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Post Withdrawal Disbursements and Title IV Credit Balances

If the Return to Title IV calculation determines that the student received less federal aid than the amount earned, then the school must make a disbursement of the earned aid, as long as the student would have been eligible otherwise.

  • If the earned aid is in the form of a Direct and/or PLUS, (or a grant in some cases), then the school must make the offer in writing to the student or parent within 30 days after the date the school determined the student withdrew.
  • The written notification must include the type and amount of Title IV funds that make up the post-withdrawal disbursement and an explanation that all or a portion may be declined.
  • The notification must state that the student has 14 days from the date of the letter to respond, or the disbursement will not be processed.
  • If the student or parent does respond, then the school must disburse the accepted funds within 180 days of the date the school determined that the student withdrew. Thus, the sooner the school sends notification, the more time the school has to make the post-withdrawal disbursement.
  • The school may use post-withdrawal disbursements to pay outstanding institutional charges. However, the school would have to obtain the student’s or parent’s authorization before a post-withdrawal disbursement could be used to pay discretionary educationally related expenses, like a library fine.
  • No post-withdrawal disbursement of Title IV funds may be made to the account or estate of a student who has died.

Title IV Credit Balances

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will review the credit balance and make the necessary adjustments, if any, as the result of a Return of Title IV calculation and/or the institution’s refund policy. Additionally, a Title IV credit balance will be applied to any grant overpayment owed by the student as a result of the withdrawal. The credit balance, if any, will be released in accordance with the College’s current refunding policy but no later than 14 days.

Please see our tuition and fee refunds page.

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