Student Costs and Financial Aid Policies

Tuition and Fees

*RSU Fees per credit hour include:
$11.00 facility fee #1, $5.00 facility fee #2, $5.00 facility fee #3, $31.00 activity fee, $4.00 assessment fee, $9.00 library fee, $13.00 technology fee, $2.00 parking fee, $2.00 health fee, $7.00 security fee, $3.00 records fee, $2.00 cultural recreation fee and $3.00 capital projects/equipment/maintenance fee.

Institutional policies must adhere to the policies of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The tuition and fees may be changed at their discretion.

Guaranteed Tuition Program

The State of Oklahoma adopted a Guaranteed Tuition Program, effective in 2008-2009. First-time RSU students can lock in tuition rates for the duration of their undergraduate education, but not longer than four consecutive academic years.

Important points to consider:

• Students must sign up when they enroll. This is the student’s responsibility. Once a student has enrolled without registering for the guaranteed program, they are no longer eligible.
• Students must be first-time RSU students, including freshmen and transfer students.
• Students must maintain full-time status. Full-time status at RSU is 12 hours each semester.
• The Guaranteed Tuition Program is for tuition only. The state’s public colleges and universities also charge fees, which are not covered by this program.
• Guaranteed tuition rates can be higher - as much as 115 percent - than the non-guaranteed tuition rate.

Five-year History of RSU Tuition Rates:

Guaranteed and non-guaranteed tuition rates for the 2020-2021 academic year are subject to change at the discretion of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. For more information, contact the Office of the Bursar at 918-343-7558 or 918-343-7559.

Approximate Cost per Semester*

*The lowest to the highest priced options are provided with additional housing options within the price range. Rent includes cable television, high-speed internet access, and all utilities. Requires $200.00 housing deposit. Housing deposits cannot be covered by scholarships. All residents in UVA, UVB, and Family are assessed an annual cleaning fee of $50.00. All UVC residents are assessed an annual cleaning fee of $75.

*All University Village and family housing residents are assessed a semester $30 laundry fee.

All students living in University Village facilities are required to purchase a meal plan ranging from $1,637.00 to $1,907.00 per semester which can be used in the Hillcat Cafe or Chapman Dining Hall.

Commuter meal plans are also available, including: a) 50 meals/semester plus $75 flex to be used in the Hillcat Café (cost $485), or b) 25 meals/semester plus $100 flex to be used in the Hillcat Café (cost $325).

Additional fees are not included in cost estimates. Any incidental commuting costs should be added to the above totals.

Failure to receive a statement will not exempt a student from penalties. It is the student’s responsibility to determine his/her financial obligation and how it is to be met.

Statements are available on the MyRSU portal and can be emailed to student email accounts upon request.

Payment Options

Financial Aid

Financial Aid recipients must have received an award letter by the first day of the semester from the Rogers State University Office of Financial Aid for payment to be deferred.

Service Fee Charge

Students who have not paid in full, established a payment plan, or do not have pending financial aid disbursements by the end of the Add/Drop period will be assessed a $40.00 Service Fee Charge.

Pay by telephone 918-343-7558 or 918-343-7559

VISA, Mastercard, and Discover are accepted.

Make monthly payments online

RSU offers a payment plan through Nelnet Business Solutions.

Steps to enroll in the online payment plan are:

• Login to your student portal, ‘my.rsu.edu’
• Select ‘Students’
• Select ‘Nelnet Online Payments’ tab
• Under pay using Nelnet section click the hyperlink to pay.

Pay on campus

Payment may be made in person on the Claremore and Pryor campuses.

Pay by mail

Mail-in payment for enrollment is accepted. A receipt will not be mailed to you but may be picked up in the Office of the Bursar. Make checks payable to Rogers State University and record your student ID number on the check. Address mail-in payments to: Rogers State University, Office of the Bursar, 1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore, OK 74017.

