Withdrawals and Refunds
Refunds will be determined after the 100% drop date has ended. The student must initiate a drop before the 100% drop date in order to receive a full refund of tuition and fees. In addition, refunds will be received after the funds are disbursed to your account or after the 100% drop date for the current semester, whichever is later. All refunds are mailed to the primary residence address on file or the student may sign up for direct deposit (eRefund) through the Business Office.
A student's withdrawal from the University will occur as of the day they submit a completed, official withdrawal form to the Dean of Student Success (undergraduate students) or the Graduate Studies and Research Office (graduate students). Forms for adding or dropping courses are available in the Registrar's Office or online. Notice to an instructor or any other office does not cancel registration or a student's contract with the Business Office.
WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT PROPER NOTICE ENTAILS FAILURE IN ALL COURSES FOR THE SEMESTER AND LIABILITY FOR FULL PAYMENT OF ALL TUITION, FEES, AND OTHER CHARGES. THIS MAY CAUSE AID TO BE PULLED FROM YOUR ACCOUNT AND RETURNED TO ITS SOURCE ACCORDING TO RETURN OF TITLE IV REGULATIONS.
Students will be refunded tuition and fee charges at 100% or 0% based on the last day for 100% drop/withdrawal, as outlined in the Academic Calendar. If students have received federal aid during the semester and withdraw from or stop attending all courses before the end of the semester, the Office of Financial Assistance will return the unearned portion of federal aid funds disbursed based on the guidelines established by the Department of Education.
Please see the Academic Calendar for the specific 100% drop dates for each individual semester or term.
Resident Meal Plans: The unused portion of a meal plan purchased in the summer and fall term may be used in the following spring term. Unused meal points at the end of the spring semester are forfeited and not refundable. Meal plans are not transferable. When a resident student withdraws from the University, the lesser of the unused portion or prorated amount of the meal plan will be credited to the student's account. Please see the Return of Title IV Funds policy below.
Appeals to Refund Policy:
Contact the Business Office for exceptions to the withdrawal and refund policy due to medical or other extenuating circumstances.
Return of Title IV Funds:
As a requirement set forth by the Department of Education, the Office of Financial Assistance is required to return a percentage of Federal Financial Aid that was disbursed to students who have completely withdrawn from UIW or have stopped attending all classes (unofficial withdrawal). The amount of aid returned is determined by the following formula:
Number of days attended / Total days in the semester = % of aid "earned."
Any aid above and beyond this amount must be returned to its source. Additionally, if you receive a partial or full refund of tuition and fees, any State or Institutional grants must be reduced by the percentage of refund you received. Please call the Office of Financial Assistance at (210) 829-6008 if you have any questions about the effect of a withdrawal on your financial aid.
Please remember that withdrawals affect your future status of Satisfactory Academic Progress. For more information about Satisfactory Academic Progress, please see https://www.uiw.edu/finaid/sapinfo.html
The amounts owed for a Title IV return will be refunded to their sources in the following order:
Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans
Subsidized Direct Stafford Loans
Federal Perkins Loans
Direct PLUS loan for Graduate Students
Direct Parent PLUS Loans
Federal PELL Grant
Federal SEOG Grant
Federal TEACH Program
Iraq/Afghanistan Service Grant
Other Title IV Assistance
State, Private and Institutional Aid
Student Payments, Parent Payments
A student who withdraws and has received federal student loans must complete an exit counseling session. The student may fulfill this requirement by logging on to to https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/ or visiting the Office of Financial Assistance for a counseling session.
In addition, if students received an institutional loan such as Perkins, Ralston, Nursing, or Faculty Nursing and are not planning on attending the forthcoming semester or are planning to graduate, these students are required to complete an electronic exit interview at https://www.uaservice.com/Borrower-Student/Complete_Exit_Interview.html. Please call the Business Office at (210) 829-6043 if you have any questions or to receive instructions on completing an exit interview.
Late Disbursement of Federal Loans and Grants, Private or State Financial Aid:
The Office of Financial Assistance will determine the amounts to be credited to the student’s account prior to the refund calculation based on federal, state, or private source regulations.