Refund of Tuition and Fees

Students who cancel their registration in writing or withdraw from or drop courses before the first calendar week of a regular term will be refunded all tuition and fees paid, including first-time enrollment, college service, program, and course fees. Students who withdraw from or drop courses during the first week of a regular term will be refunded all tuition and fees except the first-time enrollment fee. Students who withdraw from or drop courses during the second week of a regular term will be refunded fifty percent of tuition as well as fifty percent of program and course fees; neither college service fees nor the first-time enrollment fee will be refunded. Even if a student adds a course in place of the one that is dropped, no fees will be refunded on the dropped course. Students who withdraw from or drop courses after the second week of a regular term will not be refunded any tuition or fees. Refunds will be applied toward any financial aid received by the student according to current federal and state directives.

Tuition Refund Schedule

Federal regulations require that an institution’s refund/repayment policy be available to all students. The following information is provided in compliance with Federal regulation 34CFR 682.6069(a)(2).

Students withdrawing from the college or reducing their course load may apply for a refund of tuition as follows:

All Regular Term Classes

Before the first day of the term (including fees)     100%
First calendar week (excludes first time enrollment fee)     100%
Second calendar week (excludes college service and first time enrollment fees)     50%
After the second week of class     0%

Return of Title IV Funds Due to Student Withdrawal

Financial aid recipients will have their financial aid adjusted based on the number of days of attendance. This policy is in accordance with federal financial aid regulations published in the November 1, 1999 Federal Register, volume 64, number 210, section 668.22. It applies specifically to Title IV financial aid programs (those funded by the federal government). Programs funded by the State of Iowa are adjusted in accordance with the College’s refund of tuition policy. Scholarship dollars are adjusted in compliance with the policies of the donor. You should check with the donor of any scholarships to determine what portion of scholarship funds must be returned.

To comply with the regulations, the Financial Aid Office must determine a percentage based on the date of withdrawal. This percentage indicates the amount of financial aid you have “earned.” The unearned portion must be returned to the appropriate aid program(s).

The return of funds policy follows these steps.

•  Determine the percentage of the enrollment period completed.
  • Days Attended
  • - Days in Enrollment Period
  • = Percentage Completed

If the calculated percentage exceeds 60% then you have “earned” all Title IV aid for the enrollment period.

• Apply the percentage completed to the Title IV aid awarded to determine eligibility for aid prior to the withdrawal.
  • Total Aid Disbursed
  • x Percentage Completed
  • = Earned Aid
    
• Determine the amount of unearned aid to be returned to the appropriate Title IV aid program(s).
  • Total Disbursed
  • - Earned Aid
  • = Unearned Aid to be Returned

If the aid already disbursed equals the earned aid, no further action is required. If the aid already disbursed is less than the earned aid, a late disbursement can be made, providing the eligibility criteria have been met. If the aid already disbursed is greater than the earned aid, the difference must be returned to the appropriate Title IV aid program(s).

• Return the Title IV aid, based on the type of aid disbursed, in the following order:
  1. Federal (Unsubsidized) Stafford Loan
  2. Federal (Subsidized) Stafford Loan
  3. Federal Perkins Loan
  4. Federal PLUS (Parent) Loan
  5. Federal Pell Grant
  6. Federal SEOG

Any amount that you are required to repay of “unearned” Title IV charges will be applied to your account at Iowa Western. You will also be sent a letter outlining the changes required as a result of withdrawal.

If you fail to repay the amount of “unearned” aid several consequences may occur. A HOLD may be placed on your account which will prevent any academic transcripts from being sent. The HOLD will also bar you from future registration at Iowa Western. Your account could also be turned over to the U.S. Department of Education for collection activity. If this action is taken, you are prohibited from receiving future financial aid at any school until the “unearned” charges are repaid.

The grace period for loan repayments for Federal Unsubsidized and Subsidized Stafford Loans, and Parent PLUS Loans will begin on the day of the withdrawal for the College. You should contact the loan holder regarding your grace period or repayment status.

Return of Title IV Funds Due to Student Unofficial Withdrawal

 If you are receiving financial aid and quit attending classes (unofficial withdrawal), it may be necessary for the Financial Aid Office to reduce your aid eligibility and refund a portion of your financial aid back to the original funding source.

Federal financial aid recipients who are not attending class are identified on the mid-term class roster by class instructors. Poor attendance or a non-passing grade is an indication you may have unofficially withdrawn. You will receive a letter outlining official withdrawal steps and if you are no longer attending class will be encouraged to officially withdraw.

Should you choose to follow College procedures and withdraw by the College deadline, you will have an official withdrawal date, and your financial aid refund calculation will be done according to the Federal Refund Policy.

 If you receive a final grade of “F” in every class, you will be classified an unofficial withdrawal for Federal financial aid purposes. Once you are classified as an unofficial withdrawal, the Financial Aid Office will determine your last date of attendance and calculate the refund to Federal financial aid accounts according to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy. If the Financial Aid Department cannot determine a last date of attendance, federal regulations require the College to assume you only attended 50% of the term and to calculate a return of funds to the financial aid from that date.

 This policy is in accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, 34 CFR sections 668.22 Institutional Refunds and Repayments .