Refunds and Withdrawals

To qualify for a refund, a student must contact the Dean of Students to formally withdraw from the college.

A student withdrawing from Cornell, after having been approved by the Dean of Students, may be allowed a tuition credit. If a student withdraws from the college after the first three (3) days of the term, the student is charged for the entire term. The exit date will be the last day of attendance.

Cornell College Refund and Repayment Policy
Cornell College has adopted a Refund and Repayment Policy that conforms to Section 668.22 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1988.

Because Cornell is a standard term-based program using modules (terms), students who withdraw AFTER completing at least one term within the semester are not required to comply with the Return of Title IV aid policy and procedure. However, if a student withdraws BEFORE completing at least one term in the semester, the Return of Title IV aid policy and procedure does apply.

A student who officially withdraws before 60 percent of the semester, but after the third day of the term, will pay tuition for the entire term and will receive financial assistance for that term. A student who withdraws after 60 percent of the semester will pay tuition for the entire semester and receive financial assistance for entire semester. A student will receive financial assistance based on the percentage of the semester he/she attended class up to 60 percent of the semester if the student withdraws prior to completing a term in either semester. After 60 percent of the semester, the student receives no refund.

For refund purposes, a semester is defined here as Terms One through Four (September-December) and Terms Five through Eight (January-April). Semesters consist of 16 weeks each.

If funds have been released to the student because of a credit balance on the student’s account at Cornell College, the student may be required to repay some or all of the federal, state, or institutional aid released to the student.

Refunds follow the federally mandated refund hierarchy as follows: Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Subsidized Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, PLUS Loan, Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, other Title IV assistance, other federal assistance, state-funded assistance, Cornell College financial assistance, other assistance, and the student.

An enrollment deposit is paid when a student is admitted and decides to attend Cornell. $200 of the deposit is used as a room deposit; $100 is applied toward the cost of new student orientation.  Once a student enrolls, the College retains the deposit until all accounts are closed following graduation or until the student officially withdraws from the College. At the time of graduation or withdrawal, $200 or the residential portion of the deposit, less any amount owed to the College, is refunded to the student. An enrolled student who plans to finish the academic year but chooses not to return the following fall, may not participate in room selection activities and must notify the Dean of Students Office by the first Wednesday of Term 8, or the deposit will be forfeited.

A student who leaves the college without official permission will have the grade of F recorded for each course in progress. Students who have not attended classes for 60 calendar days and have not filed for a Reduced Program or a Withdrawal will be dropped from the college at the end of the current term. Students with an unofficial withdrawal will be charged tuition by the term. The full settlement of accounts is due before an academic transcript will be released.

This policy is subject to federal regulations administered by the Department of Education. Contact the Financial Assistance Office for details and to learn of any changes to this policy. Changes in enrollment status from full-time to part-time will affect your financial assistance. Please contact the Financial Assistance Office to discuss individual circumstances.

Residence, Dining, and Activity Fee
Residence refunds are calculated based upon the date that the student checks out with the Residence Life staff and the room is vacated. Percentages of residence charges refunded are as follows:

Dining charges will be refunded on a pro-rated basis from the Monday following the date the student checks out with the Residence Life staff. After the semester begins, there is no refund of the Student Activity Fee.

Those students on a deferred payment plan may have additional payments to make. The college reserves the right to exclude, at any time, students whose conduct makes them undesirable members of the Cornell community.

A student whose account is credited with more funds than are owed to Cornell will receive a check for the amount of the credit balance, upon request from the Business Office. Refunds are not available until the term begins.

Meal Refunds for Approved Off-Campus Courses
The college will refund a portion of the amount charged for meals in a particular term to any student who completes a Cornell-sponsored off-campus internship, field course, independent or Special Study, etc., provided that the student (1) petitions for this refund through the Registrar’s Office at least seven class days before the start of the off-campus course, and (2) does not eat any meals on campus (except those outlined on the petition) during the four weeks of the term. Students may begin taking meals again Sunday morning of the fourth week. A student who obtains a meal at Cornell without paying for it during the period for which he or she is requesting a refund will be charged for the full term and will forfeit the refund. The off-campus program requires the student to be away from campus during the time meals are served. Students on the 180 meal per semester plan are not eligible for meal refunds at any time.

For short field trips, box meals can be obtained from the College Food Service if the instructor notifies the Director of Food Service in writing at least four days in advance. Students with special schedules should consult the Food Service Director for possible assistance in arranging their meals.

Please confer with the appropriate faculty member for policies related to off-campus charges, meal refunds, etc., (also available from the Business or Registrar’s Office)