Withdrawal/Drop Adjustments of Academic Fees

Tuition, University Fees, and Health Fee for Students Withdrawing, Dropping to Part-Time, or Part-Time Students Dropping Credit Hours

  • Withdrawal/Drop Adjustments Policy

    Adjustment Policy for Tuition, University Fees, and Health Fee for Students Withdrawing, Dropping to Part-Time, or Part-Time Students Dropping Credit Hours

    Students who are admitted and register for courses at Clemson University are financially responsible for fees and charges associated with those courses. Therefore, students are encouraged to complete all courses for which they register. In the event it becomes necessary for a student to drop one or more courses or completely withdraw from the University, an adjustment may be made.

    Warning! Withdrawing from the University may be costly. It may affect the student's financial as well as academic status.

    No adjustments will be made to a semester's tuition and fees after four weeks from the last day to register. In the case of a withdrawal from the University, adjustments will be based on the date the student drops their course(s) using the online registration system. In the case of a dropped course, adjustments will be based on the date the student drops the course using the online registration system. To be eligible for an adjustment, the student's drop must post prior to the beginning of the next fall or spring semester or subsequent summer term. Beginning with the day following the last day to register, adjustments for periods of four weeks or less during the fall/spring semester shall be made on the following basis. Students receiving Title IV Financial Aid follow a different policy.

    Period of Enrollment and Adjustment Percentage
    Fall/Spring Semester
    Period of Enrollment
    Adjustment Percentage
    For Liable Hours
    Registration day(s) in the published academic calendar 100%
    After the last day to register: one week or less 80%
    More than 1 but not more than 2 weeks 60%
    More than 2 but not more than 3 weeks 40%
    More than 3 but not more than 4 weeks 20%
    More than 4 weeks 0%
    Enrollment Term Periods
    Parts of Term
    Period of Enrollment
    Less than 3 weeks 3 Weeks 5-6 Weeks More than 6 weeks
    Registration day(s) in the published academic calendar 100% 100% 100% 100%
    After the last day to register: one week or less 0% 40% 60% 60%
    More than 1 but not more than 2 weeks 0% 0% 20% 40%
    More than 2 but not more than 3 weeks 0% 0% 0% 20%
    More than 3 weeks 0% 0% 0% 0%

    In the event the University must suspend or close due to force majeure, no adjustment of tuition or fees and/or financial aid shall be made. "Force majeure" shall mean any cause or event which is outside the control of the University and may include war, flood, storm, epidemic or financial exigency.

    Change in Instructional Method

    Clemson University reserves the right to change the delivery of its courses at any time to partial or total online delivery without penalty due to circumstances beyond the University's control, including but not limited to natural disasters (e.g., tornado, earthquake, flood, hurricane, etc.), war, terrorist act, strike, public health outbreak (e.g., pandemic or wide-spread &/or infectious disease outbreak), fire, the release of nuclear material or dangerous substance into the environment or other catastrophic event or major disruption of University operations or for any other reason. If the delivery of courses is changed to partial or total online delivery, there will be no credit of any tuition (including academic fees and program fees). There will be no credit for other fees related to services that continue to be provided whether in person or in a virtual, online, electronic or another system. Credits, if any, for fees for services (other than tuition, academic or program fees) that do not continue due to partial or total online course delivery or related closure of facilities would be subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. Later charges for fees could be incurred if (1.) credits are made and (2.) partial or total online course delivery reverts to in-person delivery prior to the end of the semester and (3.) discontinued services supported by fees begin again prior to the end of the semester. Any credit is first applied to the then-outstanding balance on a student account. Therefore after the application of credit, a student may not receive payment and is still obligated to pay the remaining balance on the student’s account.

    Adjustment of Financial Aid for Students Withdrawing from the University

    Adjustments of academic fees are made in accordance with semester and summer session adjustment policies. University housing refunds and policies may be found on the University Housing and Dining website. Meal plan refunds are made on a pro-rata basis.

    Additional information can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid.

    Since financial aid is expected to meet or help meet educational costs, any academic fee, housing, or meal plan fee for students withdrawing from the University up to the amount of financial aid received for that semester or summer session, will be refunded to the Financial Aid Program(s) from which the student received assistance.

