Financial Aid Withdrawal Policy and Title IV - Return of Federal Financial Aid Funds

Policy

The Financial Aid Office is required by Federal regulation to calculate a Return of Title IV funds for all students who withdraw during a term.  The policy applies to students who discontinue enrollment in all classes, on or after the first day of the term.  The Return of Title IV Funds is the amount of unearned aid you received at the beginning of the term that must be returned to the assigned federal aid programs.  Any aid received in excess of the earned amount is considered unearned.  The earned portion is calculated on a daily basis using calendar days from the first day of instruction.  Additionally, any State grant funds received may be subject to the same earned and unearned calculation.

The calculated returned aid funds are credited to outstanding federal loans and grants received by the student in the following required order:

1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
2. Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
3. Federal PLUS Loan
4. Federal Pell Grant
5. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
6. Federal TEACH Grant
7. Other Title IV Assistance for which a return of funds is required
8. State Grant funds: State University Grant, Cal Grant A or B Fees
9. Middle Class Scholarship (MCS)

The student’s portion of the calculated amount attributable to a Title IV loan program may be repaid by the student according to the loan’s terms.  The student’s portion of unearned aid attributable to a grant will be reduced.

The student has 45 days to enter into repayment arrangement with CSU, Fresno or with the U.S. Department of Education.

Calculation

The portion of financial aid to be returned is determined by the percentage of financial aid not earned by the student.  The percentage of unearned aid is calculated according to the total Number of Calendar Days in the Term Not Completed by the Student divided by Total Number of Calendar Days in the Term.  During the first 60% of the enrollment period, a student "earns" Title IV funds in direct proportion to the length of time that he or she remains enrolled. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point earns 100% of the aid for the period.  A student who withdraws from the University before the 60% date may be required to return all or a portion of financial aid funds.  The amount to be returned will be based on the formula stated above by calculating the financial aid funds that were used to pay the student's tuition and fee, as well as the portion directly disbursed to the student.

Consequences of Outstanding Repayment Obligation

CSU, Fresno does not have the authority to waive or write off the repayment requirement regardless of the reason for the withdrawal, including extenuating circumstances such as illness, accident, or grievous personal loss.

A student who fails to return the unearned Federal Financial Aid funds will be referred to the U.S. Department of Education for collection and the University may withhold permission to register, to use facilities, or render services.  Until the repayment issue is resolved, the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) record will be “flagged” every time a student files for aid.  A student in repayment is ineligible for Financial Aid at any other institution in the nation until it can be verified the student is in repayment.  In addition to referral to the U.S. Department of Education, failure to pay this debt by the due date may also result in an offset of your state income tax refund, and/or referral to a third-party collection agency.

Official Withdrawal Process

Students who find it necessary to withdraw from CSU, Fresno after enrolling for any academic term are required to follow the official withdrawal procedures.  Failure to follow formal withdrawal procedures may result in the assignment of failing grades, or the assignment of an unofficial withdrawal by the course instructor(s) in all courses and the need to apply for readmission before being permitted to enroll in another academic term.

Students needing to withdraw for the current term, can start the process online by accessing the Drop/Withdrawal Form located in the Student Center under My Academic Records and Registration.  Please note that effective the Spring 2023 semester, only PDF files will be accepted as documentation to upload with your drop/withdrawal request.  For more information please visit the Office of the University Registrars website here.