Tuition Refund Policies

The tuition refund policy applies to all Simmons University graduate students and is applicable to all Fall and Spring terms starting Fall 2021. 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 2021 & Spring 2022: All Graduate Students

Course Dropped	% of Tuition Charges Canceled
on or before 14 calendar days after term start	100%
on or before 21 calendar days after term start	80%
on or before 28 calendar days after term start	60%
on or before 35 calendar days after term start	40%
on or before 42 calendar days after term start	20%
43 or more days after term start	0%

Tuition Refund Schedule for Online Students Residing in Maryland

Proportion of Total Course, Program, Or Term Completed as of Date of Withdrawal or Termination	% of Tuition Charges Canceled
Less than 10%	90%
10% up to but not including 20%	80%
20 % up to but not including 30%	60%
30 % up to but not including 40%	40%
40 % up to but not including 60%	20%
More than 60%	0%

Tuition Refund Schedule Condensed Graduate Courses

This refund schedule applies to on-campus graduate courses that are 2 weeks or shorter:

Course Dropped	% 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

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.