    Students receiving Title IV Funds (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Perkins, Federal Direct Loans–unsubsidized or subsidized) or Federal PLUS Loans who withdraw from the University are subject to the Return of Title IV Funds regulations. Students with funds from any of these programs earn their financial aid dollars while enrolled. If a student withdraws prior to completing over 60% of a term, a prorated portion of the federal financial aid dollars must be considered unearned and returned to the federal programs which could cause students to owe the University a significant amount upon withdrawal.

    In addition to the amount of federal aid that Clemson must return, students who received financial aid for other educational costs, including off-campus living expenses, may be required to repay a portion of those funds to the federal programs. Failure to return aid owed to the federal aid programs may result in loss of eligibility for federal aid assistance. Federal aid funds to be returned are distributed to the programs in the following order:

    • Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan
    • Subsidized Federal Direct Loan
    • Federal PLUS Loan
    • Federal Pell Grant
    • Federal SEOG
    • Other Title IV Programs
    • Non-Title IV Program

    After the adjustment has been applied to the Title IV and non-Title IV programs, any remaining credit balance will be refunded to the student. If debts were incurred before withdrawing, such as payments returned to us as unpaid, unpaid citations or library fines, etc., the refund will cover these obligations first. Academic fees, housing, and meal plan refunds for students withdrawing will be paid to the student.

    Please click here for more information on withdrawing from the University.

  • Spring 2024 Withdrawal/Drop Periods

    Spring 2024 Withdrawal/Drop Periods are as follows:

    Adjustment dates and percentages for Spring 2024
    Spring 2024 Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register January 17
    Drop/Withdraw on or before January 17 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw January 18-24 20%
    Drop/Withdraw January 25-31 40%
    Drop/Withdraw February 1-7 60%
    Drop/Withdraw February 8-14 80%
    Drop/Withdraw February 15 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment January 24
    Adjustment dates and percentages for First Spring
    First Spring Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register January 16
    Drop/Withdraw on or before January 16 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw January 17-23 40%
    Drop/Withdraw January 24-30 60%
    Drop/Withdraw January 31 - February 6 80%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after February 7 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment January 23
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Second Spring
    Second Spring Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register March 11
    Drop/Withdraw on or before March 11 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw March 12-18 40%
    Drop/Withdraw March 19-25 60%
    Drop/Withdraw March 26-April 1 80%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after April 2 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment March 18
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Spring Mini A
    Spring Mini A Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register January 10
    Drop/Withdraw on or before January 10 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw January 11-17 60%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after January 18 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment January 17
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Spring Mini B
    Spring Mini B Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register February 5
    Drop/Withdraw on or before February 5 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw February 6-12 60%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after February 13 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment February 12
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Spring Mini C
    Spring Mini C Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register March 4
    Drop/Withdraw on or before March 4 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw March 5-11 60%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after March 12 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment March 11
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Spring Mini D
    Spring Mini D Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register April 8
    Drop/Withdraw on or before April 8 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw April 9-15 60%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after April 16 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment April 15
  • Fall 2023 Withdrawal/Drop Periods

    Fall 2023 Withdrawal/Drop Periods are as follows:

    Adjustment dates and percentages for Fall 2023
    Fall 2023 Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register August 29
    Drop/Withdraw on or before August 29 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw August 30-September 5 20%
    Drop/Withdraw September 6-12 40%
    Drop/Withdraw September 13-19 60%
    Drop/Withdraw September 20-26 80%
    Drop/Withdraw September 27 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment September 5
    Adjustment dates and percentages for First Fall
    First Fall Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register August 28
    Drop/Withdraw on or before August 28 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw August 29-September 4 40%
    Drop/Withdraw September 5-11 60%
    Drop/Withdraw September 12-18 80%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after September 19 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment September 4
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Second Fall
    Second Fall Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register October 25
    Drop/Withdraw on or before October 25 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw October 26-November 1 40%
    Drop/Withdraw November 2-8 60%
    Drop/Withdraw November 9-15 80%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after November 16 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment November 1
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Fall Mini A
    Fall Mini A Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register August 23
    Drop/Withdraw on or before August 23 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw August 24-30 60%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after August 31 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment August 30
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Fall Mini B
    Fall Mini B Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register September 20
    Drop/Withdraw on or before September 20 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw September 21-27 60%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after September 28 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment September 27
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Fall Mini C
    Fall Mini C Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register October 18
    Drop/Withdraw on or before October 18 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw October 19-25 60%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after October 26 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment October 25
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Fall Mini D
    Fall Mini D Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register November 15
    Drop/Withdraw on or before November 15 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw November 16-22 60%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after November 23 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment November 22
  • Summer 2023 Withdrawal/Drop Periods

