The decision about whether to drop a course is an academic issue. However, it is your responsibility to understand the financial implications of such a decision.

Financial aid eligibility is determined each semester – in part – by your enrollment status: fulltime, three-quarter time, halftime, or less than halftime. Check with the Office of the Registrar or your academic unit for your College’s enrollment definitions, as they may differ from other Colleges.

Upon being awarded Federal, State, and University aid, students are advised of the enrollment assumptions made by the Office of Financial Aid at the time of packaging. (Most initial awards assume fulltime enrollment.) It is your responsibility to notify us of your anticipated or actual enrollment for the semester(s) in which you were awarded. We will then make any necessary adjustments to your aid package.

Before confirming your attendance (i.e., submitting your Term Bill) each semester, verify that your financial aid enrollment assumptions are consistent with your registered credits for that term. Should you subsequently drop a course(s) and your enrollment status changes, we will adjust your aid accordingly – even if the funds have already been credited to your student account. Consequently, you would be responsible for any balance on your account, and you may need to return any refund(s) issued to you.

Note: retroactive course drop(s) approved by your Dean have the same effect on financial aid eligibility as doing so during Add/Drop Period.

Unlike dropping a course during the University’s published deadlines, withdrawing from one course counts as an attempt for that course, and a “W” will appear on your academic transcript. Additionally, repeated withdrawals can affect your aid eligibility in future academic years. For information on academic progress, click here.

If you withdraw from a course(s) with a “W” grade but are still enrolled for at least one course, neither your tuition fees nor your financial aid will be adjusted. Final semester charges and awards are based on your enrollment status as of the end of your Add/Drop Period.

If, however, you withdraw from all of your courses in one semester, then adjustments to your direct charges and financial aid credits may be necessary, depending on your date of withdrawal. For information on the consequences of full withdrawal, click here.

• Federal Pell Grant: prorated for less than fulltime enrollment
• Federal Direct Loans (Stafford, PLUS, and Graduate PLUS): at least halftime
• Federal Perkins Loan: at least halftime
• Federal Work-Study, FSEOG: at least halftime
• NJ Tuition Aid Grant and other State Aid: fulltime
• Rutgers Assistance Grant: fulltime, with some exceptions
• Rutgers Merit Scholarships: fulltime, with some exceptions
• Private Loans: varies

If you received a Federal Direct or Perkins Loan and drop below half-time (or withdraw from all of your courses), you will enter you GRACE PERIOD as defined on your promissory note(s). Contact the appropriate lender or loan servicer for your repayment responsibilities.

Direct Loan (Stafford or PLUS)
Direct Loan Servicing Center
800-848-0979

Perkins or University Loans
Loan Collections
732-445-2535
(Non-Rutgers Perkins Loan borrowers should contact the institution from which the loan was received.)

Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers should use the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to obtain lender’s contact information