Delinquent Payments

Until and including the last day of final examinations, students may pay their delinquent accounts by paying tuition, fees, and charges. Students settling their delinquent accounts after the last day of final examinations will be charged an additional penalty. The additional late payment charge is $50.00. Unpaid accounts as of the last day of final examinations will be sent to the University’s legal department for collection.

Refund Policy

Tuition and Fees: Tuition and fees will be refunded based upon policies of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Withdrawing/Dropping: Withdrawal from classes after the first two weeks of a fall or spring semester and first week of a summer term (census date) does not relieve students of their financial obligation to the University, and these students will be charged 100% of the tuition and fees due the University. Students must complete and sign a withdrawal form from the Office of the Registrar. Withdrawals cannot be completed by phone. Students must drop from regular 16- week classes during the first two weeks to receive a refund.

REFUND TIME TABLE

*Short-term classes are classes that meet less than 16 weeks for fall or spring or 8 weeks for summer.

Delinquent payment of charges will not constitute grounds for withdrawal. The charges will be carried forward to the next semester, at which time all fees and charges must be cleared prior to any new enrollment. Students leaving the University will find their official records and transcripts flagged for financial hold, and these records will not be released to other persons, institutions, or agencies until all debts are paid.

Credit Balance Refunds

The Office of the Bursar uses BankMobile Disbursements, a techology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. to refund credit balances on student accounts. A credit balance may come from payment of grants, scholarships or loans credited to a student’s account, overpayment of charges, or adjustments for tuition, fees, or housing. Financial aid funds disbursed to a student’s account are first credited to the student’s educationally related charges of tuition, fees, room, board and books or other charges as authorized by the student. Once education expenses are paid in full and if a credit balance remains, the credit balance is refundable to the student. Visit this link for more information: https://disbursements.bmtx.com/refundchoices/.

Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid is committed to ensuring students’ academic success by helping students meet their education-related goals and expenses. Students must meet Department of Education eligibility requirements and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. Rogers State University (Code #003168) must be listed as a college to receive the FAFSA information. The Office of Financial Aid will use FAFSA information to determine a student’s eligibility for aid. The FAFSA should be completed by a certain date to be considered for state grant eligibility.

US Citizens and permanent residents should complete the FAFSA every year while in school in order for the RSU Financial Aid Office to determine eligibility for grants, loans and federal work study funds. Recipients of institutional scholarships are also required to complete a FAFSA. See “How to Apply” on the RSU website.

Students must be enrolled in courses that count toward a degree, certificate, or other recognized credential, to be used to determine enrollment status. Only eligible developmental courses will be counted.

To maintain eligibility for Title IV funds, students must attend courses and meet or exceed the Financial Aid satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements, both qualitative and quantitative, as required by the Department of Education and as defined by Rogers State University. Students should be aware of their SAP status at the end of each semester. If in need of assistance, students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office.

Types of Aid Offered

Every effort is made to describe programs, services, requirements, and costs accurately. The University reserves the right to make changes and alterations in any of these areas as the need arises. For up-to-date information, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Federal Pell Grant - The Pell Grant is a federally sponsored program based on need as determined by the Federal Pell Grant program and offered to students enrolled in one or more credit hours. Lifetime eligibility is limited to 600%, or the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters.

Federal SEOG Grant - The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is a federally sponsored, need-based program designed to provide additional assistance to students. Awarding is based on the availability of funds as determined by the Financial Aid Office. Students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours and be PELL eligible.

Federal Direct Loan - The Direct Loan Program is available to undergraduate students (subsidized - based on need) and (unsubsidized - not based on need), as determined from a needs analysis and who are enrolled in at least six credit hours. Direct unsubsidized loans are available to graduate students enrolled at least half-time. Interest accrues on unsubsidized loans from the date of disbursement. Borrowers who want to avoid the capitalization of unpaid interest should make interest payments while enrolled. All first-time borrowers are required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling prior to the disbursement of a loan. The 150% Direct Subsidized Loan Limit applies only to “first-time borrowers” on or after July 1, 2013. Interest rates were not available at the time of publication.

