Refund Policy
FEDERAL (TITLE IV AID) REFUND POLICY
Federal regulations require the use of the Return of Title IV Funds Policy to be used for all students receiving any type of federal aid when calculating the aid a student can retain after withdrawing. This policy relates to Federal Pell and FSEOG Grants, as well as Federal Perkins, Federal Direct Stafford and Federal Direct PLUS loans. The same policy will be used for State and institutional aid.
Title IV regulations govern the return of aid disbursed for a student who completely withdraws from a term or semester. During the first sixty percent (60%) of the term or semester, a student "earns" aid in direct proportion to the length of time the student remains enrolled. A student who remains enrolled beyond the sixty percent (60%) point earns all aid for that period.
Effective July 1, 2021, for students enrolled in modules (a session within the semester that is part of that semester), the period of enrollment for which a calculation of the percentage 鈥渆arned鈥� is the number of calendar days in the modules aid is paid on excluding any breaks of 5 or more calendar days (cumulative between modules or otherwise).
The 60% earned calculation still applies and students who complete 60% or more of the modules for which aid was paid will have no return of aid and will be considered to have earned 100%. In addition, students who have successfully completed 49% of all the countable module days (this does not include any days between modules) will be excluded from the Return of Title IV requirement, and any aid paid will be retained with the exception of Pell grant which will be recalculated to only the classes the students complete. This exclusion does not apply to classes that were not completed or for which the student has an 鈥淔鈥� grade earned or unearned.
The regulations have changed for how a return of aid calculation is performed for students who are enrolled in modules and are withdrawn. Some exclusions, such as the 49% exclusion listed above, to complete the Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation may apply. These rules are effective July 1, 2021, and a full description of the change to the rules can be found at:
The Financial Aid & Consumer Information Handbook contains information about USM鈥檚 financial aid programs and policies. It also includes consumer information required by the U.S. Department of Education. It is available online at www.stmary.edu/scholarships.
It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to formally notify the Registrar鈥檚 Office and to follow proper procedures when dropping a course or withdrawing, Failure to pay fees, failure to receive financial aid, failure to attend class, or refusing financial aid does not constitute an official withdrawal.
The amount of tuition refund will be based on the official drop or withdrawal date, not attendance. The official drop or withdrawal date is the date that the formal drop or withdrawal notice is initiated by the student, as determined by records maintained in the Registrar鈥檚 Office. The refund time periods commence with the first day of classes according to the academic calendar and not the beginning date of individual courses. Please see the academic calendar for specific dates.
Course Completion Refund Rate:
- 0 - 10%: 100%
- 10.01 - 25%: 50%
- 25.01 - 100%: 0%
Room & Board Refunds
Rooms are rented for the semester. The below refund policy applies if a student cancels his/her contract after the semester start and the date used to determine the refund will be the date the notice of cancellation is postmarked. In the event of a withdrawal/dismissal, the amount of room and board refund will be based on the official drop or withdrawal date, not attendance. The official drop or withdrawal date is the date that the formal drop or withdrawal notice is initiated by the student, as determined by records maintained in the Registrar鈥檚 Office. The refund time periods commence with the first day of classes according to the academic calendar and not the beginning date of individual courses.
Semester Completion Refund Rate:
- 0 - 10%: 100%
- 10.01 - 25%: 50%
- 25.01 - 100%: 0%
Important Notes
- Advance tuition deposits are not refunded
- Advanced housing deposits are not refunded.
- Fees are not refunded.
- Tuition is refunded in full for workshops that have been canceled three (3) days prior to the workshop start date. Cancellation may be made in person, by phone, or by email by contacting the Education Department鈥檚 Administrative Assistant. There are no refunds for withdrawals past the workshop date or for not attending.
- Review Military Withdrawal Policy in the VA Educational Benefits section for special circumstances.
- Online students residing in certain states are entitled to a different refund policy.
MARYLAND REFUND POLICY
According to Maryland Higher Education Association, if an institution鈥檚 refund policy is not beneficial to students, the institution shall follow the refund policy and provide for refunds of tuition to Maryland students as provided in the regulation. If an institution鈥檚 refund policy is more beneficial to Maryland students, the institution shall follow its refund policy and provide for refunds of tuition to Maryland students as provided in the policy. The Maryland Higher Education Association requires an institution鈥檚 refund policy for Maryland students to be clearly disclosed to, and acknowledged by, students at enrollment.
The Maryland refund policy is more beneficial to students in all areas except for under 10% completion. USM refunds 100% of the tuition under 10% but Maryland only requires 90%
The following policy would meet the requirements set forth by the Maryland Higher Education Association:
Course Completion Refund Rate
- Less than 10%: 100%
- 10% but not including 20%: 80%
- 20% but not including 30%: 60%
- 30% but not including 40%: 40%
- 40% but not including 60%: 20%
- More than 60%: No Refund
WISCONSIN REFUND POLICY
According to the State of Wisconsin Educational Approval Board (EAB) 8.05 the University of 花椒直播鈥檚 refund policy is more beneficial to students in one instance, zero to 10% course completion. The following policy would meet the requirements set forth by the Wisconsin EAB and would be issued to Wisconsin students only:
Course Completion Refund Rate
- 0 - 10%: 100%
- 11 - 20%: 80%
- 21 - 30%: 70%
- 31 - 40%: 60%
- 41 - 50%: 50%
- 51 - 60%: 40%
- 61% +: No Refund