Federal financial aid is awarded based upon the dates and duration of your enrollment each semester. You "earn" the financial aid you have been awarded as you attend class during your scheduled enrollment period(s). If you have been awarded financial aid and begin attendance, but then change your enrollment and fail to attend class for the time period(s) originally specified, the University of Maryland University College Office of Financial Aid is required to recalculate the financial aid award(s) you are eligible for based upon your adjusted enrollment. The calculation determines the percentage of the original award that was earned during the period you actually attended.

Changes to your enrollment include: dropping, withdrawing, or failure to participate in classes and receiving an FN grade. It's also important to note that disenrollment or class cancellations can also result in a change in your financial aid eligibility.

If I drop a course or withdraw what will happen to my financial aid?

Return of Title IV (R2T4)

A Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation will occur when your period of enrollment changes from receiving an FN grade, withdrawing, or dropping your last class in a semester before completing at least 60 percent of your period of enrollment. An R2T4 calculation can also occur if you are disenrolled from your last class in a semester or if that class is cancelled. When you withdraw from UMUC before completing 60 percent of your scheduled enrollment in any semester, UMUC must return a portion of the Title IV financial aid grant and loan funds you received to the respective federal financial aid program suppliers. The result is an immediate balance owed to UMUC.

UMUC will complete the R2T4 calculation and notify you within 45 days of the date that UMUC determined you withdrew, dropped, or stopped participating in a course. If you certify your intent to return at a later date during the same semester when you withdraw or drop, you will not require a calculation unless you do not return as indicated.

Federal Financial Aid Return of Funds Policy

Period of Enrollment

Each student at UMUC has a specific enrollment period unique to their class registration. Because UMUC's classes are designed as modules within a term as opposed to standard semester-long classes, your period of enrollment is dependent upon your personal registration history.

Examples of Periods of Enrollment

Student A registers for three classes during the fall semester. Two of these classes occur during Online Session 1 (August 17 – October 11); the third class occurs during Online Session 4 (October 19 – December 13). This student's period of enrollment spans from August 17 through December 13 or the start of his Online Session 1 classes until the end of his Online Session 4 class as displayed below by this chart.

Note: Breaks of five or more days between sessions are excluded from the period of enrollment when the 60 percent date is determined. 

Period of Enrollment Table Student A

Student B registers for two classes during the fall semester. One class occurs during Online Session 2 (September 7 – November 1) while the other class occurs during Online Session 4 (October 19 – December 13). This student's period of enrollment spans from September 7 through December 13, or the start of her Online Session 2 class until the end of her Online Session 4 class.

Period of Enrollment Table Student B

Determining Your Enrollment Period

As mentioned above, students at UMUC have individualized enrollment periods due to the numerous session enrollment options available. If you need help predicting your enrollment period, please follow these instructions.

  1. Go to your Class Schedule in MyUMUC.
  2. Your Class Schedule displays your session dates.

60% Completion Dates

The Office of Financial Aid provides a chart of 60 percent enrollment participation dates for various class start times throughout the semester. These tables should be used as a guide to help you identify 60 percent completion dates for common enrollment scenarios. Contact the Office of Financial Aid if you need help identifying a 60 percent completion date for an unlisted enrollment scenario or if you need further information to determine whether dropping or withdrawing from courses will have R2T4 implications.

Please click on the applicable semester to review the 60 percent enrollment patterns:

  • Fall 2018

    • Stateside Undergraduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      UG Online Session 1 and Hybrid Session 1

      8/20/18

      10/14/18

      9/22/18
      UG Online Sessions 1 and 2

      8/20/18

      11/4/18

      10/5/18
      UG Online Sessions 1, 2, and 3

      8/20/18

      11/25/18

      10/17/18
      UG Online Sessions 1, 2, 3, and 4

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      10/30/18
      UG Online Sessions 1 and 4 (7-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      11/2/18
      UG Online Session 1 and 4-Week Session 3 (7-day break)

      8/20/18

      11/18/18

      10/9/18
      UG Online Session 1 and 4-Week Session 4 (35-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      10/9/18
      UG Online Sessions 1, 2, and 4-Week Session 3

      8/20/18

      11/18/18

      10/13/18
      UG Online Sessions 1, 2, and 4-Week Session 4 (14-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      10/22/18
      UG Online Session 2