Federal Direct Plus Loan - The Parent Plus loan is available to parents of dependent students, is not need-based, and requires a credit check.

Federal Work Study - Federal Work Study funds are awarded to students based on financial need and availability of funds up to $2200 per academic year. Most on-campus positions are federal work study eligible. Students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours. Student worker positions are listed on the Employment page of the RSU website.

OTAG - The Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant is a state-sponsored, need-based program designed to help pay tuition costs. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled in at least six credit hours, be a resident of Oklahoma and meet other eligibility requirements. Application is made by completing the FAFSA by the state determined deadline listed on the FAFSA.

Oklahoma’s Promise - Oklahoma’s Promise is a program administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education that covers general tuition costs. Students must apply during their eighth, ninth, or tenth year of school. This program has other specific requirements during high school and thereafter that must be met to remain in the program. Further information can be obtained from the OSRHE website or high school counselors.

Tuition Waivers, Endowments and Scholarships - RSU offers many types of waivers and scholarships for undergraduate students. Applications are available online. Early application is encouraged. All deadlines are posted on the University’s website which students and parents are encouraged to monitor on a regular basis.

Non-Resident, Out-of-State Tuition Waivers – Waivers are available for the out-of-state portion of tuition.

International Non-Resident Tuition Waivers – Undergraduate, degree-seeking international students are eligible to receive the out-of-state tuition waiver.

Non-resident and International students are eligible for tuition waiver renewal as long as they are continuously enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and maintain appropriate academic standards. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 each term of eligibility.

Please note the waiver will only cover the out-of-state portion of tuition charges.

RSU Admission Tuition Waiver Scholarships - Merit based scholar-ships are based on academic performance demonstrated by high school grades, rank or ACT scores. In addition to scholastic accomplishments, scholarships are also awarded on the basis of financial need, leadership, or major. Scholarships are available to students in both baccalaureate and associate degree programs. Recipients of these tuition scholarships must maintain appropriate academic standards as outlined in each scholarship program.

Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver-Oklahoma residents over the age of 65 who wish to audit courses can apply for a tuition only waiver for up to 7 hours in fall/spring semester and up to 4 hours in summer semester. Must apply in person at the Office of Financial Aid for this waiver.

Foundation Scholarships - The RSU Foundation offers a variety of endowed scholarships, restricted and unrestricted scholarships. These scholarships are funded through donations from alumni and other gifts to the RSU Foundation. A complete list of scholarships and endowments, along with eligibility criteria, is available on the RSU website. A separate application is required and available on the RSU website.

Graduate Student Non-Resident Tuition Waivers

Students enrolled as graduate students in a graduate program who are not permanent residents of Oklahoma are eligible for a waiver of the out-of-state portion of the tuition charged. The waiver also applies to international students enrolled in graduate programs. Students must remain continuously enrolled and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 each semester to be eligible for the waiver. Students enrolled in 100% online graduate programs are also eligible for the tuition waiver.

Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic Scholars Program

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education offer the Academic Scholars Scholarship and the Baccalaureate Scholarship. Academic Scholars are nominated by the President of Rogers State University based on ACT scores that fall within the 99.5 to 100 percentile levels or high school grade point average, class rank, national awards, scholastic achievements, and honors. The Baccalaureate Scholarship is based on ACT scores that fall within the 99.5 to 100 percentile levels.

BIA - These grants are made available to Native American students with a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) card. Students are normally required to file a FAFSA. Students should contact their tribal higher education office for more information.

Vocational Rehabilitation - The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitative Services offers assistance with expenses for students who meet program requirements. Student should contact the appropriate state agency for more information.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is defined as proceeding toward successful completion of degree requirements. The Rogers State University Office of Financial Aid is required by federal regulation and state policy to determine whether a student is meeting the progress requirements. The official record of the RSU Registrar is reviewed to determine student compliance with the SAP policy. For this policy, SAP standards are the same for all categories of students, including those registered with Accessibility and Disability Resources.

