Refund Policies

COVID19 Special Information:

• HEERF III Student Emergency Fund Information
• HEERF II Student Emergency Fund Information
• CARES Act Important Information
• Spring Semester Student Refund/Credit for Commuter Students
• Spring Semester Student Refund/Credit for Resident Students

Institutional Refund Policy

The refund schedule refers to percentage refund (reduction of refundable charges).

                                                                                 Fall 2024 Semester

                                                                               Winter Session 2024-2025

                                                                         Spring 2025 Semester

Students charged a flat rate will receive a credit for refundable charges during 100% and 50% periods if withdrawing below 12 credits (full time). Dates and percentages are also valid for non Title IV recipients (Federal Financial Aid) taking a withdrawal from college or leave of absence from the college.  

                                                                                    Summer Session 2025

Federal Student Aid Refund Policy

When a student withdraws from school during a term or other payment period prior to completion of that period, the Higher Education Act requires the institution to determine whether Title IV funds must be returned by or on behalf of the student. The amount of the Title IV funds that were earned by the student is directly proportional to the length of time he or she remained enrolled within the payment period, as indicated by the student’s withdrawal date.

Official Withdrawal

A student may provide official notification of his or her intent to withdraw by following the WPU withdrawal process. In this case, the withdrawal date is the date the student begins the school’s withdrawal process. A student may provide official notification in other ways. If a student otherwise provides official notification the withdrawal date is the date notification was provided.

If a student is dismissed, withdraws, takes a leave of absence or stops attending before the first day of classes, all Federal aid will be cancelled.

Students who stop attending and initiate an official withdrawal or leave of absence process but who were enrolled beyond 60% point of the payment period (semester) are considered to have earned 100% of the aid received and will not owe a repayment of Federal Title IV grant funds.

The Formula for calculating the percentage of period completed is as follows:

Percentage of Period Completed = Number of calendar days completed in the period/Total number of calendar days in the period (Excluding five or more consecutive days of institutionally scheduled breaks).

Return of Loan Funds

When loan funds should be returned (student or parent if PLUS loan), they will be repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note over a designated period.

Return of Grant Funds

When grant funds should be returned, the law provides that the student may repay 50% of a federal grant rather than 100%. The University will notify the student of the overpayment within 30 days of the date it determined that the student withdrew and returns the overpayment of funds on behalf of the student. The University will debit the student’s account and collect any balance created by the return of funds.

Return of Unearned Funds to Title IV

When the total amount of Title IV grant and/or loan assistance that was earned as of the withdrawal date is less than the amount that was disbursed to the student, the difference between the two amounts will be returned to the Title IV program(s) and no further disbursements will be made.

Funds returned by the University

If a student has received unearned funds, the University will return the unearned funds.

The funds will be returned in the order below as prescribed by federal regulations, within 45 days from the date of determination that a student withdrew.

Unsubsidized Direct Loan
Subsidized Direct Loan
Direct PLUS (Graduate Student)
Direct PLUS (Parent)
Federal Pell Grant 
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Federal TEACH Grant
Note: Refunds are not required for the Federal Work Study Program.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursements

When the total amounts of the Title IV grant and/or loan assistance earned as of the withdrawal date is more than the amount that was disbursed to the student, the difference between the two amounts will be treated as a post-withdrawal disbursement.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursement of Grant Funds

A post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds will be applied towards outstanding payment period charges on the student's account and may pay up to the amount of the allowable charges (i.e., tuition, fees, room, board, and bookstore authorizations). Any remainder of grant aid will be paid to the student. The student will be notified within 30 days of the date of determination of withdrawal of the post-withdrawal disbursement. A refund will be sent within 45 days of the date that the University determined that the student withdrew.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursement of Loan Funds

A post-withdrawal disbursement of loan funds may be paid if the student is eligible to receive the funds. The student (or parent if a PLUS loan) will be notified within 30 days of the date of determination of withdrawal of the opportunity to accept all or a part of the post-withdrawal disbursement. Upon receipt of a timely response from the student (or parent), the University will disburse the loan funds within 180 days of the date of determination of the student's withdrawal date. Loan funds will be applied towards the outstanding payment period charges on the student's account and may pay up to the amount of the allowable charges (i.e., tuition, fees, and room, board, and bookstore authorizations).

Any remainder will be paid directly to the student (or parent in the case of a Parent Plus Loan). William Paterson maintains the right to decide whether or not to make a post-withdrawal disbursement in the event that the student responds after 14 days of the date that the notification was sent. If the University decides not to make this post-withdrawal disbursement, it will inform the student in writing.

