Refunds

The University’s official refund schedule, located at the bottom of this page, aligns with its academic add/drop policy. Effective Fall 2024 and after, a 100% refund is available during the first two weeks of standard Fall and Spring semesters. No exceptions will be made. Summer session tuition refunds and alternatively scheduled (ALT) courses are prorated based on course length, and students are expected to finalize schedules within the 100% refund period.

Students should drop courses through CampusNet during the designated drop period; however, this period differs withdraw window. Withdrawals after the refund period are not eligible for refunds. Failure to attend classes does not release students from financial responsibility. CampusNet is unavailable for routine maintenance from Saturday at 6:00 p.m. to Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Course schedule changes may affect financial aid eligibility and delay refunds. Financial aid is applied directly to student accounts, and any excess is refunded within 14 days. Refunds are reviewed and issued automatically within the 14-day window. Federal regulations limit how excess aid can be applied, including a maximum of $200 toward prior award year balances.

Late withdrawal petitions do not alter refund eligibility. Financial aid is finalized at the 60% point of the semester; withdrawals before this may result in recalculated aid and potential balances due. Students are responsible for withdrawing within the appropriate timeframe to receive applicable refunds.

If a refund is issued and additional charges are later applied, those charges are due immediately. 

Please note the following:

• Your drop/withdrawal must be submitted online. This will be the basis for computing any refund.
• Withdrawing from a course does not automatically carry with it the right to a refund.
• The failure to attend classes due to business or personal reasons does not change the University's official refund schedule.
• Courses that are cancelled by Cleveland State will be refunded at 100%.
• Refunds for courses that do not fall into the regular session are prorated based on the course length and the official date of withdrawal. Please refer to the course description in CampusNet for exact drop deadlines..
• Failing to attend class will not relieve you of your financial obligation to the University, even if you have not yet paid your full tuition bill.
• Cleveland State does not have a policy that supports "swapping" or "trading" classes that are of the same credit hours. There is no cost adjustment granted for adding and dropping courses of similar credits. This includes adding and dropping the same course with different sections and/or different semesters.
• Financial Aid awards are contingent upon continued funding from federal, state, and institutional sources, and state legislative decisions regarding tuition.  Awards are subject to change and may be rescinded or reduced if funding is insufficient or discontinued, or if tuition amounts change.  Awards are also subject to change based on receipt of additional aid resources, changes in eligibility, errors, or omissions.
• The University's competitive tuition and course fee structure shall remain the same for academic courses, consistent with published University tuition and fee schedules, irrespective of the delivery format.  There will be no refund or reduction on tuition or course fees, since the University will be providing a full semester of instruction and awarding full academic credit to those who satisfactorily fulfill course requirements.

The specific dates of the refund schedule are published each academic term and are available online. Failure to be aware of these dates is NOT grounds for a refund. An advisor's recommendation to change your course schedule is only a recommendation. It is a student's decision to add or drop a course. Students should be cognizant of the financial ramifications of their decisions.

Cleveland State University's Refund Schedules
 

SUMMER 2026 SEMESTER REFUND SCHEDULE

Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Six Week Session 1

• 100% through May 22, 2026
• No refunds on/after May 23, 2026

Six Week Session 2 

• 100% through July 7, 2026
• No refunds on/after July 8, 2026

Eight Week Session 

• 100% through May 26, 2026
• No refunds on/after May 27, 2026

Ten Week Session 

• 100% through May 29, 2026
• No refunds on/after May 30, 2026

Twelve Week Session 

• 100% through May 30, 2026
• No refunds on/after May 31, 2026

Law Students
 
1st intersession

• 100% through May 17, 2026
• No refunds on/after May 18, 2026

Regular Summer Session

• 100% through June 2, 2026
• No refunds on/after June 3, 2026

2nd intersession

• 100% through July 26, 2026
• No refunds on/after July 27, 2026
   

FALL 2026 SEMESTER REFUND SCHEDULE

For Undergraduate & Graduate Students

• 100% through September 4, 2026
• No refunds on/after September 5, 2026

For Law Students

• 100% through September 1, 2026
• No refunds on/after September 2, 2026
   

SPRING 2027 SEMESTER REFUND SCHEDULE

For Undergraduate & Graduate Students

• 100% through January 22, 2027
• No refunds on/after January 23, 2027

For Law Students

• 100% through January 24, 2027

• No refunds on/after January 25, 2027

   

SUMMER 2026 SEMESTER REFUND SCHEDULE

Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Six Week Session 1

• 100% through May 21, 2027
• No refunds on/after May 22, 2027

Six Week Session 2 

• 100% through July 6, 2027
• No refunds on/after July 7, 2027

Eight Week Session 

• 100% through May 25, 2027
• No refunds on/after May 26, 2027

Ten Week Session 

• 100% through May 28, 2027
• No refunds on/after May 29, 2027

Twelve Week Session 

• 100% through May 29, 2027
• No refunds on/after May 30, 2027

Law Students
 
1st intersession

• 100% through May 16, 2027
• No refunds on/after May 17, 2027

Regular Summer Session

• 100% through May 31, 2027
• No refunds on/after June 1, 2027

2nd intersession

• 100% through July 27, 2027
• No refunds on/after July 28, 2027

Refunds for dropped courses are made according to the University's refund schedule. Refunds (drop credits) are based on the date you drop your class or classes. There are no exceptions to this published refund schedule.

• Dropping classes may reduce your financial aid award.
• An approved petition for a late withdrawal does not affect the refund policy of the University.
• Refund schedules differ from academic drop/add dates.

Stale Dated Refund Checks

Refund checks should be cashed promptly. Checks not cashed or deposited within 180 days are considered stale dated. Cleveland State University is subject to regulations which require us to return stale dated refund checks to the program which generated the refund. A stale dated refund check originating from financial aid funds, including federal funds, will be voided and the funds returned to the originating program. Cleveland State will not reissue the check to a student.  Please contact our office before attempting to deposit or cash any refund check that is older than 180 days.  To request a reissue of a refund check that is less than 180 days old, please visit the Void Request form to submit your request.