• Rating-Related Degrees
• Degree Programs
• Distance Learning
• Admission Requirements
• Transferring Credits
• Tuition & Fees—Military
• Paying for Classes
• Registering for Class
• Order Textbooks
• Withdrawal/Refund
• Catalog
• Library
• Student Services
• Contact Us
• FAQs
• Check UIU E-mail
• myUIU
• e-College
• Other Resource Links

US Navy Photo

Withdrawal and Refund Policy

Withdrawing from classes is an expensive decision and may change the amount of, or eligibility to receive, financial aid. We urge you to carefully weigh this decision before just deciding to drop a class.We realize in an active military lifestyle, there are times that duty calls and you must withdraw.

• Withdrawing from an External Degree Independent Study Class
• Withdrawing from an Online Class
• UIU Deployment Policy

External Degree Program Refund Policy and Course Withdrawal

External Degree Program staff members are available to discuss this decision with you. A grade of W (withdrawal) is recorded for any course from which a learner withdraws.

Upon receiving a request for withdrawal, using the number of lessons submitted as compared to the total due, a refund of tuition is made according to the guidelines listed below.  

* An enrollment period is defined as the number of lessons to be submitted during a six-month period of time, as determined by the University, during which semester credits are earned toward graduation. The refund/repayments shall be calculated using the percentages noted above as determined using the number of lessons completed and the number of lessons yet to be submitted.

Learners who withdraw from a course prior to submitting the first lesson or who are administratively withdrawn for non-submission of lessons will be charged an administrative fee of $75.

You may appeal the refund calculation if you feel there are extreme circumstances that warrant an exception to the published policy. Make your request in writing, documenting the extreme circumstances, and submit it to the External Degree Program director. A response to the appeal will be made within two weeks.

External Degree Program Administrative Withdrawal

A grade of AW (administrative withdrawal) is recorded for any course from which a learner is administratively withdrawn. At least one complete unit must be submitted to the instructor within the first 60 days of the enrollment period or the learner will be administratively withdrawn from the course.

Online Program Refund Policy and Course Withdrawal

Tuition will be adjusted based on the percentages listed below for the weeks completed in the eight-week enrollment period. If a course meets on an alternative schedule consult your Online Program Office for refund schedule.

These percentages will also be used to determine eligibility for state aid you may have received. Examples of refund calculations are available from the Financial Aid Office.

Course withdrawal may change the amount of, or eligibility to receive financial aid for a specific term. A financial aid counselor is available to discuss this decision with you.

Upper Iowa University is required to use a statutory schedule to determine the amount of Title IV aid that you have earned when you cease attendance based on the period of enrollment. Up through the 60% point in each period of enrollment, a pro rata schedule, based on number of days in attendance divided by number of days in the payment period, will be used to determine the amount of Title IV aid you have earned at the time of withdrawal.

You may appeal the tuition refund calculation if you feel there are extreme circumstances that warrant an exception to the published policy. Make your request in writing, documenting the extreme circumstances, and submit it to the Online Program director. A response to the appeal will be made within two weeks.

Online Program Changes in Registration (Drop/Withdrawal Procedures)

Note the following policies for changing registrations:

If you wish to withdraw from a course, you must notify the Online Program office in writing prior to the published last day to drop a class, which is the end of the fifth week. A grade of "W" will be recorded on the transcript. Informing the course faculty member is not sufficient notice for a drop or withdrawal. Because of the online delivery mode, learners will not be allowed to add a class after the first day of the term.

Online Program Administrative Withdrawal

Prior to the last date to withdraw, if a learner has not attended (posted one or more notes to the main class meeting within the academic week) for fourteen consecutive days, the instructor or Online Program office will initiate an administrative withdrawal. A grade of "AW" will then be recorded. This will affect financial aid funding.

The Academic Extension Policy for Students Called to Active Duty or Alerted for Depoyment

When a student is called to active military duty or deployed as a result of military orders, as verified by the appropriate documentation, Upper Iowa University will take one or more of the actions listed below vis-à-vis the student's academic standing and financial circumstances. The university's course of action for individuals will be determined on a case-by-case basis as decided by the student, the student's respective faculty members and other university administrators as necessary, for example, the senior vice president or the director of financial aid.

If the academic term is two-thirds complete (after the fifth week of an 8-week term), the student will be allowed the following options:

• Be permitted to take final exams earlier than scheduled or have the final exams proctored at the student's place of deployment. The student would be awarded the letter grade earned for all completed work. There would be no tuition refund under this option.
• Elect to take a "P" (Passing) grade for the course if at the time of deployment the student is passing the course. This would give the student academic credit for the course, but the grade would not be figured into the student's GPA. There would be no tuition refund under this option.
• Elect to take a "W" (Withdrawal) for the course with the student's transcript annotated by the Registrar that the student was called to active duty or deployed under military orders. There would be no tuition refund under this option. Title IV funds would be handled as outlined below.

If the deployment is during the normal withdrawal period during the term, the student will be allowed the following options:

• Elect to take a "W" (Withdrawal) for the course with the student's transcript annotated by the Registrar that the student was called to active duty or deployed under military orders. Tuition will be refunded per policy stated in the appropriate EU Catalog. Title IV funds would be handled as outlined below.
• For External Degree Independent Study students ONLY, take incomplete grades and finish the courses at a later date. In this case, the work can be completed with the deadline to complete the work reasonably extended to allow completion while the student is deployed. CAUTION: There is a certain amount of risk for the Academic Extension student with this option and it must be carefully considered before it is selected. There would be no refund of tuition under this option.

If the deployment is during the academic term and the incomplete grading option is not viable for the student, the student may withdraw from the term with a "W" (Withdrawal) for the course with the student's transcript annotated by the Registrar that the student was called to active duty or deployed under military orders and tuition will be refunded per policy stated in the appropriate EU Catalog. Title IV funds would be handled as outlined below.

If a student is called to active duty or deployed prior to the start of the term, the registration will be voided.

Information regarding tuition refunds:

• When a student's situation warrants the award of a "W" (Withdrawal), Title IV Federal Funds will be refunded according to the federal refund policy as outlined in the Financial Aid Handbook and cash payments/tuition assistance will be refunded on a prorated basis.
• When a student's situation warrants the awarding of a letter grade, no adjustments will be made to the student's tuition funds.

Additionally, students will retain the catalog rights that were in place at the time of their deployment.

•