Course Drops & University Withdrawal
Thinking about dropping a course or withdrawing from Western?
Before making any changes to your schedule, it’s important to know that not all drops or withdrawals result in a refund of tuition, mandatory fees, housing, or meal plan charges. We encourage you to review the Registrar’s Important Dates and Deadlines Page for refund timelines specific to each quarter.
For complete instructions on dropping a course or withdraw from Western, please visit the Registrar’s Course and University Withdrawal page. Be sure to review the information below to understand what tuition, housing, and meal plan charges may be refunded, or will remain student responsibility to pay.
Tuition Refund after Course, University, or Dean’s (Hardship) Withdrawal
Thinking About Dropping a Course or Withdrawing?
Before making any changes to your schedule, it’s important to know that not all drops or withdrawals result in a refund of tuition, mandatory fees, housing, or meal plan charges.
Tuition refunds are calculated based on when students drop a course or withdraw during the quarter. For Fall, Winter, and Spring quartets, tuition is charged per credit up to the banded rate for the 10-18 credit range. If your enrollment drops below 10 credits, you might qualify for a refund—but again, timing is everything. The earlier you make changes, the more likely you are to receive a partial refund.
Want to see exact refund deadlines? Be sure to check out the Registrar’s Important Dates and Deadlines page, and review the below refund windows:
- Full Tuition Refund Deadline: Course drops or official university withdrawals completed prior to the sixth day of the quarter are entitled to a full refund of associated tuition and mandatory student fees.
- Half Tuition Refund Deadline: Course drops or official university withdrawals completed on or after the sixth day of the quarter and within the first 30 calendar days are entitled to one-half tuition refund. Mandatory student fees are non-refundable after the full tuition refund deadline.
- Course drops or official university withdrawals completed after the 30th calendar day of the quarter will not receive a tuition refund.
If you are due a refund after a course drop or university withdrawal, the Student Business Office will calculate and issue around 1-2 weeks after your drop or withdrawal. Western utilizes a third-party servicer called BankMobile Disbursements to disburse all university refunds. For more information on how to select your refund preference and receive your refund, please visit their website RefundSelection.com. Looking more information on University refunding? See our refunding page for more details!
Changing Your Enrollment? Let’s Talk Financial Aid!
Dropping classes or withdrawing from Western can impact your disbursed financial aid, including how much you receive, and how much you may have to repay.
Even if you qualify for a tuition or fee refund, you could still be required to repay some (or all) of your disbursed financial aid depending on how much of the term you’ve completed and participated in.
To get the full scoop, check out the Financial Aid Department’s Withdrawing from WWU & Repayment Policy pages!
Have questions about your specific aid package? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Financial Aid Department, they’re here to help!
The purpose of the Dean’s Withdrawal is to assist students who are unable to complete the quarter or a course due to compelling circumstances beyond their control or due to a significant hardship (such as incapacitating illness or injury).
An approved petition may allow a more advantageous outcome but does not guarantee a refund for tuition or other charges. Refunds are calculated based on when a student’s last day of attendance falls within that quarter's tuition refunding deadlines.
The Last Date of Attendance is the last known date when the student actively engaged or participated in learning activities, to include attending class, reading or responding to online materials or discussions, completing an exam or quiz, or discussion in-person or via email with the instructor regarding the class.
An approved partial or full Dean’s Withdrawal may impact your financial aid disbursement and eligibility. Although you may be eligible for a refund of tuition and fees, students who are granted a partial or full Dean’s Withdrawal may be required to repay part or all of their financial aid based on the percentage of the term they have attended and participated. Please review the Financial Aid Department’s Withdrawing from WWU and Repayment Policy for more information. If you have questions about your financial aid package, please reach out to the Financial Aid Department.
To apply for a Dean’s withdrawal, review the Office of Student Life’s Dean’s Withdrawals Page.
Resources & Policies
See the Registrar’s Course and University Withdrawal page for course drop and university withdrawal instructions. Review the
Registrar’s School Withdrawal Checklist to ensure a smooth exit from Western.
See the Financial Aid Department’s Withdrawing from WWU and Repayment Policy to understand financial aid adjustments post course drop or university withdrawal.
If you have questions about your financial aid package, please reach out to the Financial Aid Department.
Living on campus? Review University Residence’s Housing Checkout Instructions before leaving your dorm.
Taking a break from Western and need to repay a past due student account balance? Review our Temporary Repayment Arrangements, or reach out to our Debt Recovery Unit for enrollment instructions and more information.
Did you take out a federal loan and need to begin repaying? See our Direct Loans Exit Counseling page for instructions and information!
This policy applies to adjustments to and refunds from student and/or general receivable accounts. It does not apply to refunds issued directly from a departmental fund when no general receivable account exists. Please review POL-U5352.03 here.