The law specifies how UConn must determine the amount of Federal Title IV program assistance you “earn” if you withdraw from school. The Title IV programs that are covered by this law are Federal Pell, Iraq and Afghanistan Service, and TEACH grants; Federal Direct Student and Plus loans; and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity grants (FSEOG).

When you withdraw, the following formula is used to determine the percent of unearned aid that has to be returned to the federal government:

The percent of aid earned is equal to the number of calendar days completed up to the withdrawal date, divided by the total calendar days in the payment period (minus any scheduled breaks that are at least 5 days long).

For example, if you completed 30 percent of your payment or enrollment period, you earn 30 percent of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. Once you have completed more than 60 percent of the payment or enrollment period, you earn all assistance that you were scheduled to receive for that period.

When a student officially withdraws from UConn, the withdrawal date is the date the student began the institution’s withdrawal process or officially notified the institution of their intent to withdraw. When a student unofficially withdraws, UConn may use either the student’s last date of attendance at an academically-related activity or the midpoint of the period as the student’s withdrawal date.

If you received (or if UConn or your parent received on your behalf) less assistance than the amount you earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds. If you received more assistance than you earned, the excess funds must be returned by UConn and/or you.

If you did not receive all of the funds that you earned, you may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. If the post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, UConn must get your permission before it can disburse them. You may choose to decline some or all of the loan funds so that you do not incur additional debt. UConn may automatically use all or a portion of your post-withdrawal disbursement (including loan funds, if you accept them) for tuition, fees, and room and board charges as contracted with the school.

You will receive written notification from the Office of Student Financial Aid Services regarding the refund requirements and the return of Federal Title IV Aid amounts.

If UConn is not required to return all of the excess funds, you must return the remaining amount. Any loan funds that you received  (or the parent for a PLUS loan) must be repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, you make scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time.

Any amount of unearned federal grant funds that you must return is called an overpayment. The maximum amount is half of the grant funds you received or were scheduled to receive. You do not have to repay a grant overpayment if the original amount is $50 or less. You must make arrangements with the Office of Student Financial Aid Services or the U.S. Department of Education to return the unearned grants.

The requirements for the Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from UConn’s overall refund policy; therefore, you may still owe funds to UConn to cover unpaid institutional charges.

If you have questions about your Title IV program funds, you can call the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. TTY users may call 1-800-730-8913.  Information is also available on Student Aid on the Web at www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Refundable Fees

• Tuition
• General University Fee
• Fees related to certain majors, courses or lessons
• Student Union Fee
• Infrastructure Maintenance Fee
• Student Government or Activity Fee
• Daily Campus Fee
• UCTV Fee
• Transit Fee
• Residence Hall Fee (conditions apply)
• Dining Fee

Nonrefundable Fees

• Acceptance Fee (Admissions Deposit)
• Late Payment Fee(s)
• Continuous Registration Fee
• Payment Plan Enrollment Fee

Order of Returned Funds When You Withdraw

All financial aid awards will be canceled for future semesters in the academic year.  For example, if you withdraw during the fall semester, your spring financial aid award will also be canceled.

Federal financial aid funds are returned in the following order per federal guidelines:

• Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Direct Subsidized Loan
• Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
• Direct Parent PLUS Loan
• Federal Pell Grant for which a return of funds is required
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) for which a return of funds is required
• Federal TEACH Grants for which a return of funds is required
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant for which a return of funds is required

When a student officially withdraws from UConn, the withdrawal date is the date the student began UConn’s official withdrawal process or notified the appropriate office of their intent to withdraw. Institutional need-based funds such as University Grants and certain state programs such as the Roberta B Willis Need-Based Grant Program may be adjusted in accordance with UConn’s refund policy. Disbursed funds adjustments are contingent upon how much of the award the student earned. Award amounts will be revised as to not generate a student refund.

Merit scholarships initially awarded by the Undergraduate Admissions Office will be cancelled if the withdrawal occurs prior to the tenth day of classes. Merit scholarships will remain on the student’s account if the withdrawal occurs after the tenth day of classes but before the 60% point of the semester, unless the student submits a written request to cancel it to retain future semester eligibility. If the student officially withdraws after the 60% point of the semester, they will be considered to have earned the scholarship and will count toward the eight semesters of eligibility.

Departmental Scholarships and/or Fellowships are awarded through a student’s School or College and adjustments are dependent upon the awarding office.  Contact the School or College that awarded the scholarship or fellowship to determine the impact of withdrawing from the University.

Federal regulations state that a school must return unearned funds for which it is responsible as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days from the determination of a student’s withdrawal. A school will be considered to have returned funds in a timely manner if it does one of the following as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date the school determines that the student withdrew:

• Deposits or transfers the funds into the school’s federal funds bank account;
• Initiates an electronic funds transfer (EFT) to an account belonging to the student;
• Initiates an electronic transaction that informs the Department of Education to adjust the borrower’s loan account for the amount returned; or
• Issues a check

Students who owe funds to a grant program are required to make payment of those funds within 45 days of being notified that they owe this overpayment. During the 45 day period students will remain eligible for Title IV funds. The University will notify the U.S. Department of Education of the student’s overpayment situation at the same time it notifies the student. If no positive action has been taken by the student within 45 days, the student will no longer be eligible for Title IV funds until they enter into a repayment plan with the U.S. Department of Education. During the 45 day period, the student can make full payment to the University. We will forward the payment to the U.S. Department of Education and the student will remain eligible for the Title IV funds.