Impact of Withdrawal on Financial Aid Eligibility

Withdrawing from classes affects both the academic record and financial aid eligibility. Please consider the following before withdrawing:

1. Withdrawing from classes has an impact on Satisfactory Academic Progress. Failure to complete enrolled courses could limit your eligibility to receive financial aid.
2. Withdrawal will affect loan deferment status. After you withdraw you will no longer have an in-school loan deferment and may need to start repaying your loans. Please contact your loan holders/servicers with any questions.
3. Withdrawing will require a review of your financial aid eligibility in the term. Unearned financial aid will need to be returned to the federal government and you may end up with an account balance at the University

If you decide to withdraw from classes you must contact the Academic Advising Department at advising@nl.edu or 888-NLU-Today (658-8632), option 2.

Return of Title IV Aid

The Student Finance Office is required to recalculate the percentage of financial aid earned by a student who officially withdrew before completing more than 60% of the quarter or who failed to pass at least one class in a term and ceased attendance at some point (unofficial withdrawal.) The funds subject to this calculation include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG), the Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH), Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Direct Parent PLUS Loan, and Direct Graduate PLUS loan. We use a calculation that determines what percentage of the aid a student earned and what amounts may need to be returned. This calculation is called Return of Title IV and must be done within federally-mandated timeframe.

Please note that the Return of Title IV calculation is separate from the National Louis University tuition refund policy. Students who withdraw from classes may end up having an account balance with the University after the required financial aid adjustments are made. Learn more about NLU Withdrawal Policy.

The financial aid awarded was based on enrollment in the entire term and any unearned funds must be returned by National University and/or you. A portion of the refund received may need to be returned to the University.

We use the date a student officially withdraws from classes to calculate the percentage of the term completed. For students who cease attendance without officially withdrawing from school the midpoint in the term or the last date of an academic activity are used to calculate the percentage of the term completed.

 Any funds that need to be returned are done so in the following order:

1. Direct Unsubsidized Loan
2. Direct Subsidized Loan
3. Direct Graduate PLUS Loan  
4. Direct Parent PLUS Loan  
5. Federal Pell Grant
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
7. Federal TEACH Grant

Please visit this link for Consumer Information on Return of Title IV.

Return of Tuition Assistance

The Student Finance Office is required to recalculate the percentage of Tuition Assistance earned by a student who officially withdraws before completing more than 60% of the term or who fails to pass at least one class in a term and ceases attending (considered an unofficial withdrawal). A calculation is used to determine what percentage of Tuition Assistance a student earned and what amounts may need to be returned, using the date a student official withdraws from classes, to calculate the percentage of the term completed. For students who cease attendance without officially withdrawing from the school, the last date of an academic activity is used to calculate the percentage of the term completed. Please note that this calculation is separate from the National Louis University refund policy. Students who withdrew from classes may end up having an account balance with the University after the required Tuition Assistance adjustments are made.