Unofficial Withdrawals

When a student withdraws from school before th end of a term payment period, the Higher Education Act requires the institution to determine whether Title IV funds must be returned by or on behalf of the student. The amount of the Title IV funds that were earned by the student is directly proportional to the length of time he or she remained enrolled within the payment period, as indicated by the student’s withdrawal date. 

The law directs the institution to determine the student’s withdrawal date according to one of two sets of rules: one for institutions that are required to take attendance, and another for institutions that are not required to take attendance. William Paterson University is not required to take attendance.

Students who cease to attend classes but do not officially withdraw are deemed as students who have unofficially withdrawn.  Faculty members will enter (FN) designation(s) at the end of the semester for students who have unofficially withdrawn. 

For students who fail to earn a passing grade in at least one course and have an “M” grade, the university will proceed with the R2TIV calculation.  The university will use the mid-point of the payment period or period of enrollment in our Return to Title IV (R2TIV) calculation for unofficially withdrawn students with no documented last date of attendance.

 Determination is made for the students who fall in this category no later than 30 days after the end of the payment period, an email notification is sent of their unofficial withdrawal status, and the option to provide documentation of their attendance in an educational related exercise as stated above. Failure to provide such documentation within seven (7) business days of the email notification will result in the recalculation of their financial aid using the mid-point of the semester and or a last date of attendance provided by a Professor. This recalculation is completed and unearned funds are returned no later than 45 days of determining the student unofficial withdrawal status.

 STATE REFUND POLICY (HESAA)

The calculation of refunds for State aid recipients must be determined in accordance with N.J.A.C. 9A:9-2.12 Award adjustments, refunds and collections. In all cases, the refund to the State must represent its fair share of the total available refund as determined by the institutional refund policy.

If a student enrolls at your institution and then withdraws, drops to less than full time or is suspended or dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons prior to the end of the institution’s refund period and after the State award has been credited to a student’s account, a student’s State award must be adjusted to reflect the actual amount retained by the institution after applying the institution’s refund calculation.

 The key elements of the State refund calculation are as follows:

• The institution’s standard refund policy determines the level (and schedule) of refunds due a student;
• If a State aid recipient is due a refund in accordance with the institution’s refund policy, the institution must return a portion of the student’s State award(s) to HESAA;
• To calculate the total amount to be refunded to the State, the institution shall multiply the institutional refund by the following fraction: amount of State aid awarded for the payment period divided by the total amount of financial aid (excluding Federal work study (FWS) earnings) awarded for the period;
• If a student received funds from multiple State programs, prorated (proportionate) amounts of the total calculated refund should be returned to each of the State programs; 

• NJ Tuition Aid Grant Program (TAG)
• NJ Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)
•  

• Refunds shall be rounded to the nearest dollar while maintaining minimum term award amount;
• If an eligible State aid recipient changes his or her enrollment status after the end of the institutional refund period, a refund to the State is not required.

Non-Attendance or Unofficial Withdrawal

When an institution determines a student never attended classes based on institutional records, the student’s award(s) must be cancelled and all funds returned to HESAA, regardless of a student’s financial obligation to the institution. 

When institutions identify students who never attend one or more classes for which they registered resulting in their attendance in less than 12 credits, funds cannot be disbursed.  

Below are points to remember when a student’s full-time enrollment changes during the semester: 

• If the student’s last date of attendance (official or unofficial withdrawal* as determined by the institution) is after the date the student’s TAG award was credited/disbursed, the institution can retain the TAG award.
• If the student’s last date of attendance (official or unofficial withdrawal* as determined by the institution) is prior to the date the student’s TAG award was credited/disbursed, the institution must return the entire TAG award.
• If a student’s tuition charges are decreased based on the institutional refund policy, a refund calculation must be done to calculate the funds due back to HESAA.
• If an institution determines that the student’s enrollment status at the time of crediting/disbursing to a student’s account was in error, the institution must review the enrollment status at the time of crediting/disbursing and make the appropriate change(s) and return funds to HESAA.  

 *Effective for the 2018-2019 academic year, students who are classified as an unofficial withdrawal, and the last date of academically related activity cannot be determined, the effective withdrawal date becomes the mid-point of the payment period. The student is considered to have earned 50% of their state award, and the remaining 50% must be returned to the state.

Uncollectible Debts

If your account is sent to a Collection Agency, you will be responsible not only for the tuition and fees that you owe to William Paterson University, but you will also be responsible for the Collection Agency's costs plus any legal costs associated with debt.