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Student Financial Services

Fee Refunds

Refund of Student Fees Policy

Regulations governing the refund of tuition, including nonresident tuition and mandatory fees for students enrolling at a California State University, are included in Section 41802 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations. For purposes of the refund policy, mandatory fees are defined as campus-specific fees that are required to be paid in order to enroll in state-supported academic programs at the California State University.

Please note that Extended Learning classes may have different refund schedules.

Students will be charged and liable for registration fees and nonresident tuition (if applicable), according to the refund schedule for any and all classes in which they are enrolled on the first day of classes.

It is each student’s responsibility to become familiar with deadlines, policies, and procedures related to refunds of student fees. Only the student dropping all their classes online prior to the first day of the term will eliminate potentially owing a debt to the university.

Important

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. Refunds can only be issued to students who drop or withdraw from all classes by the published deadlines. Failure to follow formal withdrawal procedures may result in the assignment of failing grades, an obligation to pay fees, and the need to apply for readmission to the university*.

*Drops and withdrawals definitions

Refunds may be applied to outstanding debts on your student account, and any remaining credit balance will be remitted to you.

How To Receive a Full Refund

A student will be eligible for a full refund if any of the following scenarios occur:

  • All classes have been dropped prior to the first day of the term.
  • The tuition and mandatory fees were assessed or collected in error.
  • The course for which the tuition and mandatory fees were assessed or collected was canceled by the university.
  • The university makes a delayed decision that the student was not eligible to enroll in the term for which the fees were assessed and collected. The delayed decision was not due to incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the student.
  • The student was activated for compulsory military service.

Prorated Refunds

Beginning with the first day of instruction, refunds for complete withdrawals will be prorated based on the date of withdrawal and the length of the academic period up to the 60% point of the term.

Change in Enrollment Refunds

Students who begin the term as a Full-Time student (6.1 or more units) and end up enrolled in less than 6.1 units at the end of the add/drop period would have a change in enrollment status to Part-Time and a reduction in fees, resulting in a refund. The refund may be applied to any outstanding balance on the student account (if applicable), and any remaining credit balance will be remitted.

Nonresident students who have a reduction in the number of units enrolled would have a reduction in the amount of nonresident tuition due. If the reduction in units remains at the end of the add/drop period, a refund would be issued. The refund may be applied to any outstanding balance on the student account (if applicable), and any remaining credit balance will be remitted.

No Refunds Issued

A student who officially withdraws after the 60% point in the academic period will not be entitled to a refund.

Spring 2023 Proration Schedule

Complete Withdrawal Refund Schedule
You are eligible for: Spring 2022 Fall 2022
Full Refund, if all classes are dropped on or before January 23, 2022 August 28, 2022
Prorated Refund, if all classes are dropped between January 24 - March 30, 2022 August 29 - October 29, 2022
No Refund, if all classes are dropped after March 31, 2022 October 30, 2022

Important:  A financial aid student who drops all classes prior to the start of the term but already received a refund due to overpayment may still owe a debt to the university if the amount of aid is reduced due to a change in enrollment status.

Appeals of Refund Policy

Students who are not entitled to a refund as described above, may apply for an appeal of the refund policy demonstrating exceptional circumstances which prevented the student from dropping their classes prior to posted deadlines.  The Chief Financial Officer of the university or their designee determines that the tuition and fees were not earned by the university.

Students wishing to appeal the refund policy must complete and submit an Application to Appeal of Refund Policy.

When Will I Receive My Refund?

Refunds related to changes in your enrollment (withdrawal, cancellation, changing from full-time to part-time status and/or reductions in nonresident unit amount) begin shortly after the add/drop period.

Refunds due to financial aid overpayments begin approximately one week prior to the start of each term, and continue throughout the term. 

Students are strongly urged to sign up for direct deposit, as it is the quickest way to receive your refund. Please see instructions below.

How Refunds Are Paid

If you paid your balance with a credit card, your refund would be returned to the same credit card.

For all other refunds, the fastest way to receive your refund is to sign up for direct deposit. By signing up for eRefund (direct deposit), refunds will automatically be paid into your bank account of choice and only takes 1-2 days for processing. Note: It may take up to 14 days from the date CSUSM processes the refund for the credit to show on your credit card account.

If you have not signed up for direct deposit and payment was not made by credit card, a refund check will be mailed to the Mailing address a student has on record with the university. Mailed refund checks typically take 5-10 business days for processing.

Important: Please be sure to update, in your Student Center, any changes to your address or phone numbers to ensure CSUSM can get your refund check delivered to a current address in a timely manner.

Get Your Financial Aid and Student Refunds Faster -
Sign Up for eRefund (Direct Deposit)

For the fastest, most secure method of receiving your refund, students are strongly encouraged to sign up for eRefund (direct deposit) online from their Student Center.

To set up eRefund (direct deposit), an active bank account with routing and account numbers is required:

  1. Log in to MyCSUSM
  2. Access Your Student Center
     student center
  3. Select the "Enroll in Direct Deposit" link
    Step 3 Enroll in Direct Deposit
  4. Upon accessing the direct deposit information page, indicate which type of account you are setting up (Checking or Savings), enter your Routing and Account numbers, confirm your Account Number, and save your information.Step 4: Access Direct Deposit

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