Lackawanna College's Refund Policy | Lackawanna College

Refund Policies

Institutional Tuition, Fees and Housing Refund Policies

Tuition and Fees Refund

The College must engage its faculty and make other costly commitments in advance of each semester based on anticipated revenue from tuition. When students withdraw, they leave a financial void that cannot be filled after a semester has begun. Therefore, the following refund policy has been established for standard semesters (fall and spring semesters only):
  • If a student fully withdraws prior to or until the end of the second week of scheduled classes, only the $35 application fee and/or the $100 commitment fee ($375 commitment fee for resident students) will be retained. Only payments of tuition and fees will be refunded.
  • Housing costs will not be refunded after the end of the second week of scheduled classes, including the meal plan. If a student’s withdrawal falls under the medical exigency or military leave policy, the refund may coincide with those specific policies.
  • If a student withdraws from an individual online class or Subterm course, a full refund will be provided through the last day to drop a Subterm course as noted on the academic calendar. The course will be recorded as a drop and will not reflect on the transcript. Students will be charged for individual Subterm courses after the last day dropping from a Subterm course.
  • If a student officially withdraws from an in-person full semester course during the spring or fall semester, they may receive a full refund if done within the first two weeks. The course will be recorded as a drop and not recorded on a transcript.
  • If a student withdraws from an in-person full semester course or fully withdraws from all courses during the third week of classes, the College will retain 25% of the total tuition for that semester.
  • If a student withdraws from an in-person full semester course or fully withdraws during the fourth week of classes, the College will retain 50% of the total tuition for that semester. If a student withdraws after the fourth week of scheduled classes, the College will retain 100% of the tuition.
  • If a student withdraws from a Subterm course by the end of the first week of that Subterm, the College will refund 100% tuition for that Subterm course. If the student withdraws from a Subterm course after the first week and stays enrolled in other coursework, the College will retain 100% of the total tuition for that semester.
  • If a student withdraws from a day, evening, or online summer/intersession class, they will receive a 100% refund prior to the start of the scheduled classes through the end of the drop period. After the drop period as noted on the academic calendar, there will be no refund.
  • If a student’s financial aid is impacted negatively because of withdrawal or drop/add adjustments, the student will remain responsible for any balance owed and any costs incurred by the College to collect the monies owed. Students are encouraged to speak to Student Financial Services Counselor before the withdrawal or drop/add of any course(s).
The last date of attendance or academic activity as defined by federal law will be used as the effective date of withdrawal. Students should process their withdrawal paperwork with the Student Success Department or Center designee and must receive all required signatures for the formal withdrawal to be completed.

Room and Meals

If a student fully withdrawals from the College prior to and up until the end of the second week of classes, only the $375 committee fee will be retained.  There is no refund of room or meal plan charges in case of a withdrawal after the second week of the semester.  If a student elects to move out of the residence hall and remains enrolled, the student will still be responsible for room and meal charges.

Return of Federal or State Aid

Federal Guidelines

In accordance with federal regulations, students who receive federal financial aid and withdraw from Lackawanna College during the first 60% of a semester will have their federal financial aid adjusted based on the percentage of the semester completed prior to the withdrawal. Students will be entitled to retain the same percentage of the federal financial aid received as the percentage of the semester completed. This percentage is calculated by dividing the number of days in the semester (excluding breaks of five days or longer) into the number of days completed prior to the withdrawal (excluding breaks of five days or longer). The date of withdrawal will be based on the official date of withdrawal or the last day of documented class attendance or academic activity as determine by the Registrar. The Office of Student Financial Services is required to complete the Return to Title IV Calculation Worksheet (R2T4) once the Registrar confirms last date of attendance or last date of academic activity, the funds will be returned accordingly in the following order:

  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
  • Federal Direct PLUS Loans
  • Pell Grant
  • Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The amount to be returned to a specific federal program may not exceed the total amount awards from that program.

Please refer to the Academic Calendar for specific start dates for each semester.

State Guidelines

The PA State Grant and other state grants will be adjusted in accordance with the agency’s stated guidelines before and after the disbursement of aid. PA State Grant funds are generally reduced by the same percentage as the tuition reduction received by students who withdraw from their programs of study. However, it should be noted that PHEAA reserves the right to make the final decision on the percentage of the reduction.

Credit Balance Policy

Title IV Credit Balances


If a credit balance remains on a student account after billed tuition, fees and other direct costs are fully paid and the credit balance is the result of Title IV funds only, the refund is automatically generated to the student. Students are responsible for any changes in awards that may occur after the refund is requested due to changes in their enrollment status or eligibility. Refunds are generated through the Office of Student Financial Services.

Other Credit Balances


If a credit balance remains on a student account after billed tuition, fees and other direct costs are fully paid, the resulting credit balance can be refunded to the student to apply to other costs of attendance expenses. Students are responsible for any changes that may occur after the refund is requested due to changes in their enrollment status or eligibility. Refunds are generated through the Office of Student Financial Services.

Credit balances are automatically refunded when a student ceases enrollment and any required adjustments or returns to tuition, fees, other direct costs, and financial aid awards are completed.