Wichita State University
Dropping Classes with Financial Aid
How Dropping or Withdrawing from Classes Can Affect Your Financial Aid
Your enrollment matters for financial aid each semester. If you drop and/or withdraw from a class or classes and fall below the minimum credit hour requirements, you may be required to repay all or part of the financial aid you received.
Choose Your Enrollment Scenario
Find the scenario below that fits your situation and read about the possible impacts to your financial aid now and for the future. If needed, schedule an appointment to meet with a financial aid advisor to discuss your situation before dropping or withdrawing.
Campus Resources: Wichita State has many resources available to you, such as tutoring and success coaches: wichita.edu/resources.
Financial Aid Withdrawal Policy: wichita.edu/finaidwithdrawalpolicy
Scenario 1: I am dropping one or more classes but am still enrolled through the rest of the semester.
To determine if you are dropping during or after the tuition refund period, visit wichita.edu/academiccalendar.
I am dropping DURING the 100% refund period.
What happens if I remain enrolled full-time*?
By maintaining full-time enrollment, your federal and state financial aid will not be impacted. However, there could be repercussions to certain scholarships. National Merit scholarships require 15 hours. Check with your college or donor organization for other requirements.
What happens if I will be enrolled less-than-full-time*?
If you were offered financial aid based on a full-time financial aid “Cost of Attendance” (budget), your budget will be adjusted to less-than-full-time, which may result in a reduction of financial aid eligibility.
Scholarships
There are often enrollment requirements tied to scholarships.
- If you are not enrolled full-time for the scholarships listed below, your scholarship will be withdrawn.
| Scholarship | Minimum Credit Hours Required | Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|---|
| WSU Merit Scholarships | 12 hours per semester | 3.0 GPA |
| Shocker Promise Scholarship | 12 hours per semester | 2.0 GPA |
| National Merit Scholarships | 15 hours per semester; exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis | |
- College and departmental scholarships are managed by the academic colleges and departments. Contact them to discuss if there will be any impact to your eligibility: wichita.edu/collegescholarships.
- Outside scholarships are managed by the donor organization. Contact them about enrollment requirements.
- Scholarship Renewal: Review your scholarship requirements and guidelines for renewal each term. If your scholarship is withdrawn and extenuating circumstances prevented you from meeting the requirements for your Wichita State scholarship, you may appeal the withdrawal or non-renewal. Refer to wichita.edu/scholarshipappeal
Federal Grants: Pell, SEOG, and TEACH
- These funds are initially awarded based on your anticipated enrollment at the time of the award. If you drop below the anticipated enrollment, the grant will be prorated to your new enrollment level for the semester and some funds may be returned. Pell grant amounts align with the enrollment levels tied to your EFC; if you have a higher EFC, you may not be in enough hours to receive the grant. SEOG requires at least half-time enrollment.
Kansas Comprehensive Grant and Kansas State Scholarship
- You must be enrolled full-time to receive these funds; otherwise, the funds for the semester will be withdrawn.
Federal Loans: Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, and Graduate PLUS Loans
- If you drop below half-time enrollment, you will enter your loan grace period or repayment if you have previously exhausted your grace period.
- If you had remaining loan eligibility and drop below half-time enrollment, you will not be eligible for additional loan payments during the current semester.
Work Study
- You must be enrolled at least half-time to be employed as a work-study student.
Are there campus resources available if I need help?
- Wichita State has many resources available to you, such as tutoring and success coaches: wichita.edu/resources.
Enrollment Levels
| Student Type | Full-Time* | Three-Quarter-Time | Half-Time | Less-than-Half-Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Students | 12+ hours | 9-11 hours | 6-8 hours | 1-5 hours |
| Graduate Students |
9+ hours (fall, spring) 6+ hours (summer) |
7-8 hours (fall, spring) 5 hours (summer) |
5-6 hours (fall, spring) 3-4 hours (summer) |
1-3 hours (fall, spring) 1-2 hours (summer) |
I am dropping AFTER the 100% refund period.
How will this affect the financial aid I received this semester?
Scholarships
There are often enrollment requirements tied to scholarships.
- If you drop a course and still have charges for the course (i.e., you did not receive a tuition refund), the scholarship will typically not be withdrawn for the current semester if you remain enrolled.
| Scholarship | Minimum Credit Hours Required | Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|---|
| WSU Merit Scholarships | 12 hours per semester | 3.0 GPA |
| Shocker Promise Scholarship | 12 hours per semester | 2.0 GPA |
| National Merit Scholarships | 15 hours per semester; exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis | |
- College and departmental scholarships are managed by the academic colleges and departments. Contact them to discuss if there will be any impact to your eligibility: wichita.edu/collegescholarships.
- Outside scholarships are managed by the donor organization. Contact them about enrollment requirements.
Federal Grants: Pell, SEOG, and TEACH
- Federal student aid regulations require you to begin attendance by engaging academically in all classes for which WSU paid these funds.
- If we are unable to confirm attendance, WSU will be required to return these funds.*
Federal Loans: Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, and Graduate PLUS Loans
- If you drop below half-time enrollment, you will enter your loan grace period or repayment if you have previously exhausted your grace period.
- If you had remaining loan eligibility and drop below half-time enrollment, you will not be eligible for additional loan payments during the current semester.
| Student Type | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Students | 6 hours | 6 hours | 6 hours |
| Graduate Students | 5 hours | 5 hours | 3 hours |
Work Study
- You must be enrolled at least half-time to be employed as a work-study student.
How will this affect my financial aid for future semesters?
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid
- Dropping classes may affect your future federal and state financial aid eligibility through the financial aid SAP policy. If you do not meet the SAP requirements, you may be placed on financial aid suspension and will have to file an appeal to be considered for future financial aid. Refer to wichita.edu/sappolicy.
