Withdrawal – Refund Policy

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 substantially changed the way funds paid toward a student’s education are to be handled when a recipient of Title IV funds withdraws from a school. A statutory schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds a student has earned when he or she ceases attendance based on the period the student was in attendance.  Up through the 60% point in each payment period (term), a pro rata schedule is used to determine how much Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of the withdrawal.  After the 60% point in the payment period (term), a student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds.

The withdrawal date is the date the student signs and submits the Course Withdrawal Form to the Office of the Registrar for students who officially withdraw from the college.  Student’s who do not officially withdraw from the college may be considered an unofficial withdrawal if she/he receives a failing grade (“F”) in ALL classes for which the student was registered in the term and began class attendance.  A student can appeal this unofficial withdrawal status to the Office of Financial Aid in ten (10) working days of the date official notification was sent to the student.  The student must in her/his appeal provide documentation, which can be confirmed by the instructor, Dean or Assistant Dean of the applicable division.  The following are acceptable forms of such documentation: exams, records of attendance, tutorials, computer-assisted instruction, counseling, academic advisement, or study groups.  The withdrawal date for a student considered an unofficial withdrawal date will be the midpoint of the term for which Title IV funds were disbursed.

If a student receives less Title IV program funds than the amount earned, the college must comply with the procedures for late disbursement specified by the Department of Education regulations.  If a student receives more Title IV program funds than the amount earned, the college will return the unearned funds, as required and in the order specified, to the Title IV program(s).  The student will owe the amount returned to the College and must pay this amount before registering for any subsequent terms or make satisfactory repayment arrangements with the College’s Bursar’s Office.

Refunds on behalf of a Title IV aid recipient must be distributed in the following order:

(1)    Federal Unsubsidized Stafford

(2)    Federal Subsidized Stafford

(3)    Federal PLUS (Parent Loan)

(4)    Federal Perkins Loan

(5)    Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

(6)    Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans

(7)    Federal Perkins Loans

(8)    Federal Pell Grant

(9)    Federal SEOG

(10)  Other federal, state, private or institutional sources of aid

(11)  Student

Repayments from Title IV recipients must be distributed as follows:

(1)    Federal Perkins Loans

(2)    Federal Pell Grants

(3)    Federal SEOG

(4)    Other Title IV programs

(5)    Other federal, state, private or institutional sources of aid

NOTE:  The College’s tuition refund policy can be found in the College Catalog and Schedule of Classes.