The policy pertains only to recipients of federal and state assistance including Oklahoma Promise. A recipient of RSU provided scholarship, tuition waiver or athletic grant-in-aid must meet the eligibility requirements of the respective programs. It is possible that a student could have two different SAP reviews based on the financial aid awarded to them.

The academic year at Rogers consists of fall, spring, and summer terms. The Office of Financial Aid conducts the official evaluation of SAP at the end of each of these semesters. All previous terms of enrollment at RSU will be used in the evaluation of SAP. The term in which the students was enrolled is used in the evaluation of SAP, regardless of whether the student received federal or state funding during that period of enrollment.

If at the end of a term satisfactory academic progress has not been achieved, the student can be placed in a warning status and remain eligible for financial aid for one semester following the term in which SAP was not met. Federal regulation allows for a warning status only for students who were making SAP in the prior term or who were enrolled in their first term at RSU. Transfer students are eligible for financial aid in the first term of attendance at RSU and will be evaluated for a SAP status at the completion of that first semester.

Students determined to be ineligible for financial aid due to their SAP status are allowed to appeal the SAP determination and, if approved, can be placed on a financial aid probation during which the student may receive financial aid for one additional term. For additional information on appeals, review Section IV of this policy.

Please note: Academic probation and suspension is not the same as financial aid probation or suspension.

There are two standards used to measuring the SAP status, qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative is defined at the Grade Point Average calculated from all grades earned in courses. Quantitative is defined as the pace toward graduation for each enrolled term.

1. Grade Point Average (GPA) (qualitative standard)
   This standard is measured through the overall grade point average which includes all grades on a student’s transcript except for developmental course grades, incomplete courses and the first grade of a repeated course.
   1. Undergraduate students must maintain at least a 1.7 cumulative GPA for the first 30 credits and a 2.0 cumulative GPA for more than 30 credits.
   2. Grades of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” and “F” will count in GPA standard for measurement of SAP
   3. Repeated course will only have the second grade counted in the GPA standard even if the second grade is lower than the first grade. A student may not repeat more than four (4) courses in their academic career where the original grade was a “D” or an “F”. Both grades will be reflected on the transcript but there will be a note in the Explanation of Grades that the second grade is the only one used in the GPA calculation.
   4. Developmental courses will be given a grade but will only be considered passed with a grade of “C” or higher. The grade is not calculated into the GPA but will be reviewed for a passing grade in the SAP review period.
   5. Students who receive academic forgiveness or academic reprieve consideration through the Academic department will have those courses excluded from the cumulative GPA calculation. However, federal program regulations make no provision for the concept of academic amnesty or academic renewal. Therefore, financial aid SAP review must always include courses applicable to a student’s program in evaluating a student’s satisfactory academic progress (both quantitative and qualitative components). However, a student may be able to appeal loss of eligibility due to special circumstances.
2. Pace (quantitative standard)
   Students must meet this standard measured by the percentage of total credits completed against the total number of credits a student has attempted.
   1. Student must successfully complete 67% of all credits attempted.
   2. Transfer credits that are accepted toward the student’s current program count as both attempted and completed hours. Credits not accepted toward the RSU program requirements are not counted in the Pace calculation.
   3. Students who are pursuing a 2^nd bachelor’s degree at RSU will not have the credit hours from their prior degree(s) included in the Pace calculation for SAP that do not count toward the current degree pursuit. However, financial aid is limited to 2^nd degree students so please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.
   4. Repeat courses, development (zero level) courses and courses for which a student receives forgiveness are counted in the Pace standard for measuring SAP.
   5. Courses with grades “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “S”, and “P” will count as successfully attempted and completed courses in the Pace calculation.
   6. Courses with grades of “F”, “AW”, “U”, “NP”, “NR”, “I”, “W” and “X” will be counted in the total number of attempted credits but are not considered as successfully completed.
   7. Audited courses (“AU”) are not considered as courses attempted or completed.

