Refund
A refund occurs when a student completely withdraws from Cal State San Marcos and Cal State San Marcos does not retain all fees. Cal State San Marcos refund requirements are published in the course schedule each semester.

A student who withdraws prior to the start of classes is eligible for a full refund of fees (but is not eligible for any financial aid received, since there was no attendance of classes). Students who withdraw any time up to the 60% point of the semester will be eligible for a prorated portion of the fees paid. However, if you receive title IV aid, including loans, a similarly prorated portion must be returned to those programs.

Return of Title IV (Federal) Aid
If you withdraw completely from the University during the first 10 weeks of class, you will have to repay a portion of the financial aid you received.

The calculations for determining how much aid must be returned is based on the date you begin the withdrawal process from Cal State San Marcos. It is important, if you do need to leave school, to complete the official withdrawal process. Information on withdrawing is available at the Enrollment Service Information Center and in the Dean of Student’s Office.

To officially withdrawal you will need to both:

Complete a schedule adjustment form, dropping all your classes

And

Complete a formal withdrawal form

Please see either the Dean of Student’s Office or the Enrollment Service Information Center for more information.

Note: If you fail to officially withdraw, and are given U grades for the courses attempted, the University will have to use the last date of attendance noted by the professor and you will be responsible for repaying a portion of the financial aid you received.

The calculations to determine the amount that must be repaid are somewhat involved, and so several examples are provided below. If you do need to withdraw, you will want to consult with our office to determine how much, if any, aid must be repaid.

Example I:

Susan withdraws from Cal State San Marcos September 13, 10 days after class begins. She completed 8.9% of the semester.

She was eligible to receive:      

                                              $1500 Pell Grant
                                              $ 786  State University Grant
                                              $ 400  FSEOG Grant
                                              $2668 Federal Loan

Her Federal aid (which does not include the State University Grant) totals $4,568. She earned 8.9% of that or $407. Because we disburse 50% of the grant prior to the end of add/drop, Susan only needs to return any portion already disbursed to her. Her total disbursement was $3,618. She must return $3,618 less $407 for which she was eligible, or $3,211.

Of the $3,211 that must be returned, the University must return an amount equal to 91.1% of the fees charged to the federal programs 1007 x 91.1% = $917.

The Student must return the remainder $2,294.

The school will return $917 to her student loan. She will be eligible for a prorated refund similar to the amount returned. She would be eligible for only the difference between loan aid returned and the fee refund. If the loan aid return is in excess of the refund, she would owe the school that difference.

Of the $2,294 the student must return, $1,751 is in a student loan ($2668 minus $917 returned by Cal State San Marcos). The $1,751 is returned as outlined in the terms of the promissory note, in other words, she must begin payment 6 months after she ceased to attend at least half time, unless she is eligible for deferment (such as returning to school at least half-time). The remaining $543 is grant aid and is given a 50% protection allowance. Therefore, the student must repay $272 to the Pell Grant program. Because it is a grant, it must be repaid immediately. If the Susan does not pay it back, she owes a refund to a federal grant, and is not eligible for further financial aid. She can set up a repayment agreement with the Department of Education to maintain eligibility, however if she fails to honor the repayment agreement, she would again be made ineligible for aid at any school.

Example II:
Javier withdraws November 12. He has completed greater than 60% of the semester and so no return of title IV is required.

Example III:

Russ withdraws October 19. He completed 49.1% of the semester.

He received:

Federal Loan $2,668

He earned 49.1% and so must return 50.9% (2668x 50.9% = 1358) to the federal program. The university is required to return an amount equal to 50.9% of the fees charged. $970 x 50.9% = $494. $494 will be returned to the loan program. He will be eligible for a prorated refund similar to the amount returned. He would be eligible for only the difference between loan aid returned and the fee refund. If the loan aid return is in excess of the refund, he would owe the school that difference. The remaining amount to be returned $1358 – 494 = $864 is returned by the student, per the terms of the promissory note. So he will not have to begin repayment until 6 months after he ceased attending at least half time.

Example IV:
Marguerite withdraws October 19. She completed 49.1% of the semester .

She received:

Federal Pell Grant             $1200
State University Grant     $ 678

She earned 49.1% of the federal aid, which is only the Pell Grant of $1200. 50.9% of the grant (1200 x 50.9% = $611) must be returned to the federal programs. The university is required to return an amount equal to 50.9% of the fees charged. $899 x 50.9% = $458. $458 will be returned to the Pell program. However, Marguerite withdrew after the Cal State San Marcos refund period, and so now owes the University the $458 that was returned on her behalf. This must be paid before she can register for the next semester. Because the remaining amount to be repaid, 611 minus 458 = 153 is grant aid, it is given a 50% protection allowance and Marguerite must repay $77 (half of $153) to the Pell Program herself. Her total debt is $458 to the University and $77 to the federal Pell program. Both must be repaid before she can register for classes.