Financial Aid and Withdrawing from AState
Return to Title IV Funds Policy
Federal Regulations mandate that students who receive federal financial aid, which may include Pell Grant, Supplemental Grant, ACG, Smart Grants, Subsidized Stafford loans, Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Parent Plus Loans and Grad Plus Loans and withdraw from the university during the first 59% of the semester should be aware that a portion of these funds may have to be repaid. A student who remains enrolled and in attendance beyond the 60% point is considered to have earned all of their financial aid for the semester.
If the amount of aid disbursed to the student is greater than the amount the student earned, unearned funds must be returned to the federal programs. If the amount of aid disbursed to the student is less than the amount the student earned, and for which the student is otherwise eligible, the student will receive a post-withdrawal disbursement of earned aid.
A-State will determine the withdrawal date based on the date the Registrar’s Office receives information that the student plans to withdraw. Students may withdraw from A-State by “Self Service Student” at any time during the scheduled registration periods. Students have until Sunday after the first week of classes in a regular semester or until Friday the first week of classes in a five week summer session term to withdraw. After this period has passed, students must obtain a withdrawal form in the Advisement Services Office located in Wilson Center. Students receiving financial aid must obtain an approval signature from the Financial Aid Office to complete the process.
When a student ceases to attend classes but does not complete the official withdrawal process they are considered to have unofficially withdrawn. In the case of an unofficial withdrawal, the mid-point of the semester will be used for the calculation of a Title IV refund unless otherwise documented.
A-State will return all unearned funds for which it is responsible within 45 days from the date the student is determined to have withdrawn. After the return of funds to Title IV financial aid is adjusted per the calculation, a balance may be owed on institutional charges. The Student Accounts Office will notify the student of any balances owed to A-State and it will be the student’s responsibility to pay any balance owed.
The order the funds must be returned to Title IV programs is as follows:
- Unsubsidized Direct Loan Funds
- Subsidized Direct Loan Funds
- Direct Loan Grad PLUS
- Direct Loan PLUS Parent
- Pell Grants
- FSEOG
- TEACH Grant
Repaying Borrowed Funds
The Financial Aid Office uses the Federal Student Aid R2T4 Calculator to calculate the amount of money that you owe back if you withdraw.
If you have questions or need additional information please contact your Financial Aid Counselor.
Estimating What You Will Have to Repay
The chart below estimates the percentage of federal aid that a student must return based upon when he/she withdraws. Please consider this financial responsibility should you be considering withdrawing from the university. This changes if we have inclement weather that causes us to close campus for five consecutive days. If this occurs then the dates will adjust to push back.
Fall 2026 – Full Term (One Break)
Payment Period Length
- Term dates: August 20 – December 12, 2025 = 115 days
- Break excluded: November 22 – November 30 = 9 days
Total Fall Term Calendar days = 106 days
- Each day: ≈ 0.94% earned aid (100 ÷ 106)
- 60% of 106 days ≈ Day 64 → October 22, 2025
-
Once a student reaches 60%, they earn 100% of their aid.
👉 Any withdrawal on or after October 22, 2025 = no return required
Date-Based Percentage Breakdown (R2T4)
| Date Range | % Earned | % Unearned (Owed Back) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug
|
1%
|
99% – 93% |
| Aug
|
8%
|
92% – 87% |
| Sep
|
14%
|
86% – 80% |
| Sep
|
21%
|
79% – 74% |
| Sep
|
27%
|
73% – 67% |
| Sep
|
34%
|
66% – 60% |
| Oct
|
41%
|
59% – 54% |
| Oct 8 – Oct 14 | 47% – 53% | 53% – 47% |
| Oct 15 – Oct 21 | 54% – 60% | 46% – 40% |
| Oct 22 – Dec 12 | 60%+ | 0% owed |
| 🚫 Break (not counted) | Nov 22 – Nov 30 | — |
None
Spring 2026 – Full Term (One Break)
Payment Period Length
- Term dates: January 12 – May 8, 2026 = 117 days
- Break excluded: March 21 – March 29 = 9 days
Total Spring Term Calendar days = 108 days
- Each day ≈ 0.93% earned aid (100 ÷ 108)
- 60% point ≈ Day 65 → March 26, 2026
-
Once a student reaches 60%, they earn 100% of their aid.
👉 Any withdrawal on or after March 26, 2026 = no return required
Date-Based Percentage Breakdown (R2T4)
| Date Range | % Earned | % Unearned (Owed Back) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 12 – Jan 18 | 1% – 6% | 99% – 94% |
| Jan 19 – Jan 25 | 7% – 12% | 93% – 88% |
| Jan 26 – Feb 1 | 13% – 19% | 87% – 81% |
| Feb 2 – Feb 8 | 20% – 25% | 80% – 75% |
| Feb 9 – Feb 15 | 26% – 32% | 74% – 68% |
| Feb 16 – Feb 22 | 33% – 38% | 67% – 62% |
| Feb 23 – Mar 1 | 39% – 45% | 61% – 55% |
| Mar 2 – Mar 8 | 46% – 51% | 54% – 49% |
| Mar 9 – Mar 15 | 52% – 58% | 48% – 42% |
| Mar 16 – Mar 20 | 59% – 60% | 41% – 40% |
| 🚫 Break (not counted) | Mar 21 – Mar 29 | — |
| Mar 30 – May 8 | 60%+ | 0% owed |
10/25Spring 2026 – Full Term (Two Breaks)
Payment Period Length
- Term dates: January 12 – May 8, 2026 = 117 days
- Break excluded: January 24 -
12/12February 1 = 9 days - Break excluded: March 21 – March 29 = 9 days
Total Spring Term Calendar days = 99 days
- Each day = ~1.01% earned aid (100 ÷ 99)
- 60% point ≈ Day 60 → March 30, 2026
-
Once a student reaches 60%, they earn 100% of their aid.
👉 Any withdrawal on or after March 30, 2026 = no return required
Date-Based Percentage Breakdown (R2T4)
| Date Range | Aid% Earned | Aid% Unearned (Owed Back) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 12 – Jan 16 | 1% – 5% | 99% – 95% |
| Jan 17 – Jan 23 | 6% – 12% | 94% – 88% |
| Jan 24 – Feb 1 | 🚫 Break (not counted) | — |
| Feb 2 – Feb 8 | 13% – 19% | 87% – 81% |
| Feb 9 – Feb 15 | 20% – 26% | 80% – 74% |
| Feb 16 – Feb 22 | 27% – 33% | 73% – 67% |
| Feb 23 – Feb 28 | 34% – 39% | 66% – 61% |
| Mar 1 – Mar 7 | 40% – 46% | 60% – 54% |
| Mar 8 – Mar 14 | 47% – 53% | 53% – 47% |
| Mar 15 – Mar 20 | 54% – 59% | 46% – 41% |
| Mar 21 – Mar 29 | 🚫 Break (not counted) | — |
| Mar 30 | 60% | 0% owed |
| Mar 31 – May 8 | 60%+ | 0% owed |
***Please note the first Spring chart below is for students who dropped prior to inclement weather that occurred on 01/26/2026 - 01/30/2026
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This is the adjusted Spring chart for students who dropped during/after the Spring 2026 inclement weather closure
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