If you reduce your credit load or officially withdraw from school during a quarter for which you have already received financial aid, all or part of the funds that have been disbursed to you may have to be repaid or returned to the funding source. This may create a balance due to SPU.
The amount to be repaid or returned will be determined by the length of time you were in school.
Minimum enrollment requirements for undergraduates
Your initial offer of financial assistance assumes you will enroll for 12–18 undergraduate credits per quarter.
Credits are reviewed as of the fifth day of the quarter. Your enrollment at this point will be your financial aid enrollment. (Some courses added between the fifth and 10th day — such as independent studies and internships — will also count toward your enrollment for the quarter.)
If you register for fewer than 12 credits, your offer of financial assistance may need to be adjusted. If you plan to enroll for fewer than 12 credits for any quarter, notify SFS right away.
If you register for 5 or fewer credits, you will not be eligible for financial aid. (Exception: if you are otherwise eligible for a Pell or Washington State Need Grant, you may qualify for these grants carrying fewer than six credits.)
Courses that do not count toward your degree cannot be covered by financial aid. This includes media courses, audited courses, 5000-level courses, and graduate courses.
For further information, refer to the Financial Information section of the Undergraduate Catalog.
Minimum enrollment requirements for post-baccalaureate or graduate students
Your Offer of Financial Assistance is based on the assumption that you will be enrolled full time. If your actual enrollment will be different, please notify SFS or complete the Financial Aid Revision Request Form or the Loan Reduction or Cancellation Request Form right away.
To receive financial aid as a graduate student, you must be enrolled at least half-time each quarter. Half-time is three credits for graduate students and six credits for post-baccalaureate students.
Courses that do not count toward your degree cannot be covered by financial aid. This includes media courses, audited courses, and 5000-level courses.
Credits are reviewed as of the fifth day of the quarter. Your enrollment at this point will be your financial aid enrollment. Some courses added between the fifth and 10th day — such as independent studies and internships — will also count toward your enrollment for the quarter. You must be in a program leading to a degree or one of the following certificate programs to be eligible for financial aid:
- Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies (GCCS)
- Medical Family Therapy (MEDFT) program
- Program administrator certification
- Principal certification
- School superintendent certification
- School counseling certification
For further information, refer to the Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog.
Return of Title IV Funds
Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) refers to the calculation required when a student receives of Title IV aid (federal financial aid) and withdraws from an institution during a payment period/period of enrollment in which the recipient began attendance. The calculation determines the amount of Title IV aid (federal financial aid) the recipient earned, compared to the amount disbursed. This calculation determines whether funds must be returned, or if the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement.
A student is considered a Title IV recipient if before the student withdrew: the institution received an official EFC (completed financial aid file); the institution received an application for a federal loan; the student was awarded any federal loan or grant; the institution received a valid ISIR or SAR.
See full policy here.
Determine the Percentage of Aid Earned
The percentage of aid earned by a Title IV recipient will be determined by calculating the percentage of the payment period the student completed. The percentage completed is calculated as "days attended in the period divided by total days in the period". The number of days are calendar days, and creaks of at least five days in length are excluded. If the percentage completed exceeds 60%, there is no need to return any Title IV funds.
September, December, and Summer Sessions (Module) Aid Earned Calculation:
Students who are enrolled for more than one session (early and late in the summer or December or September Session and traditional Winter or Autumn Quarter) and drops an early session without attending other early sessions must confirm in writing that they are planning to attend the later session. If the student does not confirm they will be attending a later session, they are considered a withdrawal and the calculation of earned aid applies.
Date of Withdrawals:
The institution will maintain the student’s withdrawal date in the Banner System - See Tuition Refund Policy.
1.1 Official Withdrawals
The official withdrawal is the date the student submitted a completed Add/Drop form, submitted a letter requesting a complete withdrawal, or orally notified Student Academic Services of their intent to completely withdraw. The student's official withdrawal date may also be the day they dropped all their courses via the Web. At the institution's option, an earlier or later date, which the institution documents as the last date of academically related activity by the student, may become the official withdrawal date.
1.2 Unofficial Withdrawals
If a student does not provide proper written notice to Student Academic Services, financial obligations will remain binding, regardless of whether classes were attended or whether any contracted services were utilized.
For the return of Title IV funds, if a student does not officially withdraw from all their courses, the mid-point of the payment period will be used as the official withdrawal date. At the institution's option, any earlier or later date, which the institution documents as the last date of academically related activity by the student, can be used. Another date, determined by the institution, related to an accident, illness, grievous personal loss, or other circumstances beyond the student's control, which prevented the student from withdrawing officially, could also be used.
Title IV Refund Policy