Withdrawal Policy for Graduate Students

Financial aid recipients who withdraw from the university should be aware that they may need to return part or all of the funds they were awarded. Before officially withdrawing from classes, we recommend that you contact the Graduate Financial Aid Office.

Return of Title IV (Federal) Aid

If you withdraw from the University of St. Thomas during a semester, January or summer term, a calculation of "earned" versus "unearned" federal aid must be determined. This federal policy assumes you earn your aid based on how much time has elapsed in the term. If you receive federal financial aid, that aid may be reduced as a result of your withdrawal.

There are three steps that St. Thomas must complete to comply with the federal policy:

1. Determine the withdrawal date.
2. Determine the amount of earned federal aid.
3. Return unearned federal funds to the appropriate program(s). However, in order to ensure that you are eligible to receive financial aid, St.Thomas must first verify with your instructor(s) that you attended or participated in academic activities related to your class(es) for the term.

You must withdraw officially in one of two ways: MURPHY online or through your Graduate Program's Registrar's Office. The withdrawal date is the date you begin the withdrawal process. If you fail to withdraw officially, the withdrawal date will become the midpoint of the term, unless the university can document a later date. In certain circumstances if an earlier date of last academic activity is determined, this date may be used in the calculation of "earned" federal aid.

If you withdraw before completing 60 percent of the term, you "earn" federal funds in direct proportion to the length of time you were enrolled. The percentage of earned aid is determined by dividing the total number of calendar days in the term enrolled by the total number of calendar days in the term. If you complete 60 percent of the term, you earn all federal financial aid for the term.

The responsibility to repay unearned aid is shared by the institution (St. Thomas) and the student. The institution's share is the lesser of unearned aid or unearned institutional charges. The institution's share must be repaid to the federal aid programs in the following order, before the student's share is considered:

1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
2. Federal Direct Subsidized Loan 
3. Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan 
4. Other Title IV (federal) assistance

If you are required to repay a portion of your loan through the student's share calculation, you will not be expected to return those funds immediately, but rather when repayment begins according to the terms and conditions of the promissory note.  If a portion of your unearned Federal Loan funds must be returned you will then be responsible for repaying this money back to St. Thomas. If this causes undue hardship, a satisfactory payment arrangement can be made with the St. Thomas Business Office.