Federal Financial Aid Refund Policy

When students stop attending classes, officially drop classes, or withdraw from the College, they may have their financial aid payments adjusted to reflect the actual percentage of time that they have attended class(es) and/or other educational activity. This percentage will be calculated by the number of days the student has attended divided by the number of days in the semester. The College and student must return any unearned aid to the appropriate funding sources (i.e. Pell grant, SEOG grant, Stafford Loan). The College will have only thirty (30) days to determine the correct amount of funds the student has earned and notify the student if a refund must be collected for any aid previously disbursed or if there is a balance owed to the College. Students must respond by contacting the Student Financial Services Office within 45 days from the date of the financial aid notification to arrange an acceptable repayment agreement. Students will need to work very closely with the Student Financial Services Office as they stop attending classes, officially drop classes, or withdraw from the College. For questions on how those actions will affect your financial aid package, contact the Student Financial Services Office at (413) 775-1109.

When paying your bill with expected financial aid or student loans, consider the following:

  1. If you are awarded financial aid or student loans by the due date of your bill and your aid will cover your entire balance, you do not need to do anything further as long as you remain eligible for the grants/loans awarded to you.
  2. If you are awarded financial aid or student loans by the due date of your bill but your aid will cover only a portion of your bill, you must pay the difference by the due date of your bill or sign up for the payment plan.
  3. If you are not awarded any financial aid or student loans by the due date of your bill you must either pay your bill in full or sign up for the 4-month payment plan.

If you do not pay your balance in full and you do not sign up for the payment plan by the due date, you will be charged a late fee of $35 if your unpaid balance is $100 or greater.

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