PRINT DISCLAIMER: Official version of this document is accessible in the online policy library at https://policyoffice.ku.edu/. Printed copies may not reflect the most recent updates.
DOCUMENT TYPE:
Policy
PURPOSE:
This policy explains refunds that apply to tuition, course fees, required student and wellness fees, off-campus area fees, and Edwards Campus construction fees for students who withdraw from the University or reduce their enrollment.
APPLIES TO:
All Campus students
CAMPUS:
Edwards, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Juniper Gardens, Parsons, Pittsburg, Salina, Topeka, Wichita, Yoder, Medical Center, Kansas City
POLICY STATEMENT:
Payment in full of tuition and fees must be received by the payment due date indicated on billing notification. An obligation to pay tuition and fees in full is incurred at the time the student enrolls in or adds a course(s). A student’s obligation to pay tuition and student and wellness fees may be adjusted according to the following schedule whenever credit hours are dropped.
Refund periods for the standard 15-week semester
- First refund period: 100% refund through the 5th day of term
- Second refund period: 50% refund – 6th day of term through 20th day of term
- No refund: after 20th day of term
Refund periods for the standard 8-week summer term
- First refund period: 100% refund through the 3rd day of term
- Second refund period: 50% refund - 4th day of term through 11th day of term
- No refund: after 11th day of term
The refund schedule is proportionally adjusted for short courses. See short course listings for more information.
When a student drops credit hours, tuition and student and wellness fees assessed on those hours will apply in full to the same number of additional credit hours provided that both classes have the same start and end dates and one of the following conditions is met: 1) drops and adds are completed on the same day or 2) all changes prior to the end of the 50% refund period.
In the case of full withdrawal from the University, students or parents who receive Title IV financial aid may be required by federal regulations to repay financial aid. For more information, contact Financial Aid & Scholarships.
EXCLUSIONS OR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
In the event the student does not receive an expected refund or in the event the amount of the refund is different from what was expected, the student may submit a fee petition to the Office of the University Registrar. See the policy on Petition for Tuition and Fee Refund.
Federal regulations may require that a student who fully withdraws from the University and who receives student financial aid (grants, loans or work assistance) under Title IV or whose parent receives a loan under Title IV on behalf of the student be subject to a different refund policy. Contact Financial Aid & Scholarships for more information, financialaid@ku.edu or 785-864-4700.
As a result of state articulation agreements, students who take online courses from KU and who are residents of other states may be eligible for additional tuition refunds. For more information, contact for Online and Distance Learning at onlinelearning@ku.edu, 785-864-1000.
CONTACT:
Lawrence Campus:
Office of the University Registrar
1502 Building
1502 Iowa Street
Lawrence, KS 66045
registrar@ku.edu
785-864-4423
KU Medical Center:
Office of the Registrar
3901 Rainbow Blvd, Dykes G035
Kansas City, KS 66160
913-588-7055
kumcregistrar@kumc.edu
APPROVED BY:
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice Chancellor and the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
APPROVED ON:
2010-06-09
EFFECTIVE ON:
2010-06-09
REVIEW CYCLE:
Annual (As Needed)
BACKGROUND:
This refund policy was formerly incorporated in the Comprehensive Tuition and Fee Schedule, which is annually approved by the Kansas Board of Regents and published by the Office of the University Registrar.
RELATED STATUTES, REGULATIONS, AND/OR POLICIES:
KU Lawrence: Petition for Tuition and Fee Refund
KU Lawrence: Comprehensive Tuition and Fee Schedule
KU Medical Center: Petition for Tuition and Fee Refund
Definitions:
Fee petition: request for a refund of student tuition and fees that is an exception to the Tuition and Fee Refund policy
CHANGE HISTORY:
03/26/2025: Migration to TeamDynamix from Drupal.
02/28/2025: Updated Vice Provost for Finance to Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice Chancellor.
10/09/2024: Fixed typo in Policy Statement.
10/04/2024: Added KUMC link.
09/09/2024: Updated "campus fee" to "student and wellness fee".
03/29/2024: Updated 'class' to 'term' in policy statement.
08/25/2023: Grammar correction.
03/14/2023: Updated policy.
03/01/2023: Updated contact section.
05/06/2021: Updated keywords.
06/10/2020: Updated Contact section.
09/20/2019: Updated to include the refund period for the standard 8-week summer term.
03/12/2019: The title of VP for Administration and Finance no longer exists. Future approvals will be made by the Chief Financial Officer and Vice Provost for Finance.
07/15/2016: Policy formatting cleanup (e.g. bolding and spacing).
07/15/2016: Updated Applies to, updated refund periods in Policy Statement, updated link in Exclusions or Special Circumstances, updated Contact information, and updated Approved by information.
06/2016: Change in refund periods, updating positions and addresses.
06/12/2015: Policy formatting cleanup (e.g., bolding, spacing).
08/2014: Reviewed and links updated.
This reflects practices that have been in place at the University of Kansas for a number of years that were previously described in an informational brochure.