Withdrawal Policy

Refunds and Financial Aid

 

When a student withdraws from Massachusetts Maritime Academy the following withdrawal policies apply.
 
One policy addresses the amount of tuition and fees that a student may be refunded based on the date of official withdrawal.  This policy does not cover students who are dismissed for conduct reasons.
 
The second policy addresses how the student's financial aid is adjusted and refunded back to the federal/state or institutional aid program. This policy applies to all students, regardless of the withdrawal reason, including an official withdrawal, a medical withdrawal, a military withdrawal, an unofficial withdrawal (walk away), a conduct dismissal or an academic dismissal.
 
A student is considered to be withdrawn if he/she is not actively enrolled in and attending/participating in any credit bearing courses in a degree granting program. Students who intend to withdraw from the Academy during a semester must continue attending classes until such time as they withdraw.  Not attending classes but waiting to submit a withdrawal form after the 60% point in the semester (when financial aid is no longer adjusted) is not allowed.

 

  • Withdrawal before the first day of classes: full refund of tuition, fees, room and board charges.
  • Withdrawal during first week of classes: 80% refund of tuition and fees. No refund for room & board charges.
  • Withdrawal during second week of classes: 50% refund of tuition and fees. No refund for room & board charges.
  • Withdrawal during third week of classes: 20% refund of tuition and fees. No refund for room & board charges.
  • Withdrawal after third week of classes: No refund.
  • Withdrawal before first day: full refund of tuition and fees.  If airfare has been purchased by the Academy prior to the student's withdrawal, the student will not receive a refund for the airfare portion of their bill.
  • Withdrawal on or after the first day: No refund
  • Withdrawal before the first day of classes: full refund of tuition, fees, room and board charges.
  • Withdrawal during first week of classes: 80% refund of tuition and fees. No refund for room & board charges.
  • Withdrawal during second week of classes: 50% refund of tuition and fees. No refund for room & board charges.
  • Withdrawal during third week of classes: 20% refund of tuition and fees. No refund for room & board charges.
  • Withdrawal after third week of classes: No refund.

All attendees wishing to drop a summer or winter class should do so in self service prior to the end of the drop period. To withdraw from a course after the drop period, the student must complete a withdrawal form found on the Registrar’s webpage.

  • Withdrawal on or before the last day of the first week of classes…………………….100%
  • Withdrawal after the first week of class………………………………..………………… 0%

There is NO refund after the beginning of the second week of class. There will be no refunds UNTIL a credit balance appears on the student’s account. There will be a FULL refund for any classes canceled by the Academy.

When There Are No Refunds
  • MAPS - Maritime Academy Preparatory Seminar – No refund of MAPS fees after the first day of classes
  • Orientation – No refund of Orientation fees after reporting to Orientation
  • Seabag - No refund of Seabag fees after reporting to Orientation
  • There is no refund of room and board after the start of academic term for students who withdraw from the Academy.  
Order of Refunds

The MMA refund policy applies to any student who officially withdraws from the Academy. Refunds will be made in the following order:

  • To federal financial aid programs in accordance with the Federal Return of Title IV Funds requirement (See below)
  • To state financial aid programs in accordance with applicable state regulations
  • To institutional aid programs
  • To individual scholarship donors in accordance with their policies,
  • To the student.

Financial Aid and the Withdrawal Process

Students who receive financial aid and withdraw may owe a repayment to Massachusetts Maritime Academy and or the federal or state government.
 

Students who receive any financial aid including grants, scholarships, and federal loans are subject to the Federal Return of Title IV Funds requirement. The same calculation will be used to determine the amount of institutional and state aid a withdrawn student is eligible to retain.  This policy applies to all students who officially withdraw, unofficially withdraw and who are dismissed for any reason by the Academy. Students who intend to withdraw from the Academy during a semester must continue attending classes until such time as they withdraw.  Not attending classes but waiting to submit a withdrawal form after the 60% point in the semester (when financial aid is no longer adjusted) is not allowed. 

If a first year student has been awarded a Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and withdraws prior to being enrolled at least 30 days, the entire loan(s) will be cancelled.

Merit scholarships such as the Admiral’s Scholarship, the Commodore’s Scholarship, the Captain’s Scholarship and the Commander’s Scholarship will be completely cancelled if a student withdraws, including the award for the semester in which the student withdraws.

 

Massachusetts Maritime Academy must return grants, scholarships and loans to the federal, state or institutional agencies based on the student’s length of enrollment (regardless of whether or not the student qualifies for a tuition and fee refund).  The student may retain only a pro-rated portion of the aid awarded based on the length of the term and the student’s withdrawal date.  The remainder of the student’s federal aid must be returned by MMA to the appropriate aid programs.  (Example:  if a student only completes 45% of a semester, the student is only entitled to 45% of their awarded financial aid for that semester.  The remaining 55% is returned to the financial aid programs).

If the student received a cash disbursement of their anticipated financial aid in the form of an advance or a refund, or if they used their anticipated financial aid to make purchases in the bookstore, he or she may owe a repayment to Massachusetts Maritime Academy or to the federal government, depending upon what anticipated aid was used.  The withdrawal/refund requirements apply to all students who withdraw completely from the academy, including students who do not follow the official withdrawal process. The requirement remains in effect through the 60% point of the semester. After that point, the student is considered entitled to all aid accepted for the semester.