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What Happens When I Withdraw from Class?

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 9:08 am

Undergraduates - Fall 2023 Semester

Undergrads – What happens if I withdraw from ALL my classes in the Fall (8/28 – 12/15)?

Before the semester starts through 9/5/23 (Last date for 100% refund from Student Accounts Office):

  • Tuition and fees are canceled by Student Accounts; room and meal charges may be prorated if you were in on-campus housing. Refund Policy.
  • Financial aid awards are canceled by the Financial Aid Office.
  • Courses do not appear on academic transcripts.

Between 9/6/23 – 9/25/23:

  • Tuition charges are reduced.
  • Courses will have a W/D grade.
  • The Federal Calculation formula is required based on the official withdrawal date. This calculation will determine how much federal aid (Pell, SEOG, Stafford and/or PLUS loans) must be returned to the government.
  • NJ state aid (TAG, EOF, NJSTARS and/or Distinguished Scholarship) not applied to billed charges must be canceled.
    • If state grants were credited to the bill, they must be adjusted based on NJHESAA policy.
  • Check NEST and email for updates.

In many cases, you will owe money to the University.

Between 9/26/23 – 10/29/23:

  • Billed charges do not change.
  • The Federal Calculation formula is required based on the official withdrawal date. This calculation will determine how much federal aid (Pell, SEOG, Stafford and/or PLUS loans) must be returned to the government.
  • NJ state aid (TAG, EOF, NJSTARS and/or Distinguished Scholarship) not applied to billed charges must be canceled.
  • Disbursed state grants must be adjusted based on NJHESAA policy.
  • Check NEST and email for updates.

In many cases, you will owe money to the University.

On or after 10/30/23:

  • Billed charges do not change.
  • Federal Calculation formula is not required.
  • Disbursed state grants are not changed.
  • NJ state aid (TAG, EOF, NJSTARS and/or Distinguished Scholarship) not disbursed is canceled.

Definitions:

Official Withdrawal/Leave of Absence – Fall Semester

Official Withdrawal is when you withdraw from ALL of your classes via NEST and submit the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form available on the MSU website for the semester in question.

Unofficial Withdrawals

Unofficial Withdrawals: This happens when you end the semester earning “0” credits through any combination of “F’s” and/or “WD’s” for all courses. The Federal calculation will apply for federal financial aid (Pell, FSEOG, Stafford Loans and/or PLUS Loans) and the University is required to return 50% of the total federal aid. Any state grant funds will be canceled in total per HESAA policy. Even though NO adjustment to the billed charges will occur, in most cases, you will owe money to the University.

Partial Withdrawals – If you are a full-time student with disbursed State Grant funds who withdraws from some of your classes after Drop/Add but between 9/6/23 – 9/25/23, you will lose a portion of your State Grants and, in most cases, you will owe money to the University.

Impact of Withdrawals on Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) – Withdrawals and F grades impact your continued eligibility for financial aid due to federal requirements. Review the SAP Policies.

Modular Courses/Programs – Be aware that the dates will vary for any courses or programs offered in a modular format. R2T4’s will be calculated based on the dates for individual courses/programs per federal regulations.

Graduate Students - Fall 2023 Semester

As a graduate student, what happens if I withdraw from ALL my classes during the Fall semester (8/28 – 12/15)?

Before the semester starts through 9/5/23 (Last date for 100% refund from Student Accounts Office):

  • Tuition and fees are canceled by Student Accounts; room and meal charges may be prorated if you were in on-campus housing. Refund Policy.
  • Financial aid award is canceled by the Financial Aid Office.
  • Courses do not appear on academic transcripts.

Between 9/6/23 – 9/25/23:

  • Tuition charges are reduced.
  • Courses will have a W/D grade.
  • The Federal Calculation formula is required based on the official withdrawal date. This calculation will determine how much federal aid (Stafford and/or GRADPLUS loans) must be returned to the government.
  • Check NEST and email for the updates.

In many cases, you will owe money to the University.

Between 9/26/23 – 10/29/23:

  • Billed charges do not change.
  • The Federal Calculation formula is required based on the official withdrawal date. This calculation will determine how much federal aid (Stafford and/or GRADPLUS loans) must be returned to the government.
  • Check NEST and email for updates.

In many cases, you will owe money to the University.

On or after 10/30/23:

  • Your billed charges do not change.
  • Federal Calculations formula is not required.

Definitions:

Official Withdrawal is when you withdraw from all of your classes via NEST.

  • To officially withdraw from your graduate program, you must submit a Withdrawal Form. Please contact The Graduate School.
  • To request a leave of absence, you must submit a Leave of Absence Form. Please contact The Graduate School.
  • Submitting either form will NOT withdraw you from any registered classes. It is your responsibility to officially withdraw via NEST from all registered classes.

Unofficial Withdrawal is when you end the semester earning “0” credits as determined by any combination of “F’s” and/or “WD’s” for all courses. If you are receiving federal financial aid (Stafford Loans and/or GRADPLUS Loans), the Federal calculation will apply and the University is required to return 50% of the total federal aid. It should be noted that NO adjustment to the bill will occur and, in most cases, you will owe money to the University.

Impact of Withdrawals on Standards of Academic Progress (SAP)

Withdrawals and F grades impact your continued eligibility for financial aid due to federal requirements. Review the SAP policies at SAP policies.

Modular Courses/Programs: Be aware that the dates will vary for any courses or programs offered in a modular format. R2T4’s will be calculated based on the dates for individual courses/program per federal regulations.

Impact of Withdrawals on Standards of Academic Progress

  • Understand that withdrawals and F grades will impact your continued eligibility for financial aid due to the requirements of Standards of Academic Progress (SAP). Attempted credits that are not completed with a passing grade reduce both your SAP GPA and your progress to completing your degree. For more information, review the SAP Policies.