Refunds

The University's official refund schedule provides support and consistency to the University's academic add/drop policy. Effective Fall 2024, the University's refund schedule has been updated to allow a 100% refund through the first two weeks of class for regular Fall and Spring semesters. Exceptions to this published refund policy will not be considered. The refund schedule for the individual Summer sessions is prorated based on the session length. Click here for the full refund schedule. Students enrolled in alternatively scheduled classes (ALT) should note that the refund schedule for each ALT class is pro-rated individually based on the length of the individual course.  It is critical that students finalize their academic schedule during the 100% refund period.

Students can withdraw from their courses online through CampusNet during the period assigned for the specific course.  Please note that the University's withdrawal period is much longer than the University's refund period.  Any credit balance for dropped courses may be held for review.  Students who withdraw from a class after the official refund period is concluded are not eligible for a refund.  Also, be aware of the hours of availability of CampusNet routine maintenance is conducted from Saturday at 6pm to Sunday morning at 10am.  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.  Completing your withdrawal in accordance with the refund schedule below may eliminate or reduce your financial obligation to the University.

Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for upcoming expenses and not rely on current semester refunds to meet other financial obligations.  Changes to your academic schedule may impact your anticipated amount of aid and therefore adjust your refund amount.

Students receiving grants, loans, or scholarships should be aware that these funds are credited directly to your university student account and applied toward your University expenses.  If your financial aid exceeds the total amount billed to your account, the residual aid will be refunded to you.  Refunds will be processed automatically for students registered in at least six credit hours. Financial aid recipients who are registered part-time or taking a combination of regular on-campus and Continuing Education credits will receive a refund once final registration is confirmed.  Changes to your academic schedule (both adds and withdrawals) during the refund period will delay the disbursement of any financial aid overaward.  Federal regulations only allow for an overaward of financial aid to be used to pay down a balance within the same award year.  Up to $200 of a financial aid award may be used to pay down a balance from a previous award period.

Please note that an academic petition to withdraw late from a class does not impact the refund schedule.

Your financial aid for the semester is finalized based on your enrollment as of the 60% completion period for the semester.  Withdrawals occurring prior to the 60% completion date will result in the recalculation of aid eligibility and the return of ineligible aid to Federal or State agencies. This may result in a student owing a balance to the university.  It is the responsibility of the student to officially withdraw from classes during the appropriate refund periods to receive a refund or credit.

If a credit balance is refunded, and subsequent charges are posted to your student account, those charges must be paid immediately.

The following fees are non-refundable: registration fee, orientation fee, U-Pass fee, late fees, billing service fee(s), collection fee(s), and returned check fees.

Please note the following:

• The official date of withdrawal is the date the course change is presented to the Registrar's Office, not the date you inform an instructor. Your withdrawal must be submitted online. This will be the basis for computing your 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 will be issued approximately three weeks from the department processing date.
• Refunds for courses that do not fall into the regular session are prorated based on the course length and the official date of withdrawal. Click here for the
  refund-schedule-for-alternatively-scheduled-courses.pdf
  .
• 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.
• 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

 

FALL 2024 SEMESTER REFUND SCHEDULE

For Undergraduate & Graduate Students

• 100% through September 6, 2024
• No refunds on/after September 7, 2024

For Law Students

• 100% through August 20, 2024
• No refunds on/after August 21, 2024

SPRING 2025 SEMESTER REFUND SCHEDULE

For Undergraduate & Graduate Students

• 100% through January 24, 2025
• No refunds on/after January 25, 2025

For Law Students

• 100% through January 19, 2025
• No refunds on/after January 20, 2025

SUMMER 2025 SEMESTER REFUND SCHEDULE

Undergraduate and Graduate Students

        Six Week Session 1

• 100% through May 23, 2025
• No refunds on/after May 24, 2025
  
  Six Week Session 2
   
• 100% through July 8, 2025
• No refunds on/after July 9, 2025
  
  Eight Week Session
   
• 100% through May 27, 2025
• No refunds on/after May 28, 2025
  
  Ten Week Session
   
• 100% through May 30, 2025
• No refunds on/after May 31, 2025
  
  Twelve Week Session
   
• 100% through May 31, 2025
• No refunds on/after June 1, 2025
  
  Law Students
   
• 100% through May 31, 2025
• No refunds on/after June 1, 2025

• 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.