RSU does not recheck SAP or recalculate a SAP status as the result of a grade change that occurs between SAP evaluation period. In addition, RSU will not alter aid already disbursed to students based on SAP evaluations that were accurate at the regular semester evaluation period.

Financial Aid Warning

RSU checks satisfactory progress at the end of each semester and therefore will place eligible students on financial aid warning for not making satisfactory progress. A student does not need to appeal or take any other action. The Financial Aid Warning status lasts for one payment period only, during which the student may continue to receive Title IV funds.

A continuing student may receive an additional warning period but only if the previous semester SAP status was in good standing. A student may not receive two consecutive warning periods.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students who fail the SAP review and are not eligible to receive a financial aid warning are placed in a financial aid suspension status. Students in this status are not eligible for federal, state or institutional financial aid. However, a student who has experienced extenuating circumstances that affected their academic performance are permitted to appeal this determination. Refer to the section on SAP Appeals for more information.

Financial Aid Probation

This status is assigned to a student who is failing to make satisfactory academic progress after the warning period and who successfully appeals. Eligibility for aid is reinstated for one semester during which it is expected that a student will bring their SAP status back into good standing. If the student does not bring their SAP status back to acceptable levels, the probation may be extended if the student experiences new reasons for failing to meet SAP standards. After two periods of probation a student would be required to submit an academic plan from approval. See the Appealing Financial Aid Eligibility section of this policy.

Maximum Timeframe for Degree Completion

A student must complete their program at RSU within a total number of attempted credit hours that does not exceed 150% of the total hours required for the completion of their program. A student who exceeds the maximum number of attempted credits is determined to be ineligible for financial aid. Students fail the maximum timeframe measure at the point at which it is determined that it is not possible for them to complete their program within the maximum timeframe, not at the point they reach the maximum timeframe point.

This total includes all attempted coursework at RSU and all transfer work from other schools that is accepted toward their degree requirements. All attempted credit hours are considered in the calculation, even if the student did not receive federal aid for the coursework or earn a grade. In addition, all repeated courses count in this calculation.

The following are the maximum attempted credit hours for each student type:

Undergraduate students enrolled in a 124-credit hour program are eligible for a total of 186 attempted credit hours of study.

Graduate students enrolled in a 36-credit hour degree program are eligible for a total of 50 attempted credits hours of study.

Students who have exceeded the maximum number of hours to complete an academic program are eligible to appeal. In this case, a degree check is required for the financial aid office to determine how many additional hours are needed to complete the academic program. Please review “Appealing Financial Aid Eligibility” for more information about the appeal process.

Completed Academic Program but No Degree

A student who completes the academic requirements for a program but does not yet have the degree or certificate is not eligible for further additional Title IV funds for that program. Students are not permitted to extend their Title IV eligibility beyond the completion of the original degree program to attain a minor or second major. There is no appeal process available for this situation. Changing a degree program after the completion of the original bachelor’s degree program requirements does not reinstate some types of financial aid eligibility as the student is determined to have achieved a Bachelor’s degree, a specific eligibility criterion for federal Pell grants, Oklahoma state grants and the federal SEOG program. Students with questions regarding this policy should make an appointment with a financial aid counselor to review their financial aid options.

Appealing Financial Aid Eligibility

A student whose financial aid is suspended based on the SAP policy may submit a written appeal. The appeal should be based on mitigating circumstances that have a direct effect of the student’s ability to make progress. While not totally inclusive, the appeal form provides examples of mitigating circumstances that are unexpected or beyond the control of the student.

The appeal must explain in detail why the student failed to meet the minimum academic standards, what caused the failure and what has changed or improved that will allow the student to demonstrate SAP at the end of the next semester. Documentation supporting the appeal must be submitted with the appeal form, not separately, so be sure that all information is together. Appeals without proper documentation will not be reviewed by the Appeals committee.

