Refund Policy
Students considering withdrawing from a course/program should read the following sections:
Refund Policy,
Satisfactory Academic Progress,
Grade Reports,
Course Withdrawals,
Leave of Absence,
Readmission Procedure, and
Adding/Dropping Courses.
If ECPI Postpones the Program Start Date: If ECPI postpones the Program start date, the student is entitled to a full refund of all monies paid to ECPI if the request is made within fifteen days of receiving notice of the Program’s postponement.
If ECPI discontinues the Program: If ECPI discontinues the Program and the student has not yet begun classes, he/she may transfer to another program and all monies paid will be applied to the new program. If the student has completed coursework in the discontinued Program, they will be provided an opportunity to complete all outstanding coursework at ECPI and earn the appropriate credential for the Program.
If The Student Cancels Within 3 Business Days: The student may cancel this Agreement, without any penalty or obligation, within three business days from the date he/she signs this Agreement, in which event the student will be returned any payment within 30 days following receipt by ECPI of the cancellation notice, excluding the non-refundable application fee, and any security interest arising out of this Agreement will be voided. The student will have the right to apply for reinstatement within twelve months from the date they signed this Agreement, at which time a credit will be given for the non-refundable application fee. To cancel this Agreement, the student must mail or deliver a signed and dated copy of their written cancellation notice to ECPI at the campus location noted on page one of their Agreement no later than midnight on the third business day.
Students who have not visited ECPI prior to enrollment may withdraw without penalty within three days following either their scheduled class orientation or following a tour of ECPI and its facilities, whichever is earlier.
If The Student Withdraws During the Trial Period: New students attending their first course at ECPI are in a “trial period,” which is typically five weeks. For certificate (Micro-credential) programs, the trial period is one week. For courses that are longer than five weeks, the trial period ends with the 5th week. If the student withdraws during the trial period, ECPI will refund all money paid except for the non-refundable application fee and registration fee. Title IV federal student assistance is not disbursed during the trial period. After the trial period has expired, Title IV federal student assistance is disbursed for the period including the trial period. Students who utilize the trial period, but re-apply and attend in a later semester, will be assessed $250 in tuition per previously earned credit (not applicable for students in quarter based programs). The Trial Period is not applicable to international students.
If The Student Withdraws After the Trial Period: A “semester” is the period for which students are charged. Each semester consists of three 5-week modules. Two semesters constitute an academic year.
For students enrolled in programs measured in quarter credit hours: A “quarter” is the period for which students are charged. Each quarter consists of 12 weeks of instruction. Three quarters constitute an academic year.
If the student withdraws after the trial period, the non-refundable application and registration fees will be retained, and the refund for each semester will be the larger of (a) the refund required by state law, if any, or (b) the refund required by federal law, if any, or (c) the refund provided in the charts below:
| Refund Schedule for programs measured in Semester Credit Hours |
|
Withdrawal Occurs After Percentage
Completion of the Semester
|
Percentage of Tuition
and Fees Refunded
|
|
Within First 10%
|
90%
|
|
After 10% and Up to 20%
|
80%
|
|
After 20% and Up to 30%
|
70%
|
|
After 30% and Up to 40%
|
60%
|
|
After 40% and Up to 50%
|
50%
|
|
After 50% and Up to 60%
|
40%
|
|
After 60% and Up to 70%
|
30%
|
|
After 70% and Up to 80%
|
20%
|
|
After 80%
|
0%
|
For students attending the Florida (Lake Mary) campus, the semester credit refund will be pro-rated for the first 20% of the semester based on the number of days attending in the semester divided by the total days scheduled in the semester.
| Refund Schedule for programs measured in Quarter Credit Hours |
If student withdraws or is dismissed
when scheduled classes have been held for: |
Student’s tuition charges will be: |
| 1-20% of the quarter |
Equal corresponding pro rata
percentage, e.g. 7% = 7% tuition charges. |
| More than 20% but not more than 30% of the quarter |
30% of the Quarter Tuition Charges |
| More than 30% but not more than 40% of the quarter |
40% of the Quarter Tuition Charges |
| More than 40% but not more than 50% of the quarter |
50% of the Quarter Tuition Charges |
| More than 50% but not more than 60% of the quarter |
60% of the Quarter Tuition Charges |
| More than 60% of the quarter |
100% of the Quarter Tuition Charges |
For students that received military educational benefits, eligible amounts paid by the Veteran's Administration and other military assistance programs may not align with ECPI University's tuition refund policy, which could result in amounts due to the military assistance program and/or ECPI University.
Students enrolled in a Certificate program that was prepaid, are eligible for a full refund for those courses not attended beyond the withdrawal period.
Orlando campus: The BSN and MSN programs are 48 weeks long and instruction is scheduled five days per week. The Master’s program is 60 weeks long and instruction is scheduled five days per week. All other Programs are varying lengths and instruction is scheduled four days per week. Days or parts thereof spent at clinical sites are considered days on which classes are scheduled.
Exit Calculation and Refund Policies: Information regarding any applicable third party funding agency refund or return of funds policies (e.g., Title IV, WIA, etc.) may be obtained from the University Student Finance Department.
