Types of Refunds
Your financial aid award(s) must actually be completed and credited to your account (not estimated awards), and you must have a credit balance on your account after all tuition and fees have been satisfied for the semester before receiving a refund of excess aid.
Parent Plus Loans Plus loan applications allow parents to choose either themselves or their student as the recipient of any refunded amount. Refunds designated to go to the student will be issued by direct deposit (if the student has created their refund account through TigerXpress) or by check. Plus loan refunds designated to go to the parent will be mailed via check to the address entered on the loan application.
If a student is due a refund from a dropped course(s), the refund will be processed as follows:
- If paid with financial aid, the aid may be adjusted based on hours enrolled and the tuition credit will be applied back to the aid that paid for the courses. If eligibility has not changed based on the number of hours enrolled, the refund will be sent direct deposit or by check if not signed up for direct deposit.
- If paid with a credit card, the drop credit will be refunded back to the credit card used to pay for tuition and fees.
- If paid with an e-check, check, money order or cash, the refund will be processed
either by direct deposit or by check if the student has not signed up for direct deposit.
Fee Adjustment Calculations
The fee adjustment calculations are based on the courses dropped; therefore, not all schedule adjustments will result in a reduced fee assessment after the fee adjustment calculation. Fee adjustment estimator calculations are approximate. Actual adjustment amounts may vary based on individual student enrollment.
Refund Policy – Rules & Exclusions
The 100% fee adjustment period is applicable for students who withdraw from the University or drop below full-time status during the first two weeks of classes for the semester, as published on the refund dates on the USBS fee calendar. The 100% fee adjustment period is modified for summer and other short terms.
The 50% fee adjustment period is applicable for students who withdraw from the University or drop below full-time status after the published 100% refund period has ended and before the published dates on the USBS fee calendar.
Students that have withdrawn during the term and who have received Federal Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS loans, Pell or SEOG grants, or Lottery Scholarships will have their aid prorated based on the amount of time the student has attended. All or part of their aid could be prorated resulting in the student owing funds to the university. A hold will be placed on their account preventing them from receiving grades/transcripts, and registering for future semesters until the balance is paid in full.
Students that have dropped or withdrawn during a refund period and previously paid their account using a discount, fee waiver, third party contract, financial aid, or scholarship may have their refund credit applied back to the initial form of payment.
Any potential fee adjustment is calculated on the student's original total enrollment fee assessment, less the registration fee amount due after course/schedule adjustment. A refund would only be issued to the student if the newly adjusted amount of fees is less than the amount that has been paid by the student. Therefore, students who satisfy fees using the Installment Payment Plan may still have a balance due the University for unpaid fee amounts despite their withdrawal from some or all of their classes. To avoid late fees and ineligibility for the deferred payment plan in future terms, the student should continue to make payment by each due date. Remember, withdrawal from classes does not negate the student's responsibility to pay the balance of fees after the semester has begun.
What happens when your student’s education is disrupted by an unexpected injury or illness? Depending on the timing of the withdrawal, you may not be eligible to receive a refund of all of your tuition and fees which is why we have partnered with GradGuard to offer students a Tuition Insurance option. GradGuard’s Tuition Protection Insurance Plan helps students and their families overcome the financial losses that may result from events which force students to withdraw from the semester due to a covered medical reason.
Appeals for any fee, charge, refund, or calculation relating to registration fees must be submitted by the student within one year of the term in which the fee assessment was made. Exceptions to the deadline will not be granted. A full (100%) fee adjustment of mandatory fees will be provided to students called to active military or National Guard service during the semester. Housing and meal ticket charges may be prorated based on usage. Additionally, appeals may be approved for University errors, medical situations, or a death in the immediate family.
If a student is due a refund from an approved financial appeal, the refund will be processed as follows:
- If paid with financial aid, the aid may be adjusted based on hours enrolled and the tuition credit will be applied back to the aid that paid for the courses.
- If paid with a credit card, the drop credit will be refunded back to the credit card used to pay for tuition and fees.
- If paid with an e-check, check, money order or cash, the refund will be processed either by direct deposit or by check if the student has not signed up for direct deposit.
Admission Fee Refunds
Admissions fees should only be paid once: returning students do not need to pay an additional Admissions Fee. For refunds contact the Admissions Office. If the student owes a balance, the admission fee credit will be applied to the balance due. If the student pays the fee by credit card, the refund will be processed back to the credit card, if the student pays by check or cash, a check will be mailed to the student.
