Withdrawal and Refund Policy 

The conditions under which students will be eligible to receive a refund of fees

Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence during any semester may be eligible for a partial refund of fees and tuition.

Official Date of Withdraw or Leave of Absence

For students who notify the University of the intent to withdraw or take a leave of absence, the official date of withdrawal or leave or absence is the earliest of:

• The date the student began the withdrawal or leave of absence process, or
• The date the student notified the Program Directory.
• For students who do not notify the University of the intent to withdraw or take a leave of absence, the official date of withdrawal or leave of absence is the latter of:
  1. the midpoint of the semester, or
  2. the last date the student attended an academically related activity such as an exam, a tutorial or a study group or the last day the student turned in a class assignment.

Deadlines for Adding and Dropping Classes

Students must drop or add a full-semester class by the tenth day of the semester. They must drop or add a mini class no later than the end of the second week of the mini. Specific dates for each semester are indicated on the Heinz School Academic Calendar. Students dropping classes by these dates are entitled to a full refund of tuition for the applicable class.

Tuition Adjustment

Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence before completing 60% of the semester will be charged tuition based upon the number of days completed within the semester. This includes all calendar days, class and non-class days, from the first day of classes to the last day of final exams. Breaks which last five days or longer, including the prior and subsequent weekends, are not counted. There is no tuition adjustment after 60% of the semester is completed. Specific tuition adjustment dates are calculated each semester. No tuition is charged to a student who is administratively withdrawn.

Financial Aid Adjustments

Students receiving financial aid from the US Federal government or from Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz School should understand that they are adjusted on the same basis as tuition. A student earns 100% of his or her federal or institutional financial aid when 60% of the semester is completed.

State grants and non-federal outside scholarships are adjusted based upon the withdrawal policies of the agency awarding the funds.

FEE-HELP Adjustments

Students who receive FEE-HELP must conform to the Census dates listed in both the Unit of Study Information and the Heinz School Academic Calendar in order to receive a refund of tuition fees.