What happens if I don't complete my classes?

Columbia College is required by federal regulations to complete a Return of Title IV Funds calculation for students who do receive federal aid but do not complete 60% of the enrollment period for which they have received federal aid. For more information see Columbia College's Undergraduate Catalog or the return of Title IV funds page.

Financial aid is awarded to a student with the expectation that the student will attend school for the period for which the assistance is awarded.  If a student does not begin attendance in all of his/her classes, the aid must be recalculated based on the actual attendance.   Students who are not in attendance for the courses in which they enrolled are not eligible to receive financial aid.

If a student totally withdraws from his/her class(es) before the 60% point of the session, only a portion of the original aid has been earned.  Columbia College may be required to return unearned aid; when this happens the unearned aid is removed from the student's account and student will then owe the unearned aid back to the college. The withdrawal date is defined as:

  1. The date the student began the withdrawal process or officially notified Columbia College of their intent to withdraw; or
     
  2. For all other withdrawals without notification, the withdrawal date is the mid-point or the last date of attendance at an academically-related activity by the student. The last date of attendance at an academically-related activity is defined as attendance and participation in class as defined by the instructor.

A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point is considered to have earned all awarded aid for the enrollment period. The 60% point of the sessions is listed below:


Day Campus Students


Term Enrollment Period 60% Point
Fall '09 08/24/09 - 12/17/09 10/27/09
Spring '09 01/11/10 - 05/06/10 03/16/10

Evening Students (Undergraduate)


Term Enrollment Period 60% Point
August 08/24/09 - 10/17/09 09/26/09
October 10/26/09 - 12/18/09 11/26/09
January 01/11/10 - 03/05/10 02/13/10
March 03/15/10 - 05/07/10 04/14/10
Summer 06/01/10 - 07/23/10 07/03/10

Evening Students (Graduate)


Term Enrollment Period 60% Point
August 08/24/09 - 10/15/09 09/24/09
October 10/19/09 - 12/17/09 11/18/09
January 01/11/10 - 03/04/10 02/11/10
March 03/08/10 - 05/06/10 04/16/10
Summer 06/01/10 - 07/22/10 07/02/10

Online/Nationwide Students (Undergraduate)


Term Enrollment Period 60% Point
August 08/10/09 - 10/03/09 09/12/09
October 10/09/09 - 12/12/09 11/21/09
January 01/11/10 - 03/05/10 02/13/10
March 03/22/10 - 05/15/10 04/24/10
Summer 05/31/10 - 07/24/10 07/03/10

Online/Nationwide Students (Graduate)


Term Enrollment Period 60% Point
August 08/10/09 - 10/03/09 09/12/09
October 10/09/09 - 12/12/09 11/21/09
January 01/11/10 - 03/05/10 02/13/10
March 03/22/10 - 05/15/10 04/24/10
Summer 05/31/10 - 07/24/10 07/03/10