Full withdrawal policy and Title IV funds:
The Federal Return of Title IV Funds policy mandates that students who officially or unofficially withdraw from all classes may only keep the financial aid they’ve earned up to the time of withdrawal. State and institutional programs require similar treatment. Financial aid funds that were disbursed in excess of the amount earned must be repaid.
Students who are subject to Return of Title IV funds will be contacted by the financial aid office and informed of the calculation result. Since most students receive a financial aid refund check prior to withdrawing, students should realize that in most cases, they will owe the University for unearned aid that must be returned.
Financial aid in excess of the amount earned is reduced in the following priority:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
- Federal Perkins Loan
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
- Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Teacher Education Assistance for College & Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
- State of Illinois programs
- Institutional and departmental funds
- Private financial resources
Calculations are done on a case-by-case basis after the withdrawal date is established.
Unofficial Withdrawal
If you stop attending all classes during a semester and don’t go through our withdrawal process, you’re treated as an unofficial withdrawal.
At the end of each semester, we identify all students who didn’t complete at least 1 class, working with colleges, departments, and instructors to document your last date of attendance.
Using this information, you’ll be reviewed under the Return of Funds calculation. This date will also be reported to the National Student Loan Data System, and your enrollment status will be updated.
For more information on the full withdrawal policy, please visit the Registrars web site.
Example:
A student withdrew from the university 44 days into the semester with charges of $4856.65. They completed 40% of the term.
Student’s original aid:
Subsidized Loan-$1732
Unsubsidized Loan-$990
Pell Grant-$2532.50
Per the federal calculation, the student must return the amount unearned aid, or the amount of unearned charges, whichever is less.
Unearned Aid: $5254.50-(40% x $5245.50)=$3152.70
Unearned Charges: $4856.65 x 60%=$2913.99
Returned aid:
Unsubsidized Loan-$990
Subsidized Loan-$1732
Pell Grant-$191.99
