Financial aid rules can vary depending on when you drop and whether you participated in your classes. Always contact the Financial Aid Office before dropping classes to understand how your specific aid may be affected.
How Dropping a Class Can Affect Your Aid
Dropping classes or stopping participation at any point in the semester may:
- Change your federal financial aid (Pell Grants and Direct Loans)
- Create an aid return and a balance on your student account
- Affect future eligibility under Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Scholarships are finalized at 11:59 p.m. on FADD.
- Dropping credits before FADD may reduce your scholarship.
- Dropping credits after FADD will not affect that semester’s scholarship.
- Adding 2nd Block classes after FADD will not increase your scholarship.
Because every situation is different, contact Financial Aid before making schedule changes.
Participation Matters
Federal Financial Aid is earned as you participate (submit assignments, post in a discussion, take a quiz or exam) during the semester.
If you drop a class that you did not participate in, aid will be returned for that class.
Official vs. Unofficial Withdrawal
Official withdrawal — You formally withdraw from all Program Applicable (PA) classes through the university’s process.
Unofficial withdrawal — You stop participating and receive all UW grades (or a combination of UW and W grades).
Both situations may require a federal aid return calculation.
See more about federal financial aid returns and how they are calculated in the University Catalog
Thinking of Dropping a Class?
Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you are thinking about dropping a class, and we can help you understand your specific situation.
Contact the Financial Aid Office
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
2026-2027 Federal Loan Updates (Brief Notice)
What’s changing: Loan amounts for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans may be reduced if you enroll or drop to less than 12 Program Applicable (PA) credits. Loans are awarded in loan periods (usually two semesters); enrollment changes in either term may affect current and/or future disbursements
We will provide updates on loan changes as they become available.
Last updated on 3/6/26