Financial Aid Recipients should consider the following information when deciding whether or not to withdraw, no longer attend classes (unofficial withdrawal) or take a leave of absence for any reason from the University. Due to recent changes in federal regulations governing student financial aid, beginning October 7, 2000, CSU Dominguez Hills implemented the required changes to the way we are required to calculate what financial aid a student may keep and what financial aid must be returned to the financial aid programs. The federal government has very specific rules on what types and how much aid a student can keep when he or she does not complete the semester enrollment.
 
The basic concept is that students “earn” financial aid through time. Therefore, if a student stops attending classes before the end of the semester, a student may not have “earned” all of the financial aid received. If a student withdraws late in the semester, or after being enrolled at least 50% of the semester, students have “earned” their aid and repayment is not required (Student must repay a student loan based on the terms and conditions of that loan – just as if you graduate).
The tricky part is when a student officially withdraws from the University prior to the midpoint (50%) of the semester. If this happens, we will review the aid a student received and based on a formula, determine if the student can keep all or some of the aid received. If there is “unearned” financial aid, students will be required to repay the calculated amount. For example, a student completes 30% of the semester, then 30% of the aid originally received is considered earned. Once you have completed more than 50% of the semester, then all aid is considered earned.
Finally, at the end of the semester, the Financial Aid Office reviews student grades based on our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. A student who enrolls and does not officially withdraw from the University, we will use the midpoint (50%) of the semester to calculate the students “earned and unearned” financial aid. If a student can prove they were in attendance after the 50% point of the semester, a recalculation of their financial aid eligibility will be performed.