If the Financial Aid Appeals Committee approves an appeal for a student who has an insufficient cumulative GPA or a pace deficiency and has determined that the student can meet the SAP standards by the end of the next term, the student will be placed on financial aid probation. This probation approval will not require the student to submit an academic plan. All federal/state/RSU aid will be reinstated for one term. The student will be evaluated at the end of that term to determine if the continued eligibility for financial aid is warranted. A student’s financial aid probation can be extended one additional semester without the need for an additional appeal, but the committee may request an academic plan.

If the Financial Aid Appeals Committee approves an appeal and determines the student cannot meet the SAP standards by the end of the next semester, the student will be placed on financial aid probation with a required academic plan. The student must adhere to the specific terms and conditions as determined by the committee. Financial Aid will be reinstated for one term and the student’s progress will be reviewed at the end of that term. At that point, the student must meet the requirements of the academic plan. If the plan is met, the financial aid probation will continue for an additional term and financial aid eligibility will continue.

The Office of Financial Aid will notify the student via email of the decision of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The Appeals committee decision is final. Students with an academic plan are required to schedule an appointment with a Financial Aid Counselor to review the plan and discuss regaining their eligibility. If a student needs to change an academic plan because a course is not being offered in a specific term or the course was cancelled by the university, the student is responsible contacting the Office of Financial Aid to review the effect of the change. The academic plan must be updated. Students on an academic plan who withdraw from a course will be considered not meeting the requirements and become ineligible in the next semester. Students who do not meet the requirements of the academic plan will become ineligible for federal/state/RSU financial aid.

Students will regain their financial aid eligibility once they meet the minimum requirements of SAP. This eligibility is not retroactive to any prior term. Students not meeting SAP who have lost their eligibility also have the option of attending RSU at their own expense or by using private education loan funds, if approved by the lender until they meet the conditions of the SAP policy.

Withdrawal and Return of Title IV Funds Policy

All RSU students are awarded Title IV funds under the assumption that they will remain enrolled and attend courses for the entire payment period or period of enrollment. Students who withdraw from all classes prior to completing 60% or more of the payment period will have their aid recalculated based on the percent of the term completed. For example, a student who withdraws completing only 30% of the period will have “earned” only 30% of any Title IV aid received. The school and/or the student must return the remaining 70%. In addition, aid will be adjusted accordingly for students reported as “never attended” one or more courses.

Treatment of Title IV Funds When a Student Withdraws

The RSU Financial Aid Office strives to help students make informed decisions regarding withdrawal and to understand that a withdrawal potentially affects their academic as well as financial status.

1. This policy shall apply to students who withdraw, quit attending or who are expelled from RSU and receive aid from Title IV funds. Title IV funds refer to the types listed below and will be returned in the following order:
   1. Direct Unsubsidized Loans
   2. Direct Subsidized Loans
   3. Direct PLUS Loans
   4. Pell Grant
   5. Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
   6. Federal SEOG

In addition, Oklahoma Tuition Grant Scholarships and Oklahoma Promise funds are also subject to the Return to Title IV percentage calculation. Students receiving these funds will have their funds returned to the appropriate program should a refund be necessary.

2. A student’s withdrawal date is:
   1. The date the student initially signs the institution’s official withdrawal form, or officially provides written notification (email, fax, text) to the Office of the University Registrar of their intention to withdraw;
   2. The midpoint of the period for a student who leaves without notifying the institution or with no recorded last date of academically related activity;
   3. The student’s last date of academically related activity*

*Academically related activity is defined as active participation by a student in an instructional activity related to the student’s course of study that is defined by the institution in accordance with any applicable requirements of its State or accrediting agency; and includes, but is not limited to:

• Attending asynchronous class, lecture, recitation, or field or laboratory activity, physically or online, where there is an opportunity for interaction between the instructor and students;
• Submitting an academic assignment;
• Taking an assessment or an exam;
• Participating in an interactive tutorial, webinar, or other interactive computer-assisted instruction;
• Participating in a study group, group project, or an online discussion that is assigned by the institution;
• Interacting with an instructor about academic matters.

