> Financial Aid > Student Withdrawal Policy
Student Withdrawal Policy
Students who withdraw from UCI prior to completing 60% of the period for which
they received federal financial aid will be subject to both the UC Fee Refund
Policy and the Federal Return of Title IV Funds policy. Title IV Funds are federal
funds awarded to a student to meet educational expenses. Examples of Title IV
Funds include: Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
(FSEOG), Federal Direct Loans and Federal Perkins Loans.
Cancellation of Enrollment- Students who cancel their registration
or have their registration cancelled by the University prior to the first day
of classes will be invoiced for all financial aid disbursed on their behalf.
UC FEE REFUND POLICY
Students who withdraw may have some of their fees refunded under the UC Fee
Refund policy. Any refund due a student will first go toward any federal financial
aid amounts paid on behalf of the student or to the student, regardless of what
source was used to pay fees. The UC Fee Refund Policy is detailed in the General
Catalogue at www.editor.uci.edu/05-06/intro/intro.7.htm.
In brief the policy is as follows:
New Undergraduate and Graduate Students Who Receive Financial Aid and
Withdraw During Their First Academic Term
Through the first day of instruction, fees are refunded in full, except for
the $100 Undergraduate Acceptance of Admission Fee, the $500 Graduate Full Time
MBA Admission Fee/Deposit and the $1000 Graduate PWP Admission Fee/Deposit.
The UC refund amount for new students who receive Title IV Federal financial
assistance and withdraw during their first term at UCI is calculated as shown
on the left side of the table below.
All Other Undergraduate and Graduate Students - All Continuing and
Re-admitted Students and All New Students Who do not Receive Financial Aid
Through the first day of instruction, fees are refunded in full, except for
(1) a $10 service charge, and (2) the Graduate Student Health Insurance Fee
(Full Time MBA Students Only). The UC refund amount is prorated
as shown on the right side of the table below.
| New Undergraduate and
Graduate Students Who Receive Financial Aid and Withdraw During Their
First Academic Terms |
All Other Undergraduate
and Graduate Students - All Continuing and Re-admitted Students and All
New Students Who do not Receive Financial Aid |
| Calendar days, beginning with the first
day of instruction |
UC Fee Refund |
Calendar days, beginning with the first
day of instruction |
UC Fee Refund |
| 1 |
100 percent |
1 |
100 percent |
| 2-7 |
90 percent |
2-7 |
90 percent |
| 8-14 |
80 percent |
8-18 |
50 percent |
| 15-21 |
70 percent |
19-35 |
25 percent |
| 22-28 |
60 percent |
Over 35 |
No refund |
| 29-35 |
50 percent |
|
| 36-42 |
40 percent |
| Over 42 |
No refund |
FEDERAL RETURN OF TITLE IV FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The federal law requires federal aid recipients to "earn" most of
the aid they receive by staying enrolled in college at least half time. Students
who withdraw prior to completing 60% of the quarter for which they received
federal student aid may be required to return some of the aid they were awarded.
The Return of Title IV financial aid is based upon the amount of federal financial
aid received, the University charges incurred AND the date of withdrawal. University
charges include fees, out-of-state tuition, and on-campus housing charges. Students
who withdraw prior to completing 60% of the quarter will "earn" financial
aid paid to them (or used to pay their fees) each day of the quarter they are
enrolled. Students who withdraw after completing 60% of the quarter will have
earned all financial aid received.
Withdrawal Process
Students withdrawing from the University must contact the Business School Student
Services Office as well as the Business School Financial Aid Office. The Business
School Student Services Office will provide the student with the University's
official withdrawal form that must be completed by the student, the Business
School, the Registrar's Office, the Academic Dean and the University Ombudsman
for processing. The official withdrawal date that the University will use for
Title IV return of aid is the date the student initiates the withdrawal process
(not the date the withdrawal paperwork was completed). This date generally will
be the same date used to calculate the UC Fee Refund.
The Office of Financial Aid will be notified of a student's withdrawal from
the University by the Business School Student Services Office. The Office of
Financial Aid and Scholarships will calculate the amount of federal financial
assistance the student "earned" (based on the percentage of the quarter
the student was enrolled prior to initiating the withdrawal) and will return
to the federal government the University's portion of the "unearned"
amount. The student will be billed for the student's "unearned" portion
of any federal Title IV financial aid received. The UC Fee Refund amount (as
calculated above) will be applied first to the University's portion.
Return of Federal Title IV Funds
The federal formula requires a return of federal Title IV financial aid if the
student received financial assistance in the form of a Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental
Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Student Loan
or PLUS loan and withdrew prior to completing 60% of the quarter. The percentage
of aid to be returned is equal to the number of calendar days remaining in the
quarter divided by the number of calendar days in the quarter. The University
will return to the federal government any funds that were credited from the
UC Fee Refund first. If the amount returned by the University is not enough
to repay the entire amount "unearned" amount, the student will be
required to return portions of amounts that they received to pay for non-institutional
charges -- books, supplies, off-campus living expenses.
Amounts that are returned to the federal government, either from the UC Fee
Refund or by the student, will first be applied to the student's federal loans.
If the student owes any federal loan funds after the University has paid back
its share, they will be permitted to repay the loans based on the original terms
of the loans -- usually a ten-year repayment term after a grace period and deferment
period if the student returns to school. In addition, the student may be required
to return portions of grants such as Pell and Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) that they have received. In the case of "unearned"
portions of federally funded grants, the student will be expected to pay 50%
of the "unearned" portion immediately or to make satisfactory arrangements
to repay that amount.
For students who fail to "officially" withdraw from the University,
the University will calculate the Return of Title IV financial aid using the
mid-point of the quarter as the "official" withdrawal date, and will
bill the student for any funds due the federal government. Because the student
did not complete an "official" withdrawal from the University, there
will be no UC Fee Refund and the student will be billed for any amounts due
back to the federal government.
A Final Note
Any student contemplating withdrawing from the University should contact the
Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to speak with a financial aid counselor
concerning the financial ramifications of withdrawing.