Refund Policy

Regulations governing the refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, for students enrolling at the California State University are included in Section 41802 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations.

In order for students to receive a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, a student must cancel registration or drop all courses prior to the first day of instruction for the term. If a student drops all classes or withdraws from the university on or after the first day of classes, they are responsible for part, or all, tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, if applicable, depending upon the date of drop/withdrawal. Students are solely responsible for dropping their classes and should not rely on a professor, advisor, or the university in general, to drop their classes on their behalf.

Students will receive a full refund of tuition and mandatory campus fees, including nonresident tuition, under the following circumstances:

• The tuition and fees were assessed or collected in error;
• The course for which the tuition and fees were assessed or collected was cancelled by the university;
• The university makes a delayed decision that the student was not eligible to enroll in the term for which tuition and mandatory fees were assessed and collected, and the delayed decision was not due to incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the student;
• The student was activated for compulsory military service.

Students who drop all their classes on or after the first day and before the 60% point in Term, are eligible for a pro-rated refund of tuition and mandatory campus fees, including nonresident tuition. Students dropping classes after the 60% point in the term are not eligible for a refund.

Refund Schedule

Financial Aid Adjustments Resulting in a Balance Owed to the University

Financial Aid is directly tied to enrollment. If a student drops courses, financial aid can be impacted and reduced. Many of these adjustments are governed by federal regulations. Students are advised to meet with the Financial Aid Office prior to dropping below full-time status or withdrawing from the university.

Exceptional Circumstances Refunds

Students who are not entitled to a refund as described above, may submit a request for an appeal of the refund policy demonstrating exceptional circumstances which prevented the student from dropping their classes prior to posted deadlines, and the Chief Financial Officer of the university or their designee determines that the tuition and fees were not earned by the university. Only fees between the current term and two previous terms are eligible for an appeal of the refund policy.

Instructions and Procedures

All classes must be dropped prior to submitting a request for exceptional circumstances refund. If you have filed a petition to withdraw with the Registrar’s Office, you must have approval and all of your classes dropped prior to submitting a request for exceptional circumstances refund. The execeptional circumstances committee cannot initiate a drop or withdrawal on your behalf.

Please be as descriptive as possible regarding your situation. Relevant supporting documentation must be included that supports your claim that exceptional circumstances made the student incapable of dropping classes by posted deadlines.

Who Reviews Requests?

A committee represented by three voting members: one member from the Financial Aid Office, one member from the Office of the Registrar, and one member from Student Financial Services (requests from Extended Learning students add one voting member from the Extended Learning Office). Student Financial Services will submit your appeal to the committee and coordinate communications with the student.

When to Expect a Response

The process can take approximately 2-3 weeks.  Once a decision has been made, the student will be contacted by email.

Request for Exceptional Circumstances Refund