Tuition Refund Policies
The tuition refund policy applies to all Simmons University students. Students are responsible for abiding by the published tuition refund deadlines. Tuition is not refundable when students drop or withdraw from courses after published deadlines. Should a student completely withdraw from all coursework after classes have begun, he/she may still be accountable for a portion of tuition, room & board as well as other fees.
The percentage of tuition to be refunded is calculated using the official drop date of the course as determined by the Registrar. Non-attendance does not constitute a drop or withdrawal from a course.
In all cases, students should be aware that any reduction in the number of registered credit hours and subsequent charges may affect their financial aid. Students considering a withdrawal or reduction in credit hours are strongly encouraged to contact their Financial Aid Officer, prior to course withdrawal, to determine the impact on financial aid eligibility. Simmons University is responsible for adhering to rules established by the federal government that determine the amount of federal financial aid a student is allowed to keep toward university charges. Please refer to the "Return of Title IV Aid" section of this webpage for more detailed information.
Tuition Refund Schedule – Fall & Spring: All Graduate Students*
Course Dropped on or Before
|
% of Tuition Charges Canceled
|
By 11:59 p.m. on the day before the 2nd class meeting
|
100%
|
On or after day of 2nd class meeting
|
80%
|
On or after day of 3rd class meeting
|
60%
|
On or after day of 4th class meeting
|
40%
|
On or after day of 5th class meeting
|
20%
|
Day of 6th class meeting or after
|
0%
|
*This refund schedule applies to ALL on-campus and online graduate students (except as noted below)
The refund schedule below applies to the following Nursing@Simmons courses effective for terms starting in September 2020 or after:
Course Dropped on or Before
|
% of Tuition Charges Canceled
|
7 days after first class
|
100%
|
8-14 days after first class
|
80%
|
15-21 days after first class
|
60%
|
22-28 days after first class
|
40%
|
29-35 days after first class
|
20%
|
36 days after first class
|
0%
|
Tuition Refund Schedule – Summer: All Graduate Students
This summer refund schedule applies to the following programs:
- BehaviorAnalysis@Simmons
- HCMBA@Simmons
- MBA@Simmons
- Nursing@Simmons
- Social Work@Simmons
- Public Health@Simmons
Course Dropped on or Before
|
% of Tuition Charges Canceled
|
By 11:59 p.m. on the day before the 2nd class meeting
|
100%
|
On or after day of 2nd class meeting
|
80%
|
On or after day of 3rd class meeting
|
60%
|
On or after day of 4th class meeting
|
40%
|
On or after day of 5th class meeting
|
20%
|
Day of 6th class meeting or after
|
0%
|
This summer refund schedule applies to the following programs:
- ALL On-Campus Graduate Students
- SLIS Online Programs
- Health Professions Education (PhD)
- Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Off-Site Programs
Course Dropped on or Before
|
% of Tuition Charges Canceled
|
On or before the first day of class
|
100%
|
On or before the second day of class
|
80%
|
After the second day of class
|
0%
|
The refund schedule below applies to the following Nursing@Simmons courses effective for terms starting in September 2020 or after:
Course Dropped on or Before
|
% of Tuition Charges Canceled
|
7 days after first class
|
100%
|
8-14 days after first class
|
80%
|
15-21 days after first class
|
60%
|
22-28 days after first class
|
40%
|
29-35 days after first class
|
20%
|
36 days after first class
|
0%
|
Appeal for Exception to Tuition Refund Policy
Students are responsible for abiding by the published deadlines on the Academic Calendar and the Tuition Refund Schedule. Tuition is not refundable when students drop or withdraw from courses after the published
deadlines. If circumstances beyond the student’s control have made the late drop or withdrawal necessary, the student may appeal the tuition charge. Before a student can appeal the tuition charges, they must be officially withdrawn or dropped from the courses for which they are appealing the tuition. In all cases, students should be aware that any reduction in the number of registered credit hours and subsequent charges may affect their financial aid. It is highly recommended that all students discuss their individual situation with Student Financial Services.
Petition Refund Exceptions:
- Death of an immediate family member
- Medical condition requiring extended medical care where continuing school is impractical or impossible
- Military deployment or military commitments
- Other documented extraordinary extenuating circumstances may be considered
These circumstances are NOT sufficient to support a Tuition Refund Appeal:
- Not being aware of the Registration Deadline (add/drop deadline) or forgetting you were registered
- Insufficient financial aid or financial hardship
- Dropping courses to avoid bad grades
- Deciding that school/life/schedule is overwhelming
- Academic or disciplinary dismissal
- Dissatisfaction with an instructor or course content or determining that courses you took do not your academic or personal goals
Please be aware that:
- You must have OFFICIALLY dropped your course(s) during the semester for which you are petitioning. Simmons does not drop courses for non-payment or non-attendance
- Refunds cannot be given for courses in which students have recorded grades
- Petitions must be submitted within six months of the start of the term
- Please submit the petition form with all supporting documentation. Incomplete petitions and petitions lacking supporting documentation will not be considered
Supporting Documentation
The burden of proof rests with the students to submit documentation of the circumstances that prevent the student from adhering to the Simmons policies. All statements in the petition MUST be documented.
Documentation may include, but is not limited to:
Death of an immediate family member:
- Certificate of death or obituaries listing relationship to deceased individual
- Immediate family is defined as spouse, sibling, children, and/or parents
Medical condition requiring extended medical care where continuing school is impractical or impossible. (This provision specifically excludes conditions or chronic illnesses that remain static and are known to the student at the time of enrollment. Please do not submit medical bills or insurance claims. Statement from the physician or hospital on official letterhead that provides:
- Date the medical condition was diagnosed
- Dates of treatment
- Dates of hospitalization or confinement, recuperation period, release from treatment
- How this condition affected your university attendance
Military deployment or military commitments:
- Military orders if the student’s military unit was activated and deployed during the semester
- Other official legal documents that substantiate the inability to participate in courses during the semester due to the deployment or military commitments
Submit the Appeal for Exception to Tuition Refund Policy Form and all supporting documentation to Student Financial Services, Bursar.
Download the Appeal for Exception to Tuition Refund Policy Form on the Student Financial Services website.