The following is a brief and general explanation of rules, regulations and policies applicable to the making of the Exit Calculation. In the event that any conflict exists between this explanation and the rules, regulations and policies applicable to the various financial aid programs, such rules, regulations and policies as modified and amended from time to time shall be applied. This explanation is not intended to be a complete and thorough explanation of all of the applicable components of the Exit Calculation, and should not be relied upon as such.
In the simplest terms, the Exit Calculation and refund process consists of four steps:
1) Computing the amount of Tuition that a student is charged for a payment period in which the student withdraws or is dismissed in accordance with the institutional refund policy. (The method of determining the official date of termination is the date the student notified the College they were withdrawing or the last date the student attended class).
2) Determining what, if any, amounts from financial aid and/or other financial assistance programs are required to be returned to the fund sources. For a discussion of amounts required to be returned under Return of Title IV Funds regulations see “Federal Return of Funds Requirement” section below.
3) Adjusting the student’s account based on the calculations of (1) and (2), making the appropriate refunds, if any, based on the calculations of (1) and (2) and determining whether the student owes ECPI University any additional monies as a result of the adjustments, or whether the student has a credit balance (amount owed to the student’s account) after applying any additional institutional and non-institutional charges, including any prior year balances, against the credit balance.
4) Refunding any credit balance to the student’s lenders.
FEDERAL RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS POLICY
“Unearned” Title IV Funds: Any “unearned” Title IV funds must be returned to the applicable Federal aid program. In general, “Unearned” Title IV funds is the amount of disbursed funds that exceeds the amount that is earned based on the student’s attendance in the semester (or quarter). If the student withdraws after completing 60% of a semester (or quarter), then all Title IV funds for that semester (or quarter) are considered earned; however, if the student withdraws before completing 60% of a semester (or quarter), “unearned” Title IV funds must be returned to the applicable Federal aid program.
Calculating the Amount of “Unearned” Title IV Funds: The percentage of “unearned” Title IV funds is found by dividing the number of days remaining to be completed after the student withdraws by the total number of days in the semester (or quarter). The calculation of “unearned” Title IV funds is delayed if the student notifies ECPI of an expected re-entry date before the end of the current semester (or quarter).
Pell Grant awards will be recalculated to the eligible amount based on any changes to the enrollment status before being pro-rated as required by the U.S. Department of Education, which often results in a significant reduction in Pell Grant eligibility.
How Much “Unearned” Title IV Funds ECPI Must Return: ECPI multiplies the cost of tuition, fees, room and board (if the student contracts with the institution for the room and board) and other educationally-related expenses for the entire semester (or quarter) by the percentage of “unearned” Title IV funds to determine the amount that ECPI must return to the applicable Federal aid program. The amount ECPI is responsible to return is compared to the total amount of unearned aid; the lesser amount is then returned to the applicable Federal aid program, in the order of programs listed below.*
*Unsubsidized Direct Loans (other than Direct PLUS Loans)
*Subsidized Direct Loans
*Direct PLUS Loans
*Federal Pell Grants for which a return is require
*Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, for which a return is required.
*Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) for which a return of funds is required
Withdrawal Exemption – A student may be considered Withdrawal Exempt for Title IV aid purposes only if they successfully complete over 49% of the Payment Period/Semester or successfully completes coursework equal to or greater than the coursework required for Half-time enrollment for the Payment period/semester that the student withdrew from school due to new Federal student aid regulations starting 7/1/2021. A student who meets the criteria above is now considered to have completed the payment period and is not a withdrawn student. Therefore, students who meet the withdrawal exemption will be charged as a student who completed the current payment period and will be able to keep all earned Title IV aid with the exception of recalculation of Pell grant based on enrollment status.
Students who qualify for the Withdrawal Exemption will be charged the same as students who complete the payment period in which they withdrew. Institutional charges for students who qualify for a withdrawal exemption are based on the enrollment status for credits attempted in the completed Payment Period/semester, with the exception of Withdrawn courses during the add/drop period.
ECPI will bill the student account the full amount of Title IV funds that ECPI has returned. After application of ECPI’s Refund Policy, it is possible that the student will owe ECPI for tuition, books, fees, or other costs.
How Much “Unearned” Title IV Funds I Must Return: The student is responsible for returning any portion of the “unearned” aid that is not part of the required return from ECPI. The student will be responsible for repaying any “unearned” Title IV aid according to the terms of the promissory note or other agreement, whether or not the student graduates or gets a job.
Payment of Refunds: ECPI will pay refunds due under the Refund Policy within 60 days of the last date of attendance or, if applicable, within 60 days of the date the student failed to return from an approved leave of absence.
Payment of Refunds for students enrolled in Florida: Any refunds due under the foregoing provision when the student properly cancels, withdraws, discontinues, or fails to return from an approved leave of absence, will be refunded within 30 days of the date of determination that the student has withdrawn either due to attendance or failure to return from an approved leave of absence.
Refunds due per the U.S. Department of Education will be made within 59 days of the student’s last date of attendance or 45 days from the date of official withdrawal, whichever is earlier. The student will pay all refunds when due according to the appropriate policy (ECPI, U.S. Department of Education, etc.), but never more than 60 days after the last date of attendance.