Refund Policy For Official or Administrative Withdrawal From College
Students are responsible for officially withdrawing from Central if they choose to leave or stop attending. First semester Central students who drop from the College during the drop/add period will receive a full refund of tuition. Room and board will be pro-rated based on the number of days from the time of move in until verification of move out is complete.
The official date will be determined by Residence Life.
Returning Central students who withdraw from the College during the drop/add period will receive a pro-rated refund of tuition based on last date of attendance as determined by the Registrar. Room and board will be pro-rated based on the number of days from the time of move in until verification of move out is complete. The official date will be determined by Residence Life.
Students studying on the Pella campus who officially withdraw or are administratively withdrawn prior to completing 60 percent of the fall or spring semester will receive refunds according to the following policies. No tuition refunds are granted for the summer or winter term for students who withdraw after the drop/add time frame.
A refund of institutional charges will not be granted to students who make a choice to stop attending without officially withdrawing from college.
Students who do not officially withdraw due to illness, accident, grievous personal loss or other circumstances beyond the student’s control will have their institutional charges and financial aid adjusted based on the date determined that most accurately reflects when the student ceased academic attendance due to circumstances beyond their control.
All students who withdraw during the fall or spring semester will be charged an additional $100 administrative fee. In certain circumstances, the administrative fee may be waived.
For institutional charges for tuition:
Tuition will be refunded based on the percentage of the semester that has not been completed. After the 60 percent point in the semester, no refund will be granted, nor will financial aid be reduced. The portion of the semester completed is based on calendar days from the first day of the semester through the last scheduled day of finals, including weekends and mid-semester breaks of less than five days. For example – if the student completes 20 percent of the term, the student would only be charged for 20 percent of the tuition and would only receive 20 percent of the financial aid other than outside scholarships and work study.
Financial aid will be returned to the federal, state and Central programs based on the same percentage. Federal sources of financial aid will be returned to the programs from which the student received aid during the payment period in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, Pell Grants, and SEOG Grants. Effects on VA benefits will vary based on student program and date of withdrawal. Outside scholarships will remain on the student account unless it creates an over-award situation, or the donor specifically requests a refund. All student employment (including work-study) earned will be paid to the student.
For room and board:
Students who withdraw are required to vacate their residence hall room within 24 hours of signing the withdrawal paperwork. The student must verify completion of move out with Residence Life staff.
Refunds for room and board will be calculated using the same methodology as institutional charges for tuition. Students will be charged pro-rated room and board fees until verification of move out is complete. If move out date verification with Residence Life staff is not completed before the 60 percent point in term, student will not be eligible for a refund on room & board.
For Fees (i.e. course fees, music lessons, parking fees, comprehensive fee and other fees):
In general, fees are refundable using the same percentage as tuition unless it is otherwise communicated through registration or course specific details. For specific questions about fees, please work with the Business Office.
For Off-Campus programs:
Students studying at on an off-campus program will have their federal and state financial aid refunded based on the percentage of the term that has not been completed as stated above. Students should consult the appropriate program handbook concerning the policy for a refund of charges.
Any payments owed to the College are due within 30 days or as notified.