The definition of academic engagement does not include activities where a student may be present, but not academically engaged, such as:

• Living in institutional housing;
• Participating in the school’s meal plan;
• Logging into an online class or tutorial without any further participation;
• Participating in academic counseling or advising; or
• Participating in a student-organized study group.

A student’s self-certification alone is not sufficient documentation of academic engagement and must be supported by institutional documentation of the student’s attendance in the activity.

Types of Withdrawals

1. There are two types of withdrawals used when calculating how much aid a student has earned,
   1. Official Withdrawal- student completes proper paperwork with the Office of the Registrar to be officially withdrawn from classes prior to the end of the withdrawal period. Students who officially withdraw must meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to discuss the impact of the withdrawal on SAP and possible financial aid implications. Students who officially withdraw will earn a grade of W.
   2. Unofficial Withdrawal- student stops attending courses prior to the end of the semester without completing the official withdrawal process.

Calculation of Earned Financial Aid

1. Regulations require schools to calculate and return any unearned funds within 45 days of the calculation. The Return of Title IV funds calculation process is performed on both Title IV and state financial aid programs in the RSU Financial Aid Office every two weeks. If the Return of Title IV calculation determines a credit balance is owed to the student after federal and state adjustments have been satisfied, a refund in that amount will be issued to the student as soon as possible but in no more than 14 days from the date of the Return of Title IV funds calculation. Students are notified by their personal email and their RSU email address.
2. The following formula is used to determine the percentage of earned aid to be returned to the federal government:
   • The percent earned is equal to the number of calendar days completed up to the withdrawal date, divided by the total calendar days in the payment period (less any scheduled breaks that are at least 5 days in length).
   • The payment period for most students is the entire semester. However, for students enrolled in modules (courses which do not span the entire semester or term), the payment period only includes the number of days for the module(s) in which the student is registered.
   • The percent earned is equal to 100 percent minus the percent unearned.

Post Withdrawals

1. In some cases a student may have earned more aid than was disbursed at the time of withdrawal and will be determination of eligible post-withdrawal disbursement will be determined by the RSU Financial Aid Office for credit or repayment.
2. RSU may automatically use all or part of a student’s grant funds for tuition, fees, room or board charges on the student’s account with the Bursar’s Office.

When a Student Fails to Earn a Passing Grade in Any Class

If the student has not completely withdrawn but has failed to earn a passing grade in at least one class for the term (unofficial withdrawal), federal regulations require the school to determine whether the student established eligibility for financial aid. Eligibility is based on whether the student attended at least one class or participated in any academically related activity. All disbursed funds must be returned to the respective federal, state and institutional aid programs if the student cannot prove that he/she began attendance. For more information regarding this topic see the next section.

Students Who Receive All Failing Grades at the End of the Term

1. If the school cannot verify that the student attended classes, all financial aid must be repaid to the federal, state and institutional programs. The student’s bursar account will be charged and the student will be responsible for any balance due.
2. Students who are able to verify a last date of an academically related activity other than reported may submit supporting documentation to the RSU Financial Aid Office. Students must submit supporting documentation within 30 days from the last date of the term. Recalculations for aid eligibility will not be performed for documentation received after that date.
3. Once grades are posted for a student who receives all failing grades (unofficial withdrawal), all calculated unearned aid will be returned to the federal programs and the student’s bursar account will be charged.
4. The Financial Aid Office will email and mail a letter of notification to the student’s permanent address on file with the Registrar’s Office. The student’s bursar account will be updated, and the student will be responsible for any balance due. A statement reflecting these charges will be sent to the student by the Bursar’s Office.

Students Enrolled in One or More Short Term/Modular Courses

The RSU Financial Aid Office will track enrollment in each module (a group of courses in a program that do not span the entire length of the payment period combined to form a term, for example, summer sessions) to determine if a student began enrollment in all scheduled modules. If a student officially drops courses in a later module while still attending a current module, the student is not considered as withdrawn based on not attending the later module. However, a recalculation of aid based on a change in enrollment status may still be required.

