your last day of attendance. Upon determination of the "unofficial" withdrawal, a letter will be sent to you detailing the exact amount of aid that was not earned and that now must be returned to the University and/or the U.S. Department of Education.
Something else to keep in mind: if you just "stop going" to class, not only will you have to repay all unearned financial aid, you will also receive failing grades in all of your classes.
Are there any exceptions to the rule?
Yes. Students called to active military service and students dealing with a prolonged illness or serious incapacitating injury can learn more about available exceptions via the University Registrar's web site.