      9/10/18

      11/4/18

      10/13/18
      UG Online Sessions 2 and 3

      9/10/18

      11/25/18

      10/26/18
      UG Online Sessions 2, 3, and 4

      9/10/18

      12/16/18

      11/7/18
      UG Online Session 2 and 4-Week Session 3

      9/10/18

      11/18/18

      10/22/18
      UG Online Session 2 and 4-Week Session 4 (14-day break)

      9/10/18

      12/16/18

      10/30/18
      UG Online Session 3

      10/1/18

      11/25/18

      11/3/18
      UG Online Sessions 3 and 4

      10/1/18

      12/16/18

      11/16/18
      UG Online Session 3 and 4-Week Session 1 (14-day break)

      8/20/18

      11/25/18

      10/23/18
      UG Online Sessions 3, 4, and 4-Week Session 1 (14-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      11/5/18
      UG Online Session 3 and 4-Week Session 2

      9/17/18

      11/25/18

      10/29/18
      UG Online Sessions 3, 4, and 4-Week Session 2

      9/17/18

      12/16/18

      11/10/18
      UG Online Session 4 and Hybrid Session 2

      10/22/18

      12/16/18

      11/24/18
      UG Online Session 4 and 4-Week Session 1 (35-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      11/13/18
      UG Online Session 4 and 4-Week Session 2 (7-day break)

      9/17/18

      12/16/18

      11/13/18
      4-Week Session 1

      8/20/18

      9/16/18

      9/5/18
      4-Week Sessions 1 and 2

      8/20/18

      10/14/18

      9/22/18
      4-Week Sessions 1, 2, and 3 (7-day break)

      8/20/18

      11/18/18

      10/9/18
      4-Week Sessions 1, 2, 3, and 4 (7-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      11/2/18
      4-Week Sessions 1, 2, and 4 (35-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      10/9/18
      4-Week Sessions 1 and 3 (35-day break)

      8/20/18

      11/18/18

      10/27/18
      4-Week Sessions 1, 3, and 4 (35-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      11/13/18
      4-Week Sessions 1 and 4 (63-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      11/24/18
      4-Week Session 2

      9/17/18

      10/14/18

      10/3/18
      4-Week Sessions 2 and 3 (7-day break)

      9/17/18

      11/18/18

      10/27/18
      4-Week Sessions 2, 3, and 4 (7-day break)

      9/17/18

      12/16/18

      11/13/18
      4-Week Sessions 2 and 4 (35-day break)

      9/17/18

      12/16/18

      11/24/18
      4-Week Session 3

      10/22/18

      11/18/18

      11/7/18
      4-Week Session 4

      11/19/18

      12/16/18

      12/5/18
      US Standard Session

      9/10/18

      12/2/18

      10/30/18

    • Stateside Graduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      Graduate Online Session 1

      9/10/18

      12/2/18

      10/30/18
      Graduate Online Session 1 and 2

      9/10/18

      12/16/18

      11/7/18
      Graduate Online Session 2

      9/24/18

      12/16/18

      11/13/18
      Cross Career Enrollment 1

      9/10/18

      12/2/18

      10/30/18
      Doctoral Program

      9/16/18

      12/16/18

      11/10/18
      New Grad Model Session (Requiring PRO, DCL, or CBR 600)

      10/3/18

      12/18/18

      11/18/18
      MBA (Requiring AMBA 600)

      10/3/18

      12/11/18

      11/14/18

    • Europe Undergraduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      Europe Pre Semester 1

      10/8/18

      10/28/18

      10/20/18
      Europe Session 1 and Seminar Session 1

      8/20/18

      10/14/18

      9/22/18
      Europe Session 1 and Pre Semester 1

      8/20/18

      10/28/18

      10/1/18
      Europe Sessions 1 and 2 (7-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      11/2/18
      Europe Sessions 1, 2, and Pre Semester 1

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      10/30/18
      Europe Session 2 and Seminar Session 2

