The Dean of Students Department
Withdrawal Services
University Center A, Suite 4100
850.644.1741

Hours:
M-F, 8:00am - 4:00pm

Withdrawal and Return of Financial Aid

Effective Fall 2000, students who withdraw and have received financial aid will be required to repay to the program source the amount of unearned financial aid funds disbursed to them as of their withdrawal date. Programs include Pell Grants, Perkins Loans, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), Parent Loans (the Federal PLUS program), and other awards. The unearned amount of program funds is calculated based on the percentage of the semester completed before the date of withdrawal. Both the University and students receiving financial aid are required to return unearned financial aid to the aid source. The University is required to return the unearned portion of the financial aid funds it received from withdrawing students that was used to pay institutional charges such as tuition, fees, housing, and other educationally-related expenses assessed by the institution. The funds returned to the aid source by the University will be credited against the student's total liability of unearned funds. However, students will owe the University the amount returned to the aid source for institutional charges. In addition, any student who receives Title IV funds and stops attending classes during the semester and does not officially withdraw from the University is considered an unofficial withdrawal, according to Title IV federal regulations. The University is required to return unearned financial aid to the federal government for all unofficial withdrawals in the same manner as students who officially withdraw.

Students must repay the unearned Title IV funds to any Title IV loan program, in accordance with the terms of the loan. For Title IV loan programs, unearned grant program funds are considered overpayments, and students are required to return 50 percent (50%) of the grant. Students who owe grant overpayments remain eligible for Title IV program funds for forty-five days if during those forty-five days the student: (1) repays the overpayment in full to the University; or, (2) enters into a repayment agreement with the University. However, entering into a repayment agreement does not mean the student is eligible to register for additional classes, receive a transcript, diploma, etc. Students can lose financial aid eligibility if they do not comply with the options above.

Students will be impacted by this new legislation if they receive Title IV financial aid from any or all of the following sources:

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Direct Stafford Loans
Federal Perkins Loans
Federal Direct PLUS loans (Loans for Parents)
Federal Pell Grants
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Effective Fall 2009, new state legislation requiring the repayment of all Bright Futures Award amount received for course(s) which were dropped after the drop and add period, or withdrawn. Students who withdraw and are recipients of the Florida Bright futures scholarship will be required to repay 100% of the scholarship to the University, along with any associated fees. Students should consider their repayment responsibilities for these programs as part of any withdrawal decision. Students should contact the Florida Bright Futures office for the most current restrictions on eligibility. Bright Futures scholarship recipients should go to http://brightfutures.fsu.edu to learn how these changes affect you.

If you are a financial aid recipient and understand that you may be obligated in returning funds (tuition and fees) back to the University and your Lender. Then download and complete the Withdrawals Contact Form, submit online or fax the form to Withdrawal Services, (850) 644-0687.

A withdrawal packet will be sent to you once Withdrawal Services receives your fax. The packet will include an application for Withdrawal and re-entry, a letter explaining the withdrawal process, and/or medical forms, etc.