Discounts, Waivers, Third Party Sponsorship and Graduate Assistant Refunds
If a student's account is paid in full and a discount, waiver, third party sponsorship or graduate assistantship is applied, the refund will be processed as follows:
- If paid with financial aid, the aid may be adjusted based on the additional payment. If not, the refund will be sent direct deposit or by check if not signed up for direct deposit.
- If paid with a credit card, the credit will be refunded back to the card used to pay for tuition and fees.
- If paid with an e-check, check, money order or cash, the refund will be processed either by direct deposit or by check if the student is not signed up for direct deposit.
How will I receive my refund?
For the fastest way to receive a refund, students should create a direct deposit through TigerXpress to have your refund deposited directly to your bank account. You will need the routing number and account number for the checking or savings account; you CANNOT use your debit card number.
After creating an account, it takes three business days before the bank account is ready to accept ACH deposits. In order for a student to have their refund by the first day of class, they must create their account one week prior to the first day of the term beginning. Students may sign up for direct deposit at any time.
If a student enters an incorrect routing and/or account number or the bank account is frozen or closed, it may take up to 10 business days before we receive the funds back from the bank. The student should make corrections to the bank account by deleting the incorrect account and entering the correct information.
Note: The direct deposit authorization submitted to the Payroll Office is separate from direct deposit authorization for financial aid/scholarship disbursement.
To set up your eRefunds, follow these steps:
- Log in to the myMemphis Portal with your username and password.
- Click on "My Finances" under the Student Pages tab.
- Click on "Access TigerXpress".
- This will take you into the TigerXpress system.
- Click on "My Account" on the left side of the screen.
- Under the direct deposit refunds section, click on the "sign up" link.
- You will need to check the box labeled "I Agree" at the bottom and then click "continue."
- Provide the necessary information and then click "continue."
NOTE: If your bank information changes, you must update your Payment Profile on TigerXpress.
If you do NOT sign up for direct deposit, a check will be printed and mailed to the mailing address listed on your student account. For students who do not receive their refund checks in a timely manner, a stop payment (initiated through the University & Student Business Services Office) cannot be processed until 2 weeks from the mail date of the check. The stop payment, re-issuance, and mailing of the replacement check takes approximately 10 days. It is recommended that you sign up for direct deposit to avoid this possible 3-4 week delay.
Creating a direct deposit account is the fastest way to receive your refund!
If at any point throughout a semester a student is due a refund and has previously made a credit card payment on their student account for that same semester, the credit will be refunded back to the card used.
Policy Statement:
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the Department of Defense (DOD) policy, University of Memphis will return any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. In instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, University of Memphis will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion in compliance with the DOD policy.
Rational or Purpose:
This policy serves to fully inform students receiving military tuition assistance of the required actions the College must take to comply with the DOD Memorandum of Understanding Return Policy for Military Tuition Assistance funds rules and align with the return of unearned student aid rules applicable to the Federal Student Aid as required under section 484B of the Department of Education Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Scope:
This policy applies only to students receiving Military Tuition Assistance. This tuition assistance is a benefit that is available only while the student is in the service. This policy does not apply to Veterans or Veterans benefits.
Procedures:
To remain in compliance with the Department of Defense’s policy, University of Memphis will return any unearned TA funds through at least 60% of the semester on a prorated basis. The amount of unearned TA that is returned is based on the date of withdrawal from the course. After 60% of the semester has passed, TA will not be evaluated for a return to the DOD.
University of Memphis will bill the DOD after 60% of the semester has passed to reduce the amount of incorrect TA funds being disbursed by the DOD. University of Memphis will bill for the amount the student earned given their enrollment.
Schedule for returning unearned TA:
Note: The educational institution’s week of instruction is counted as 7 days
7-Week Course: withdrawal submitted
Before or during week 1
100% return to military
During week 2
75% return to military
During weeks 3
50% return to military
During week 4
40% return to military (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 5 – 7
0% return to military
16-Week Course: withdrawal submitted
Before or during weeks 1 – 2
100% return to military
During weeks 3 – 4
75% return to military
During weeks 9 – 10
40% return to military (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 11 – 16
0% return to military
For courses that have durations differing from those listed above: Unearned TA funds will be returned on a prorated basis, depending on the length of
the course. To determine the amount of TA that needs to be returned, the institution
will determine the date the withdrawal was submitted, and then divide that by the
number of days in the term to determine the percentage of TA that was earned by the
student. Example: The student enrolled in a course that has a duration is 30 days.
The withdrawal was submitted on the 14th day. The institution would perform the calculation
to determine how much TA was earned by the student’s attendance: (14 divided by 30
equals 46.6%. 47% of the TA authorized was earned by the student, which means 53%
of what was authorized will be returned to the DOD).