      10/22/18

      12/16/18

      11/24/18
      Europe Session 2 and Pre Semester 1

      10/8/18

      12/16/18

      11/19/18
      Salisbury Online 1, On-site 1, and Hybrid 1

      8/27/18

      10/15/18

      9/26/18
      Salisbury Online 1 and 2

      8/27/18

      12/10/18

      10/29/18
      Salisbury Online 2, On-site 2, and Hybrid 2

      10/18/18

      12/10/18

      11/19/18
      Europe Extended Session

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      10/30/18

    • Europe Graduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      Europe Graduate Face-to-Face Session 1

      8/20/18

      10/14/18

      9/22/18
      Europe Graduate Face-to-Face Sessions 1 and 2 (7-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      11/2/18
      Europe Graduate Face-to-Face Session 2

      10/22/18

      12/16/18

      11/24/18
      New Grad Model Session (Requiring PRO, DCL, or CBR 600)

      10/3/18

      12/18/18

      11/18/18
      Salisbury Online 1, On-site 1, and Hybrid Session 1

      8/27/18

      10/15/18

      9/26/18
      Salisbury Online, On-site, and Hybrid Sessions 1 and 2

      8/27/18

      12/10/18

      10/29/18
      Salisbury Online 2, On-site 2, and Hybrid Session 2

      10/18/18

      12/10/18

      11/19/18
      Europe Extended Session

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      10/30/18

    • Asia Undergraduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      Asia Pre Session 1

      10/15/18

      10/21/18

      10/19/18
      Asia Session 1 and Intensive Session 1

      8/20/18

      10/14/18

      9/22/18
      Asia Session 1 and Pre Session 1

      8/20/18

      10/21/18

      9/26/18
      Asia Sessions 1 and 2 (7-day break)

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      11/2/18
      Asia Sessions 1, 2, and Pre Session 1

      8/20/18

      12/16/18

      10/30/18
      Asia Session 2 and Intensive Session 2

      10/22/18

      12/16/18

      11/24/18
      Asia Session 2 and Pre Session 1

      10/15/18

      12/16/18

      11/21/18

    • Asia Graduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date

      New Grad Model Session (Requiring PRO, DCL, or CBR 600)

      10/3/18

      12/18/18

      11/18/18

  • Winter 2019

    • Graduate (Stateside, Europe, and Asia)

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      New Grad Model Session (Requiring PRO, DCL, or CBR 600)

      1/2/19

      3/19/19

      2/17/19
      MBA (Requiring AMBA 600)

      1/2/19

      3/12/19

      2/13/19

  • Spring 2019

    • Stateside Undergraduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      UG Online Session 1 and Hybrid Session 1

      1/14/19

      3/10/19

      2/16/19
      UG Online Sessions 1 and 2

      1/14/19

      3/31/19

      3/1/19
      UG Online Sessions 1, 2, and 3

      1/14/19

      4/21/19

      3/13/19
      UG Online Sessions 1, 2, 3, and 4

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/26/19
      UG Online Sessions 1 and 4 (7-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/29/19
      UG Online Session 1 and 4-Week Session 3 (7-day break)

      1/14/19

      4/14/19

      3/5/19
      UG Online Session 1 and 4-Week Session 4 (35-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/5/19
      UG Online Sessions 1, 2, and 4-Week Session 3

      1/14/19

      4/14/19

      3/9/19
      UG Online Sessions 1, 2, and 4-Week Session 4 (14-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/18

      8/11/18
      UG Online Session 2

      2/4/19

      3/31/19

      3/9/19
      UG Online Sessions 2 and 3

      2/4/19

      4/21/19

      3/22/19
      UG Online Sessions 2, 3, and 4

      2/4/19

      5/12/19

      4/3/19
      UG Online Session 2 and 4-Week Session 3

      2/4/19

      4/14/19

      3/18/19
      UG Online Session 2 and 4-Week Session 4 (14-day break)

      2/4/19

      5/12/19

      3/26/19
      UG Online Session 3

      2/25/19

      4/21/19

      3/30/19
      UG Online Sessions 3 and 4

      2/25/19

      5/12/19

      4/12/19
      UG Online Session 4 and Hybrid Session 2

      3/18/19

      5/12/19

      4/20/19
      4-Week Session 1

      1/14/19

      2/10/19

      1/30/19
      4-Week Sessions 1 and 2

      1/14/19

      3/10/19

      2/16/19
      4-Week Sessions 1, 2, and 3 (7-day break)

