Section 5: Financial Aid:

Refund Policies

Allyssa is an undergraduate student enrolled in the BS in Computer Information Systems program. Her fall term enrollment is from September 2 through November 23. She is enrolled in two back-to-back classes for the term. The first class is from September 2 through October 12. The second class is from October 13 through November 23. Allyssa fails the first class and decides on October 15 to drop her second class.

Allyssa’s cost of attendance is as follows:

• Tuition: $3,000
• Fees: $160
• Total: $3,160

Allyssa’s financial aid package consists of the following:

• Federal Direct Subsidized Loan $1,485
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan $1,979
• Total $3,464

Allyssa completed 41 days of the term (September 2 through October 12).

Walden is required to return the following:

• Federal Direct Subsidized Loan $0
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan $1,611

After returning the $1,612, Alyssa will owe Walden: $111

Allyssa received a tuition cancellation of $1,500 for dropping the class. After funds were returned to reduce her federal student loan, she had a balance of $111.

Fred is a master’s degree student. His fall term is from September 2 through November 23. He is enrolled in two classes for the fall. The first class is from September 2 through October 12, and the second class begins September 6 and ends on November 23. Fred receives “F”s in both classes. The latest day that Fred actively participated in either class was September 17.

Fred’s cost of attendance is as follows:

• Tuition $4,250
• Fees $160
• Total $4,410

Fred’s financial aid package consists of the following:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan $6,761
• Total $6,761

Fred completed 16 days of the term (September 2 through September 17).

Walden is required to return the following:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan $3,528
• After returning the $2,570, Fred owes Walden: $3,528

A bursar hold is placed on Fred’s account at the time the funds are returned to the government, which prevents Fred from registering for any additional classes and from receiving any academic transcripts until he repays Walden what he owes.

Susie is a doctoral degree student in public policy. Her quarter term begins on December 1 and ends on February 22. On January 11, she stops participating while trying to decide if she will drop her classes. Susie makes the decision to drop all classes on January 15, but her last day of participation is January 11 (42 days into the term).

Susie’s cost of attendance is as follows:

• Tuition $4,550
• Fees $160
• Total $4,710

Susie’s financial aid package consists of the following:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan $6,800
• Total $6,800

As Susie has completed 42 days of her semester, she earned 50% of the $6,800. According to the federally mandated calculation, 50% of the unearned portion of her aid, equaling $3,400, must be returned.

Walden is required to return the following:

• Cost Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan $3,400
• After refunding the $3,400, Susie will owe Walden: $1,190

Susie is not eligible to receive a tuition refund because she dropped her classes after the refund period. A bursar hold is placed on Susie’s account at the time the funds are returned to the government, which prevents Susie from registering for any additional classes and from receiving transcripts until she repays Walden what she owes.

Ernie is a master’s degree student in the teaching program. His semester begins January 5 and ends April 26. On March 13 (69 days into the term), Ernie accepts a full-time job and drops his classes.

Ernie’s cost of attendance is as follows:

• Tuition $3,300
• Fees $160 Total
• $3,460

His financial aid package consists of the following:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan $6,800
• Total $6,800

Based on Ernie’s participation (61% of the term), he has “earned” all of his financial aid for the term and will not have to return any funds.

Sam is a graduate student enrolled in the MS in Early Childhood Studies program beginning on July 6. His first payment period is from July 6 to January 3. He is required to complete 26 weeks (182 days) and 8.25 credits to progress to the next payment period. He completes 2.5 credit equivalencies before withdrawing on October 1. Sam’s last date of engagement was September 30. He attended 87 days in the payment period. To determine the percentage of the payment period completed in the Tempo Learning® program, federal regulations require Walden to project how long it would have taken Sam to complete the additional 5.75 required credit equivalencies. Walden calculates a credit equivalency completion rate for Sam by dividing the days completed in the payment period by the credit equivalencies completed.

Walden then multiplies the 5.75 remaining credits in the payment period by the credit equivalency completion rate to project that it would take Sam 200 days to complete the 5.75 credits and adds 87 days completed for a total of 287 days in the projected payment period. Walden then divides 87 days completed in the payment period by 287 projected total days in the payment period to determine that Sam has completed 30.3% of the payment period. Effective for all R2T4s calculated on 10/16/23 or later, institutional charges include original tuition and fees charged for subscription periods with start dates that are equal to or greater than the start date of the payment period through the last date of engagement (withdrawal date). Prior to 10/16/23, Walden used the greater of prorated tuition and fees compared to retained charges in the payment period.

Sam’s cost of attendance is as follows:

• Tuition and fees $3,000

Sam’s financial aid package consists of the following:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Net Loan Amount $10,142
• Total $10,142

Sam completed 30.3% of the payment period.

