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Refund and VA Policies

Refund Eligibility for Withdrawals, Leaves of Absence, and Part-Time Status Changes

Students who withdraw, take a leave of absence, or are part-time during the semester may be eligible for a tuition and fees refund, depending upon the time of their departure.

  • Refunds are calculated based on the student’s last date of attendance.
  • If a student changes to part-time status during the semester, a refund may be issued based on the date part-time status is officially recorded by the Registrar.
  • Refund eligibility is determined based on whether a student drops below full-time or withdraws before the 60% point of the semester. After that point, no refund will be issued.
  • Students suspended or dismissed from the College for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for refunds.
  • If a student withdraws before the 60% point in the semester, refunds for food plans will be calculated on a prorated basis.
  • Refunds for housing will generally not be prorated unless a new student occupant is immediately available.
  • To be eligible for a refund:
    • Students must submit a written notification to the Registrar’s Office indicating their decision to withdraw or take a general leave of absence.
    • All withdrawal procedures must be completed.

Claremont McKenna College reserves the right to withdraw students from the College for non-attendance. Students are responsible for confirming their enrollment at CMC or one of its approved off-campus study programs each semester by attending all registered courses, activating student ID cards (or equivalent), and communicating with College officials. Students who fail to satisfy these responsibilities may be withdrawn from the College for non-attendance as of the tenth day of the semester.

Important Notes:

  • Refunds may affect your financial aid package. It is strongly recommended that you contact the Office of Financial Aid to understand how your aid may be impacted.
  • For medical leaves of absence, students must consult the Dean of Students. More information is available on the Dean of Students’ website.

Please click here for additional information on Leave of Absence, Withdrawal, and Re-Enrollment policies.

Tuition insurance is available through Allianz Tuition Insurance. To get a quote or learn more about tuition insurance, call 1.888.427.5045 or visit their website.

Credit Balances & Requesting a Refund

If your account has a credit balance, it may be due to excess financial aid or an overpayment.

  • Federal Financial Aid:
    If the credit is from federal aid, a refund will be automatically issued within 14 days of the funds being disbursed.
  • Institutional Aid, Outside Scholarships, or Overpayments:
    If the credit is from institutional aid, outside scholarships, or a personal overpayment, the student must request a refund by submitting the Refund Request Form to the Office of Student Accounts.

Please note: If you receive multiple types of financial aid, federal financial aid is applied to tuition and fees first. After that, institutional aid and scholarships are applied to any remaining balance on your account. 

Refund Process

Refunds of credit balances related to Institutional Aid, Outside Scholarships, or Overpayments must be requested by the student directly by completing the Refund Request Form.

Refunds can be issued via direct deposit through eRefunds on Transact or paper check. Only the student can sign up for eRefunds on Transact. eRefund enrollment information can be found here.

Veteran Affairs Compliance Policy

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students receiving benefits from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31).  To qualify for this provision, such students are required to produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class.

If the student’s financial obligations are covered 100% by VA funding, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA, Claremont McKenna College (CMC) agrees to the following:

  • CMC will not prevent the student’s enrollment unless the non-VA portion of the balance is past due.
  • CMC will not assess a late fee to the student.
  • CMC will not require the student to secure alternative or additional funding.
  • CMC will not deny the student access to any resources (classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their financial obligations to the institution.