Dropping Classes or Withdrawing From School Completely During a Semester

Students with financial aid who are thinking of either dropping a few classes or withdrawing from school should meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to learn how this change will impact her current financial aid and bill, and also her future financial aid eligibility.

Dropping a Few Classes

Current Tuition

If a student remains enrolled in 12 to 18 credits her tuition will not change.

If a student changes from being enrolled full time (12 to 18 credits) to being enrolled less than full time (less than 12 credits), whether or not any tuition will be refunded depends upon when she drops to less than full time status.

Current Financial Aid

FEDERAL AID - Rather than continually checking enrollment throughout the semester, the Financial Aid Office takes a snap-shot of student enrollment on the first business day after students are no longer able to add or drop courses without a grade. Information about the last day to add or drop a class without a grade for future semesters is available from the Registrar’s Office.

For example, during the Spring Semester of 2023 the last day for students to add or drop classes without a grade is Friday, February 17, 2023. The federal financial aid eligibility of students for fall semester is based on their enrollment level (full-time, half-time, etc.) as of Monday, February 20, 2022. 

Consequently, if a student drops from full-time to less than full-time enrollment:

  • Before we have taken a snapshot of enrollment for the semester, then her federal aid will be adjusted based on the new enrollment level. 
  • After we have taken the snapshot of enrollment for the semester, then her aid will remain the same.

SAINT MARY'S AID and STATE AID - Whether or not aid from Saint Mary's College or the state will be reduced depends on whether or not the students tuition, room and board charges are reduced.  If there is no reduction to the amount charged by the College then there will be no reduction in aid.  However if the College does reduce tuition, or room or board charges then the student will see a corresponding reduction in scholarship or grant aid from Saint Mary's College and/or the State of Indiana.

Future Financial Aid

A student’s eligibility for federal financial aid in future semesters may be impacted by her withdrawing from classes during a semester. This is because federal aid eligibility is eventually taken away from students who have a pattern of dropping classes. Refer to our Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for more information.

Withdrawing or Taking a Leave of Absence From School

Current Tuition

Whether or not any tuition will be refunded depends upon when the student withdraws or leaves.  

Current Financial Aid

  • Federal Aid
    If a student with federal aid withdraws from the College during a semester the Financial Aid Office is required to complete a special calculation, called a Federal Return of Title IV Funds calculation, to determine how much federal aid was earned during that semester based on the length of time the student spent enrolled.
     
  • Saint Mary’s Aid and state aid
    If a student with aid from Saint Mary’s and/or the State withdraws from the College during a semester the amount of aid she will be able to keep depends upon whether or not her tuition and room and board charges are adjusted. The Financial Aid Office will prorate the student’s aid based on the percentage of her tuition, room and board charges that were adjusted, if any.

Future Financial Aid

A student’s eligibility for federal financial aid in future semesters may be impacted by her withdrawing or taking a leave from Saint Mary’s during a semester. This is because federal aid eligibility is eventually taken away from students who have a pattern of withdrawing from classes.  Refer to our Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for more information.

Tuition Insurance Is Available

Saint Mary’s students have the ability to protect their college investment by purchasing tuition insurance each semester. This optional coverage expands the scope of our refund policy by ensuring reimbursement for tuition, room and board and other fees for unexpected, covered withdrawals at any time during the semester. Learn more about the Tuition Protection Plan at GradGuard.com/tuition/saintmarys or call 877-794-6603.