Return of Title IV Funds for Students Enrolled in Modules

1. New regulations provide for consistent and equitable treatment of students who withdraw from a program measured in credit hours, regardless of whether courses in the program span the entire period or consist of shorter modules within the entire period.
2. A student is considered to have withdrawn from a payment period or period of enrollment in which the student began enrollment if the student ceased attendance in all scheduled courses without completing all of the days the student was scheduled to complete in the period.
3. If a student provides written confirmation to the RSU Financial Aid Office before ceasing to attend that he or she plans to attend another course later in the same payment period, the student is not considered to have withdrawn.
4. Without written confirmation of plans to attend a later course in the same payment period, a student is considered to have withdrawn. The RSU Financial Aid Office will perform a return of Title IV funds (R2T4) calculation to determine if any funds must be returned.
5. When the student ceased to attend or failed to begin attendance in a scheduled course and has not provided written confirmation of future enrollment, the RSU Financial Aid Office will determine if:
   1. the student successfully complete: a module or combination of modules that contain 49% or more of the number of days of the payment period (excluding scheduled breaks of 5 consecutive days or more and all days between modules); OR
   2. completed coursework equal to or greater than the coursework required for the institution’s definition of a half-time student for the payment period.

If yes to either question, student is not a withdrawal, but Pell recalculations may apply.

6. If the student does return to school in the same period without having provided prior written confirmation, the student is not considered to have withdrawn and is eligible to receive Title IV funds. The Financial Aid Office will reverse the R2T4 process and calculate eligibility at the time of return.
7. This applies to all programs offering courses shorter than an entire term, including the summer term and intersession.

Repayment Calculation of Unearned Aid as a Result of Withdrawal

The calculation of earned and unearned aid is a prescribed mathematical calculation mandated by the federal government and an institution can make no alterations to the calculation formula. Students enrolled in intersessions between fall and spring semesters and summer courses offered in less than 16-week time standard term periods are included in the time period used to calculate earned aid and refunds. Students who received federal and state funds will be required to repay “unearned” aid as a result of a withdrawal. The RSU Financial Aid Office will return funds on the student’s behalf to the appropriate federal, state and Institutional program(s) and will notify the Bursar. A statement from the Bursar’s Office reflecting these charges will be sent to the student. The student is responsible for all charges and overpayments resulting from a Return of Title IV calculation.

Institutional and Student Responsibility in Regards to the Return of Title IV Funds

1. Institutional Responsibilities
   1. Providing each student with the information given in this policy;
   2. Identifying students affected by this policy and completing the Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculation;
   3. Informing the student of the result of the R2T4 calculation and any balance owed to RSU as a result of a required return of funds;
   4. Returning any earned Title IV aid that is due to the Title IV and state programs and, if applicable, notifying the borrower’s holder of federal loan funds of the student’s withdrawal date;
   5. Notifying the student and/or Plus borrower of eligibility for a Post-Withdrawal Disbursement, if applicable.
2. Student’s Responsibilities
   1. Becoming familiar with the Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) policy and how withdrawing from all courses effects eligibility for Title IV aid;
   2. Resolving any outstanding balance owed to the Bursar’s Office resulting from a required return of unearned Title IV or state aid;
   3. Resolving any repayment to the U.S. Department of Education as a result of an over payment of Title IV grant funds.

Note: The procedures and policies listed above are subject to change without advance notice based on changes to federal laws, federal regulations, or school policies. If changes are made, students must abide by the most current policy. The Federal Refund Policy (R2T4) is very encompassing and this is intended to be an overview of the policies and procedures that govern regulations pertaining to Title IV Refund (R2T4). For further guidance on R2T4 policies and procedures please see the reference material found in Volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook under Withdrawals. For more information, contact the RSU Financial Aid Office.