You may decide that you must withdraw from a class or classes sometime after the semester begins. Withdrawing from class can have short-term and long-range affects on your eligibility to receive financial aid payments. In general, withdrawals can have a negative impact on your ability to receive and keep receiving financial aid.

Over time, excessive numbers of withdrawals can cause you not to meet satisfactory academic progress standards for Federal or State aid.

Before You Withdraw

We suggest that you speak with your instructors and an academic advisor if you think you have to withdraw from a class. Decisions related to academic program should not be based solely on financial considerations, and an advisor can perhaps lead you to a better solution – one that doesn’t require you to withdraw.   You may want to consider the information provided here in any decision to withdraw from a class or classes. 

When You Withdraw – Short-Term Effects

Your semester tuition and fee bill will be adjusted according to the college’s Tuition Refund Policy.

Federal Work-Study (FWS) students must maintain at least half-time enrollment to receive these funds. If you are working in the FWS program, you must stop working from the day you cease to be enrolled at least half-time. You do not have to repay any monies you have already earned. 

Students who participate in the Direct Loan Program must maintain an enrollment status of at least half-time (at least 6 credit hours).  Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans have a 6 month grace period that starts the day after students graduate, leave school, or drop below 6 credit hours.  Students must begin repayment of their loans after the 6 month grace period ends.

Students awarded Federal financial aid* will be subject to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy:           

1. Federal Law specifies how a school must determine the amount of federal financial aid* that a student earns if he/she withdraws, drops out, is dismissed, or takes a leave of absence prior to completing more than 60% of a payment period.


2. The amount of federal financial aid assistance that the student earns is determined on a pro-rata basis.  Once the student has completed more than 60% of the payment period, all financial aid assistance is considered to be earned.
   
   Percent earned = Number of calendar days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total calendar days in the payment period with an allowance for any scheduled breaks that are at least 5 days long.
   
   Percent Unearned = 100% minus percent earned.


3. When a student receives federal financial aid in excess of earned aid,
   
   The School Returns the Lesser of:  Institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage, or Title IV federal financial aid disbursed multiplied by the unearned percentage.
   
   The Student Returns:  Any loan funds are repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note; that Is, scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time.  Any grant amount the student has to return is a grant over-payment, and arrangements must be made with the school or Department of Education to return the funds.


4. The student is billed for funds the college is required to repay.  The Business Office invoices the student and accounts not paid within 90 days are turned over to a collection agency.
   
   *Federal financial aid includes the federal Pell Grant and the federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (SEOG).
   
   This means that you may have to repay all or part of the financial aid disbursed for the semester in which you withdraw if you do not complete more than 60% of the semester.

When You Withdraw – Long-Range Impact

All course withdrawals recorded on your permanent record may affect your eligibility to meet Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements and could result in a loss of future Federal financial aid.