UMass Boston

Students earn Title IV federal financial aid by attending and participating in classes. The amount of Title IV aid a student has earned for the enrollment period is based on the percentage of time the student remains enrolled for that period. The earned percentage is calculated by dividing the numbers of days within the enrollment period by the number of days attended. Once a student earns 60%, the student is considered to have earned 100% of Title IV federal aid and no adjustments are required.

The last date of attendance (or withdrawal date) is determined by theU date the student officially submits the withdrawal form to the university, or otherwise notifies the university of his/her intent to withdraw.

The calculation of Title IV funds earned by the student has no relationship to the student's incurred institutional charges.

Federal Title IV funds will be returned in the following order:

1.  Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
2.  Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
3.  Federal Perkins Loan
4.  Federal PLUS Loan / Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
5.  Federal Pell Grant
6.  Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
7.  Federal TEACH Grant

Federal Work Study earnings are not included in the return of funds calculations.  Students may not continue working once they cease attendance.

Any unearned Title IV funds required to be returned will be processed within 45 days of the student’s withdrawal date.

Unofficial Withdrawals

An unofficial withdrawal occurs when a student enrolls in courses and either never attends any courses or stops attending all courses at some point during the semester without providing official notification to the university.  Students receiving Title IV federal aid who unofficially withdraw will have their aid recalculated in the same manner as an official withdrawal.

For a student who unofficially withdraws, the university determines the last date of attendance based on the student’s last date of an academically related activity.  If the student never began attendance, the student must repay all financial aid disbursed.

Post Withdrawal

A student may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement of federal Title IV aid if the return of funds calculation indicates the student earned more aid than was disbursed prior to the student’s withdrawal. Post-withdrawal disbursements of Title IV grants must be completed within 45 days of the student’s withdrawal date, and any loan funds accepted by the student within 180 days of the student’s withdrawal date.

Return of Non-Title IV Funds

The university will calculate return of non-Title IV funds in accordance with the appropriate state and institutional refund policy. Massachusetts state funds are calculated based on the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) policy guidelines.

Institutional funds will be returned on a case-by-case basis following appropriate administrator review of aid earned and balance due.