Effects of Dropping or Withdrawing

In regards to charge reversals resulting from dropping a class or withdrawing from a term, NDSU follows the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education Refund Policy 830.2 and the North Dakota University System Refund Procedure 830.2.

Dropping

Dropping occurs when a student wishes to discontinue enrollment in a particular class, but remains enrolled in at least one other class during the term. Dropping results in either a 100% or 0% refund - there are no partial refunds for dropped classes. Refund eligibility depends on the date of the drop and the percentage of class time elapsed.

  • To receive a 100% refund the class must be dropped before 9% of the class has elapsed.
  • When 9% of the class length has elapsed, no refund will be issued for a dropped class.
  • The class length calculation is based on the start and end date of the class dates listed on the Class Schedule on Campus Connection and includes all calendar days, not just class days.
  • It is possible that classes dropped in the same term could have varying refund percentages if the class lengths are different?

How to Drop a Class? Log in to Campus Connection, click on the Manage Classes tile and then select Drop Classes.

Withdrawing

Withdrawing occurs when a student cancels their registration in all classes (i.e. withdrawing to zero credits) and discontinues their studies for the semester. Withdrawals result in a 100%, 75%, 50% or 0% refund of tuition and fees, depending on the date of the withdrawal form submission.

  • Students wishing to withdraw will not receive any academic credits for classes within that term.
  • If a class was previously completed in the same semester that a withdrawal request is submitted, the remaining classes will be dropped as the option to withdraw to zero credits is no longer available.
  • After a withdrawal is processed the student cannot re-enroll in the term.
  • Refunds resulting from a withdrawal are calculated based on the class length. The class length calculation is based on the start and end date of the class dates listed on the Class Schedule on Campus Connection and includes all calendar days, not just class days.
  • Students CANNOT withdraw by attempting to drop all of their classes online via Campus Connection.
  • To withdraw a student must electronically submit the Withdraw to Zero Credits form. Immediately after submission, a confirmation email will be sent to the student's NDSU email address, which includes a link to the completed form. This confirmation serves as proof of the student's timely submission in accordance with NDSU's published Dates and Deadlines.

How to Withdraw to Zero Credits? Log in to Campus Connection, go to the NDSU eForms tile, and submit a Cancel/Withdraw to Zero form. Do not drop each class individually (see drop explanation above) as this may impact refund eligibility. After form submission, please allow two weeks for processing.

NDSU Tuition and Fee Refund Schedule

NDSU adheres to the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education Refund Policy 830.2 and the North Dakota University System Refund Procedure 830.2 when reducing student account tuition/fee charges resulting from drops and withdrawals.

NDSU Tuition and Fee Refund Schedule

 

 

Percent of Course Completed *

Tuition and Fees Refunded
Dropping a Class ** Withdrawing ***
0.000% - 8.999% 100% 100%
9.000% - 34.999% 0% 75%
35.000% - 59.999% 0% 50%
60.000% - 100.000% 0% 0%

When eligibility for a refund is calculated NDSU takes the number of calendar days that have elapsed since the class has started and divides that by the number of calendar days in the class. As a result, a class with fewer calendar days will have a shorter deadline to receive a refund. Academic credits subject to the NDSU tuition and fee cap for full-time tuition are not eligible for a refund.

Financial Aid Implications

Withdrawing from a term may require the return of Federal Financial Aid (Title IV) Funds. At the start of the semester, students are provided with financial aid under the assumption that the student will complete the semester. If a student withdraws mid-semester, a calculation of "earned" aid is completed by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. This calculation will take multiple factors in to consideration, including the student’s last date of attendance. "Unearned" aid is returned to the Department of Education and/or the loan lender and may result in a balance due to NDSU, which must be paid by the student.

Dropping a course or withdrawing from a term can also affect future financial aid eligibility. Pursuant to Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress students must complete 67% of attempted credits. Dropping a course or withdrawing from a term can result in a student failing to meet the requirement.