Refund Policies

Student Refund Information

Financial Aid Refunds

A credit balance created by the disbursement of financial aid is normally disbursed to you by the start of each semester, unless you have requested that funds be held on your account.  Refunds for the fall and spring semesters will be available no earlier than Tuesday of the week before the first day of classes.

Financial aid resulting in a credit balance on your account will be automatically refunded to you unless you request that it be held to apply to future charges.

Detailed online instructions for authorizing a hold.

Method of Refund

Refunds will be made available by direct deposit to a US bank account or by check mailed to your current address. Checks are not available for pick-up in the Student Business Services Office. Direct deposits are generated daily, as funds become available. Checks are mailed twice per week. Credit balances resulting from credit card payments will be refunded to the credit card used for payment.

Direct Deposit

The fastest and most secure way to get your refund is by direct deposit.  Enroll in direct deposit through the MaineStreet Student Center.
Detailed online instructions for enrolling in or modifying your direct deposit.

Checks

If the student has not specified on MaineStreet that refunds be mailed to a specific address, refund checks mailed prior to the start of each semester will be mailed to the student’s home address, and after the start of each semester to the student’s local/campus address.

Your Financial Aid Status

Excess financial aid will be held on your account if your financial aid award is based on full-time enrollment and your current enrollment is not full-time.  Full-time enrollment for undergraduate students is 12 or more credits.  You will be notified by an email to your @maine.edu account that a hold has been placed on your refund.

To release the refund hold, you will need to:

Complete registration for 12 or more credits

OR

Notify financial aid of your intent to enroll part-time.  Your financial aid award will be adjusted accordingly.

Follow these steps to notify Financial Aid of an enrollment change online through MaineStreet.

  1. After logging into the MaineStreet portal, click the Student Self-Service link to select it.
  2. Click the Student Center link to access the MaineStreet Campus Solutions system.
  3. Under the Finances section click on the Accept/Decline Awards link.
  4. Click on the current aid year to select it.
  5. On the Award Package page, click on the Student Enrollment link.
  6. Click on the button next to “I need to report a change in enrollment plans”.
  7. Click on the appropriate checkbox, indicating the number of credits planned for each semester.
  8. Click on the Return to Award Package link to save your changes.

Drop/Withdrawal Refund Policy

Student charges will be adjusted for voluntary withdrawals from the university and for drops or withdrawals from individual classes in accordance with the schedule and provisions set forth below. For refunding purposes the following definitions apply:

  • “Standard” full semester classes are classes which are scheduled to start during the first week of a semester and meet through the end of that semester.
  • “Non-standard” classes are classes whose starting and ending dates do not coincide with the starting and ending dates of the Fall or Spring semester, including all Summer University classes. These classes fall into two groups:
    1. Classes with duration of less than 12 weeks in length.
    2. Classes with duration of 12 weeks or longer.
  • The “Drop” period is the time frame a student may drop classes from their schedule without academic or financial penalties.
  • Dropping classes is a reduction in a student’s class load during the Drop period while remaining enrolled in other classes at any of the University of Maine campuses.
  • Withdrawing from classes is a reduction in a student’s class load after the Drop period while remaining enrolled in other classes at any of the University of Maine campuses.
  • A “Withdrawal from the University,” either temporary or permanent, involves the student withdrawing from all classes at all University of Maine System campuses for which the student is registered as well as notifying appropriate administrative officials of the student’s decision to leave.
  • Students who cease attendance, in any or all of their classes, without providing official notification are not entitled to a refund. If a student ceases attendance for emergency reasons, the University will accept a written appeal. Normally, appeals will be considered up to 90 days after the close of the term for which the student is requesting a financial adjustment.

Tuition and Fees Schedule For Dropped Classes

“Standard” Full Semester Classes:

Drop Date Percent of Refund
Prior to the end of the Drop Period 100%
After the Drop Period 0%

“Non-Standard” classes:

Drop/Withdrawal Date  Percent of Refund
Withdrawal on or before the number of days equal to the number of weeks a class is scheduled. For example, for a six week course, a refund will be granted through the sixth day. 100%
After the number of days equal to the number of weeks a class is scheduled. 0%

The financial deadlines for dropping a class can be found by  clicking  the deadlines icon  in the student’s schedule on their MaineStreet Student Center.

Tuition and Fees Schedule For Withdrawals from the University

“Standard” Full Semester classes and “Non-Standard” classes of 12 weeks or more:

Withdrawal Date Percent of Refund
Prior to the end of the second week 100%
Prior to the end of the fourth week 75%
Prior to the end of the sixth week 50%
Prior to the end of the eighth week 25%
After the eighth week 0%

“Non-Standard” short classes – classes of less than 12 weeks in length:

Withdrawal Date Percent of Refund
Withdrawal on or before the number of days equal to the number of weeks a class is scheduled. For example, for a six week course, a refund will be granted through the sixth day. 100%
After the number of days equal to the number of weeks a class is scheduled.  0%

Determination of Attendance

  • For “standard” full semester classes, the attendance period begins on the opening day of scheduled university classes, includes weekends and holidays, and ends on the date the student notifies the Associate Dean’s Office of their college in writing that the student is withdrawing.
  • For “Non-standard” classes, including all Summer University classes, the attendance period begins on the start date of the class as specified on the class schedule of classes, includes weekends and holidays, and ends on the date the student notifies the Associate Dean’s Office of their college in writing that the student is withdrawing.
  • The official start date of a class can be found on the student’s MaineStreet Student Center under My Class Schedule.

Room and Board Schedule

Room Schedule:

Withdrawal Date    Percent of Refund
Prior to the end of the second week 100%
Prior to the end of the fourth week 75%
Prior to the end of the sixth week 50%
Prior to the end of the eighth week 25%
After the eight week 0%

 

Board Schedule:

Withdrawal Date Percent of Refund   
Students who withdraw from the university or cancel their Room and Board contract prior to the end of the semester will be refunded for the unused portion of their meal plan on a prorated basis. Students must notify the Housing Services office to qualify for the refund. Prorated

 

For additional Housing information please visit UMaine Housing Services.