Walden calculates the following:

• Earned Federal Aid $3,083
• Unearned Federal Aid $1,988
• Unearned Tuition Projected Tuition Charges $2,088
• Amount of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan for Walden to Return $1,988

The R2T4 calculation requires the university to compare the amount of Unearned Federal Aid to the Unearned Tuition and return the lesser of the two to federal programs. In Sam’s case, the R2T4 formula requires Walden to return $1,988 to the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program. Prior to withdrawal, Sam had received half of his Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan disbursement. The second half of the disbursement was scheduled to disburse after he withdrew. Federal regulations dictate that Sam is no longer eligible for any portion of this disbursement.

If you fail to meet any of the eligibility requirements, your award will be canceled. Please be aware that if the institution you are attending notifies the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) that you are receiving other financial assistance that causes you to exceed your financial need for the award or exceed the cost of attendance at the institution (e.g.: private scholarships; Veteran’s Benefits; athletic scholarships), your State financial aid may be reduced or cancelled.  For additional questions, please contact OSFA at osfamail.mhec@maryland.gov.

If you fail to meet any of the eligibility requirements, your award will be canceled. Please be aware that if the institution you are attending notifies the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) that you are receiving other financial assistance that causes you to exceed your financial need for the award or exceed the cost of attendance at the institution (e.g.: private scholarships; Veteran’s Benefits; athletic scholarships), your State financial aid may be reduced or cancelled.  For additional questions, please contact OSFA at osfamail.mhec@maryland.gov

Note: GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Recalculation

If a student receives or is expected to receive additional Federal Veterans Benefits not anticipated in the original calculation, the institution must recalculate the current award as well as any subsequent awards in the  Veterans Application Tracking System (VATS) calculation portal.

• Annual Federal monthly VA education benefit rates, including the MHA for Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), may change at different times throughout the year. These changes are not based on individual student eligibility but based on factors that are being annually applied across all students eligible for the federal education benefit.
  • If a term award is calculated or recalculated prior to change in the monthly benefit amounts (typically in October), the institution is not required to recalculate the award.
  • If a term award is calculated or recalculated after the change in the monthly benefit amounts, the institution must calculate the award based on the updated benefit amounts. MDVA Staff will update the annual amounts in October. Institutions are not required to adjust or recalculate the award for a student if the monthly housing allowance rate used to determine the amount of federal veteran education benefits changes during a semester or term.
  • Institutions must use the new rate in the Award Calculation for all subsequent terms.

Institutions are not required to adjust or recalculate the award of a student who drops or adds courses after the institutions drop/add period unless:

The student receives veteran’s benefits not included in the original award calculation; or

• The student changes credit load before disbursement.
• If the student changes credit load after disbursement, no recalculation is necessary.
• If the student withdraws after disbursement, no recalculation is necessary.

Institutions may, adjust or recalculate the award of a student who adds courses after the add/drop period if the student will be eligible for an increased benefit amount due to the change in enrollment.

Institutions must recalculate if SAI or other financial aid eligibility changes affect the student’s eligibility for Pell or State Grant occur during a term and for all subsequent terms.

Refund Process

If a recalculation results in an overpayment to the student, VATS must be used to determine the refund amount. Documentation including case notes and email notifications must be entered in the student profile page in VATS.

If a recipient fails to enroll or meet a program eligibility requirement, the entire scholarship must be returned to the Office within 30 days of the receipt of funds at the institution or when the recipient’s ineligibility is determined whichever is later.

Institutions are required to review and make any necessary updates to the School Budget Sheet throughout the award year for all recipients.

• Within 30 days of any changes to the school budget sheet, institution must make any necessary refunds or contact the Office to determine if funds from one term can be transferred to another term or if a refund is necessary.

Institution may retain funds for more than 30 days if the institution has proof that they have contacted the student and that the student will start the applicable term at a later date but must inform the Office if this occurs.

If a recipient withdraws or reduces enrollment below three-quarter time for undergraduate students or half time for graduate students:

• Before the disbursement and before the end of the drop/add period, then the entire scholarship must be returned to the Office.
• After the disbursement but before the end of the drop/add period, then the entire scholarship must be returned to the Office.
• After the disbursement and after the end of the drop/add period; no refund is required unless student fully withdraws and was attending at least three-quarter time for undergraduate students or half-time for graduate students on the date of disbursement.

If a student withdraws from a modular or non-term based credit hour program the point of withdrawal will determine when and if a refund must be made.

• If a student begins a term and the institution expects the student to be enrolled at least three-quarter time for undergraduate students or half time for graduate students, the school can disburse the scholarship to the student account.
• If a student withdraws before beginning the ninth credit to be considered three-quarter time for undergraduate students or before being enrolled half time as a graduate student, the entire scholarship must be returned to the office within 30 days.
• Once a student is considered three-quarter time for undergraduate students or half time for graduate students, the entire scholarship may be retained unless the student fully withdraws.
  • If a student fully withdraws after disbursement and after having begun the 9th credit for undergraduate students or after being considered enrolled half time for a graduate student, the Office of Higher Education refund calculation must be used to determine the refund to be returned to the state.