    Summer 2023 Withdrawal/Drop Periods are as follows:

    Adjustment dates and percentages for Summer 2023
    Summer 2023 Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register May 17
    Drop/Withdraw on or before May 17 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw May 18-24 40%
    Drop/Withdraw May 25-May 31 60%
    Drop/Withdraw June 1-7 80%
    Drop/Withdraw June 8 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment May 24
    Adjustment dates and percentages for First Summer
    First Summer Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register May 17
    Drop/Withdraw on or before May 17 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw May 18-24 40%
    Drop/Withdraw May 25-May31 80%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after June 1 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment May 24
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Second Summer
    Second Summer Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register June 29
    Drop/Withdraw on or before June 29 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw June 30-July 6 40%
    Drop/Withdraw July 7-13 80%
    Drop/Withdraw on or after July 14 100%
    Last day to receive a lab fee adjustment July 6
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Summer Mini A
    Summer Mini A Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register May 16
    Drop/Withdraw on or before May 16 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw on or after May 17 100%
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Summer Mini B
    Summer Mini B Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register June 6
    Drop/Withdraw on or before June 6 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw on or after June 7 100%
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Summer Mini C
    Summer Mini C Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register June 27
    Drop/Withdraw on or before June 27 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw on or after June 28 100%
    Adjustment dates and percentages for Summer Mini D
    Summer Mini D Percentage Charged of Dropped Hours
    Last day to register July 19
    Drop/Withdraw on or before July 19 No Charge
    Drop/Withdraw on or after July 20 100%
  • How Withdrawal/Drop Adjustments are Calculated

    Download:
    In-state Calculation (PDF)
    Out-of-state Calculation (PDF)
    Full- to Part-Time Calculation ( PDF)

    Adjustments

    Student Financial Services is responsible for processing academic and departmental tuition and fee adjustments. The following situations may result in an adjustment, pending the transaction occurs before the appropriate deadlines:

    • Change in a full-time student's schedule, which results in reclassification to part-time status
    • Change in a part-time student's schedule, which results in fewer credit hours
    • Withdrawal from the University
    • Cancellation of a class by the University

    Because several offices may be involved in finalizing your adjustment, the process may take 1-2 weeks to complete.

    How to Calculate Adjustments

    Adjustment calculations are based on the date of the drop/withdrawal in the system. This date is not determined or controlled by Student Financial Services.

    • Student adjustments for tuition, activity fee and technology fee are calculated based on the student’s liable hours after the drop/withdrawal.
    • Liable hours are calculated as the total hours a student is still registered plus the liable portion of the dropped/withdrawn course(s). For students whose liable hours are 12 or more, no refunds are generated.
    • The liable portion is computed by taking the number of dropped credit hours times the liability rate (which is 100 percent minus the refund percentage).
    • The adjustment amount is determined to be the difference between the original assessment and the assessment based on the new liable hours. If the original assessment is less than or equal to the liable hour assessment, no adjustment is due.

    Notes on other fees

    Some fees (health fee, career center fee, library fee, matriculation fee, transit fee, campus recreation fee) are not refundable after the 100% adjustment period.

    Housing and Meal Plans are refunded at a pro-rata rate. Additional information can be found on the University Housing and Dining website. Lab fees are non-refundable after the last day to drop without a ‘W.’

    Course and Major fees are assessed based on student status and/or student enrollment. Adjustments are calculated based on the student’s liable hours.