Office of the Bursar

Tuition Adjustment Policy

Tuition Penalty for Dropped Credits   Back to Top

Beginning with the first day of classes, students that drop below full-time or drop below their originally registered credit level may be assessed a tuition penalty. Adjustments for tuition will be determined on the effective date of the drop. Any adjustment of charges will be made according to Penn State's Tuition Adjustment Schedule.

Tuition Adjustment Schedule   Back to Top

Duration of Course	Tuition Adjustment Percentage
1 week or less	0
2-3 weeks	1st week -   50%
	2nd week -   0
4-5 weeks	1st week -   70%
	2nd week -   40%
	3rd week -   0
6 weeks	1st week -   70%
	2nd week -   40%
	3rd week -   20%
	4th week -   0
7-10 weeks	1st week -   80%
	2nd week -   60%
	3rd week -   40%
	4th week -   20%
	5th week -   0
11 weeks or more	1st week -   80%
	decrease of 10% for each week thereafter up to and including the eighth consecutive calendar week.
Note: Adjustment is based on the tuition amount only. Information technology fee, activities fee, and facilities fee are non-refundable.

Withdrawal   Back to Top

Charges for tuition and room and board are adjusted upon withdrawal from the University only in the event the student obtains an Official Withdrawal Form at the office of the dean of his or her college or other degree-granting unit and presents it at the Office of the Registrar. Adjustment of tuition is based upon the date of last class attended provided an Official Withdrawal Form is received by the University Registrar within one calendar month of that date, otherwise the adjustment will be based on the date the Official Withdrawal Form is filed with the University Registrar. The withdrawal action can also be completed through eLion.

Students who meet this condition are entitled to receive an adjustment of charges for tuition for the semester in accordance with Penn State's Tuition Adjustment Schedule.

Adjustment is based on the tuition amount only. Information technology fee, activities fee, and facilities fee are non-refundable.

Adjustments of room and board are based upon the date belongings are removed and the room key is returned, or the effective date of the withdrawal from classes, whichever is later.

Withdrawal From Penn State and Student Financial Aid   Back to Top

• Students receiving student financial aid are expected to complete all credits started. Students not successfully completing all credits may lose their right to some or all of these funds during the semester and/or in future semesters.
• Students planning on withdrawing during the semester must follow the procedures established by the University. See above.
• Tuition reimbursement will follow Penn State's Tuition Adjustment Schedule.

Return of Federal Student Aid   Back to Top

• To remain eligible for Federal student aid during the semester, the student must be attending classes, taking exams and completing required course work.
• The 1998 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act requires the University to calculate a Return of Federal Student Aid Funds for students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60 percent attendance point in the semester.
• Using a pro-rata schedule, the percentage of the semester attended is used to calculate the amount of the student's earned versus unearned Federal student aid funds. The number of calendar days spent attending classes is divided by the number of calendar days in the semester to determine the percentage of the semester attended.
• The unearned portion of Federal student aid funds will be returned to the appropriate aid program(s). The funds are returned in the following order:
  
  
  1. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
  2. Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
  3. Federal Perkins Loan
  4. Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
  5. Federal PLUS Loan
  6. Federal Pell Grant
  7. Federal ACG Grant
  8. National SMART Grant
  9. Federal SEOG Grant

Students withdrawing from classes are responsible for payment of any balance due after the required return of Federal student aid funds.

Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing will be subject to return Federal student aid funds at the end of the semester based on withdrawal date/last documented date of attendance as determined by Penn State.

Return of State Grant Funds   Back to Top

After satisfying the return of all required Federal student aid funds, any balance remaining in the student account from tuition, room and board, and fee adjustments will be returned to PHEAA based on the following PHEAA refund calculation:

	Tuition Adjustment   X   PHEAA Grant  =  PHEAA Refund
	Full-Time Tuition
	

The PHEAA grant refund will never exceed the amount of the PHEAA grant.

The student account will not be debited to satisfy the PHEAA grant refund.

Return of Institutional and Other Aid Funds   Back to Top

After satisfying the PHEAA grant refund, any balance remaining in the student account from all tuition, room and board, and fee adjustments will be returned to all other aid sources based on the following "other aid" refund calculation:

	Other Aid Disbursed   X   Adjustment  =  Refund to Other Aid Source
	Total Aid Disbursed
	

The other aid refund will be distributed to the appropriate aid sources as follows:

1. Short-term loan (not considered in aid calculation)
2. University loans
3. University scholarships
4. Other grants
5. Outside scholarships

Other aid sources should be adjusted up to the amount of each aid source.

The student account will not be debited to satisfy the "other aid" refund.

Credit Balances After Required Aid Funds Have Been Returned   Back to Top

If a credit balance remains in the student's account after the return of the required Federal student aid funds, State grant funds, and Institutional and other aid funds, the balance will be distributed according to the following priority:

1. Student, up to the amount the student paid for the semester
2. Student loans
3. Student grants and scholarships

Policy For Retroactive Withdrawals   Back to Top

Refer to the University Undergraduate Advising Handbook for questions regarding the petition process for retroactive withdrawals.

Students granted a retroactive withdrawal for a previous semester by the University Faculty Senate are not eligible for Penn State's Tuition Adjustment Policy referenced above.

This information is available in alternative format upon request.