If the student fully withdraws after the disbursement of the funds, the Office of Higher Education refund calculation must be used to determine the refund to be returned to the state.

Refunds must be returned with written documentation that, at a minimum, indicates the individual student for which the refund is being made, the amount of the refund, the aid year and term for which the refund should be applied and the reason for refund.

Walden will use the Minnesota Refund Calculation Worksheet which can be found in Appendix O of the Minnesota State Grant Program Manual.

Refunded money is available for awards to other eligible students on the waiting list, if applicable.

If a recipient fails to enroll or meet a program eligibility requirement, the entire grant must be returned to the Office of Higher Education (OHE) within 30 days of the receipt of funds at the institution or when the recipient’s ineligibility is determined, whichever is later.

Institutions are required to review and make any necessary updates to the financial data in MNAid throughout the awarded term for all recipients. . If any changes to the financial data results in a refund, institutions will be notified via email and must return any necessary funds to OHE within 30 days.

Refunds must be returned with written documentation that indicates for which student, the STG program (STSA or USTG), the amount of the refund, the term and the aid year, and the reason for the refund.

Walden will use the MN Office of Higher Education Refund Return form which can be found in Appendix A of the MN OHE State Financial Aid Manual for Minnesota Student Teacher Grants

Returned funds will be offered to other eligible applicants on the waitlist.

If a Vermont Grant recipient withdraws from school/college after disbursement of the grant, VSAC requires that the institution refund the grant directly to VSAC based on the following schedule:

Attendance of two weeks or less: Refund 80%

Attendance of two to three weeks: Refund 60%

Attendance of three to four weeks: Refund 40%

Attendance of four to five weeks: Refund 20%

If a student attends five or more weeks during the period for which the grant was awarded, the institution is not required to issue a refund.

* Not valid for Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, North Dakota, Oregon, or Tennessee residents. The Tuition Refund Schedules below are applicable for students residing in the specified states.

Effective May 2025

Students may be billed up to 45 days before a course begins, depending on their enrollment date. The charges incurred depend on the specific course in which a student enrolls.

Any student who withdraws from a course due to physical incapacity is eligible for a refund.

• Students must either pay tuition and applicable fees or have other financial arrangements in place two weeks prior to the start of each course.
• Students who withdraw from a course within the first two calendar weeks of a term will receive a 100% tuition refund.
  • Note: Program fees are non-refundable seven calendar days after the start of the term. For detailed information about program fees, please refer to: Program Fees - Section 5: Tuition and Fees - Academics at Walden University
• Students who withdraw after the first two calendar weeks of a course but before 60% of the course has been completed will receive a refund that is 95% of the tuition charged multiplied by the ratio of the number of calendar days remaining in the session to the number of calendar days in the session.
• Students who complete 60% or more of the course will not be eligible for a tuition refund.
• Walden University follows regulations that require the Office of Financial Aid to complete a student’s R2T4 calculation and return Title IV funds as soon as possible but no later than 45 days after the date the university determines the student withdrew.

Exceptional Policy, IA Code 714.23(4):

If an Iowa student terminates a postsecondary educational program after the first 14 consecutive days of the semester due to the student's physical incapacity, or for a program that requires classroom instruction, due to the transfer of the student's spouse's employment to another city, the terminating student shall receive a refund of the tuition charges in an amount that equals the amount of tuition charged to the student multiplied by the ratio of the remaining number of calendar days in the school period to the total number of calendar days in the school period.

School Period for Tuition Refund Calculation:

All monies due to a student shall be refunded within 60 days from the last day of attendance or within 60 days from the receipt of payment if the date of receipt of payment is after the student’s last date of attendance.

Effective Spring Quarter 2023

Effective June 9, 2024

Effective Winter Quarter 2013

Effective Fall Quarter 2016 

Effective November 2025

Effective Fall Quarter 2016 

Effective December 2024

A student may receive a refund of all money paid, less a reasonable application fee, upon cancellation of the student’s enrollment in courses and/or the university up to three business days after the latest of the following qualifying events: student signs an enrollment document(s); payment for services, tuition, or fees other than an application fee; student’s first day of attendance; or the day on which a student first gains access to university services. After three business days from qualifying event the university’s standard refund schedule will apply. Refunds due to a student will be refunded within 30 days of receiving a valid cancellation request. 

Note: Not valid for Maryland or Iowa residents. The Tuition Refund Schedules below are applicable for students residing in Maryland or Iowa only.

Tempo Learning® Tuition Refund Schedule for Maryland Residents Only

Tempo Learning® Tuition Refund Schedule for Iowa Residents Only

Tempo Learning® Program Fee

The program fee is fully refundable within the first 14 days. After Day 14, the program fee is non-refundable.