- I am currently on a SAP plan, will I have to re-appeal? If you do not meet the conditions of your approved plan (such as the number of completed credit hours or the GPA requirement), you will be placed back on financial aid suspension at the end of the semester and will have to complete a new appeal based on a new reason. Future approvals of your appeal are not guaranteed.
Lifetime Pell Grant & Loan Limits
- The Pell grant and federal student loans have lifetime and total limits. Refer to wichita.edu/finaidpolicy and your Financial Aid Dashboard at mywsu.wichita.edu.
Scholarship Renewal
- Review your scholarship requirements and guidelines for renewal each term.
Are there campus resources available if I need help?
- Wichita State has many resources available to you, such as tutoring and success coaches: wichita.edu/resources.
*Note: Federal financial aid is offered based on your expected enrollment and anticipated costs for the full semester. If you will not remain enrolled in any classes that span the length of the full semester, or you stop attending but do not officially withdraw, you may be subject to a return of financial aid funds based on your last date of academic engagement in your courses. If Wichita State is required to return more money than is available through any tuition refund, you will be billed and a hold will be placed on your account, which may prevent you from registering, obtaining copies of academic transcripts, or receiving your diploma.
To determine if you are dropping during or after the tuition refund period, visit wichita.edu/academiccalendar.
I am withdrawing DURING the 100% tuition refund period.
How will this affect the financial aid I received this semester?
When you completely withdraw during the 100% tuition refund period, you have NOT earned the financial aid paid on your behalf. Thus, all federal and state financial aid, as well as scholarships, must be returned. You will receive a 100% tuition refund credit for the classed dropped, which will be directly applied to any balance owed from the return of financial aid.
I already received my financial aid refund; how do I return it?
Since you are no longer eligible for the financial aid paid on your behalf, you must return your refund to Accounts Receivable in 201 Jardine Hall or repay via the Student Account Suite.
I am currently on a SAP plan, will I have to re-appeal?
You will need to complete a revised academic plan with your academic advisor to reflect the change in your enrollment term.
I am withdrawing AFTER the 100% tuition refund period.
How will this affect the financial aid I received this semester?
Scholarships
There are often enrollment requirements tied to scholarships.
- If you drop a course and still have charges for the course (i.e., you did not receive a tuition refund), the scholarship will typically not be withdrawn for the current semester if you remain enrolled.
| Scholarship | Minimum Credit Hours Required | Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|---|
| WSU Merit Scholarships | 12 hours per semester | 3.0 GPA |
| Shocker Promise Scholarship | 12 hours per semester | 2.0 GPA |
| National Merit Scholarships | 15 hours per semester; exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis | |
- College and departmental scholarships are managed by the academic colleges and departments. Contact them to discuss if there will be any impact to your eligibility: wichita.edu/collegescholarships.
- Outside scholarships are managed by the donor organization. Contact them about enrollment requirements.
Federal Financial Aid Review (Return of Title IV Aid)
- Federal financial aid is offered based on your expected enrollment and anticipated costs for the full semester. If you will not remain enrolled in any classes that span the length of the full semester, or you stop attending but do not officially withdraw, you may be subject to a return of financial aid funds based on your last date of academic engagement in your courses.
- If Wichita State is required to return more money than is available through any tuition refund, you will be billed and a hold will be placed on your account, which may prevent you from registering, obtaining academic transcripts, or receiving your diploma.
Federal Grants: Pell, SEOG, and TEACH
- Federal student aid regulations require you to begin attendance by engaging academically in all classes for which WSU paid these funds.
- If we are unable to confirm attendance, WSU will be required to return these funds.*
Federal Loans: Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, and Graduate PLUS Loans
- If you drop below half-time enrollment, you will enter your loan grace period or repayment if you have previously exhausted your grace period.
- If you had remaining loan eligibility and drop below half-time enrollment, you will not be eligible for additional loan payments during the current semester.
| Student Type | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Students | 6 hours | 6 hours | 6 hours |
| Graduate Students | 5 hours | 5 hours | 3 hours |
Work Study
- You must be enrolled at least half-time to be employed as a work-study student.
How will this affect my financial aid for future semesters?
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid
- Dropping classes may affect your future federal and state financial aid eligibility through the financial aid SAP policy. If you do not meet the SAP requirements, you may be placed on financial aid suspension and will have to file an appeal to be considered for future financial aid. Refer to wichita.edu/sappolicy.
- I am currently on a SAP plan, will I have to re-appeal? If you do not meet the conditions of your approved plan (such as the number of completed credit hours or the GPA requirement), you will be placed back on financial aid suspension at the end of the semester and will have to complete a new appeal based on a new reason. Future approvals of your appeal are not guaranteed.
Lifetime Pell Grant & Loan Limits
- The Pell grant and federal student loans have lifetime and total limits. Refer to wichita.edu/finaidpolicy and your Financial Aid Dashboard at mywsu.wichita.edu.
Scholarship Renewal
- Review your scholarship requirements and guidelines for renewal each term. If your scholarship is withdrawn and extenuating circumstances prevented you from meeting the requirements for your Wichita State scholarship, you may appeal the withdrawal or non-renewal. Refer to wichita.edu/scholarshipappeal.
Are there campus resources available if I need help?
- Wichita State has many resources available to you, such as tutoring and success coaches: wichita.edu/resources.
*Note: Federal financial aid is offered based on your expected enrollment and anticipated costs for the full semester. If you will not remain enrolled in any classes that span the length of the full semester, or you stop attending but do not officially withdraw, you may be subject to a return of financial aid funds based on your last date of academic engagement in your courses. If Wichita State is required to return more money than is available through any tuition refund, you will be billed and a hold will be placed on your account, which may prevent you from registering, obtaining copies of academic transcripts, or receiving your diploma.