Institutional Refund/Repayment Policy

Description

In accordance with University policy and Federal regulations governing Title IV financial aid programs, the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment will determine whether total or partial refund/repayment of financial aid funds may be due when a student withdraws from the University or when there is a change in the student’s financial aid eligibility. This policy does not apply to instances where a student withdraws from some classes but continues to be enrolled at the University. 

A refund is defined in relationship to money paid towards University charges. The refund is the amount paid by financial aid or in cash minus any amount that is kept to cover charges for the period of enrollment. The amount that the University retains will be determined in keeping with federal guidelines which require that the University apply either prorated refund calculations as applicable to first-time Howard University enrollees, or the University refund policy applicable to all others, in order to ensure return of the greater refund to the student financial aid programs. 

The term “repayment” relates to any cash disbursed directly to the student for payment of non-institutional educational costs such as living expenses. The repayment is the amount of cash disbursements determined to be greater than the student’s expenses while he/she was enrolled and therefore must be returned. The University refund policy allows for charges to be adjusted or prorated based on the following schedule. 

 

1st day of instruction through 7th calendar day: 100%
8th calendar day through 40th calendar day: 50%
41st calendar day through 60th calendar day: 25%
61st calendar day through the last day of the semester:   0%

 

The date used to calculate the student’s refund or repayment is the effective date reflected on the student’s official University withdrawal form or the drop-out date which is defined as the student’s last recorded day of attendance, as documented by the University. In the case of drop outs (no official withdrawal) it will be assumed that the student never attended classes and that all financial aid funds must be refunded and/or repaid. Students in this category may provide documentation to confirm the last day of class attendance in order to avoid full refund/repayment of financial aid. Aid that must be refunded or repaid will be restored to the various financial aid programs in the following sequence: 

Refunds

  • Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans
  • Subsidized Federal Stafford loans
  • Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans
  • Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans
  • Federal Perkins loans
  • Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
  • Federal Direct PLUS loans
  • Federal Pell Grants
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program Awards
  • Other Federal Title IV assistance programs
  • Other Federal, State, private, or institutional assistance programs
  • The student 

Repayment

  • Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans
  • Subsidized Federal Stafford loans
  • Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans
  • Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans
  • Federal Perkins loans
  • Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
  • Federal Direct PLUS loans
  • Federal Pell Grants
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program Awards
  • Other Federal Title IV assistance programs
  • Other Federal, State, private, or institutional assistance programs

Students owing repayments to Title IV programs will not be allowed to register and their transcripts will not be released. The Office of Student Financial Services will be notified of the student’s indebtedness for appropriate action. Additionally, students who fail to satisfy refund/repayment requirements are ineligible to receive further support from Title IV Federal aid programs.  Loss of Personal Property  
  
The University is not responsible to anyone for the loss of personal property in any building or on any part of the campus, whether the loss occurs by theft, fire, or otherwise. 

Miscellaneous Charges  
  
Any additional expenses incurred by the University for a student, such as those for telegrams or damage to property, will be charged to the student’s account and treated as a regular fee.