      1/14/19

      4/14/19

      3/5/19
      4-Week Sessions 1, 2, 3, and 4 (7-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/29/19
      4-Week Sessions 1, 2, and 4 (35-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/5/19
      4-Week Sessions 1 and 3 (35-day break)

      1/14/19

      4/14/19

      3/23/19
      4-Week Sessions 1, 3, and 4 (35-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      4/9/19
      4-Week Sessions 1 and 4  (63-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      4/20/19
      4-Week Session 2

      2/11/19

      3/10/19

      2/27/19
      4-Week Sessions 2 and 3 (7-day break)

      2/11/19

      4/14/19

      3/23/19
      4-Week Sessions 2, 3, and 4 (7-day break)

      2/11/19

      5/12/19

      4/9/19
      4-Week Sessions 2 and 4 (35-day break)

      2/11/19

      5/12/19

      4/20/19
      4-Week Session 3

      3/18/19

      4/14/19

      4/3/19
      4-Week Session 4

      4/15/18

      5/12/19

      12/6/18
      US Standard Session

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/26/19

    • Stateside Graduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      Graduate Online Session 1

      2/4/19

      4/28/19

      3/26/19
      Graduate Online Sessions 1 and 2

      2/4/19

      5/12/19

      4/3/19
      Graduate Online Session 2

      2/18/19

      5/12/19

      4/9/19
      Cross Career Enrollment 1

      2/4/19

      4/27/19

      3/25/19
      Graduate UCSP Session 1

      1/22/19

      2/24/19

      2/11/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 1 and 2

      1/22/19

      3/10/19

      2/19/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 1, 2, and 3

      1/22/19

      3/24/19

      2/28/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 1, 2, 3, and 4

      1/22/19

      4/28/19

      3/21/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 1, 2, and 4 (14-day break)

      1/22/19

      4/28/19

      3/26/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 1 and 4 (28-day break)

      1/22/19

      4/28/19

      4/1/19
      Graduate UCSP Session 2

      2/4/19

      3/10/19

      2/25/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 2 and 3

      2/4/19

      3/24/19

      3/5/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 2 and 3

      2/4/19

      3/24/19

      3/5/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 2, 3, and 4

      2/4/19

      4/28/19

      3/26/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 2 and 4 (14-day break)

      2/4/19

      4/28/19

      4/1/19
      Graduate UCSP Session 3

      2/18/19

      3/24/19

      3/11/19
      Graduate UCSP Sessions 3 and 4

      2/18/19

      4/28/19

      4/1/19
      Graduate UCSP Session 4

      3/25/19

      4/28/19

      4/15/19
      Doctoral Program

      1/14/19

      4/17/19

      3/11/19
      New Grad Model Session (Requiring PRO, DCL, or CBR 600)

      4/3/19

      6/18/19

      5/19/19
      MBA (Requiring AMBA 600)

      4/3/19

      6/11/19

      5/15/19

    • Europe Undergraduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      Europe Session 1 and Seminar Session 1

      1/14/19

      3/10/19

      2/16/19
      Europe Sessions 1 and 2 (7-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/29/19
      Europe Session 2 and Seminar Session 2

      3/18/19

      5/12/19

      4/20/19
      Salisbury Online 1, On-site 1, and Hybrid 1

      1/14/19

      3/10/19

      2/16/19
      Salisbury Online 1 and 2

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/26/19
      Salisbury Online 2, On-site 2, and Hybrid 2

      3/18/19

      5/12/19

      4/20/19
      Salisbury Extended Session

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/26/19

    • Europe Graduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      Europe Graduate Face-to-Face Session 1

      1/14/19

      3/10/19

      2/16/19
      Europe Graduate Face-to-Face Sessions 1 & 2 (7-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/29/19
      Europe Graduate Face-to-Face Session 2

      3/18/19

      5/12/19

      4/20/19
      New Grad Model Session (Requiring PRO, DCL, or CBR 600)

      4/3/19

      6/18/19

      5/19/19
      Salisbury Online 1, On-site 1, and Hybrid Session 1

      1/14/19

      3/10/19

      2/16/19
      Salisbury Online, On-site, and Hybrid Sessions 1 and 2

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/26/19
      Salisbury Online 2, On-site 2, and Hybrid Session 2

      3/18/19

      5/12/19

      4/20/19

    • Asia Undergraduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      Asia Pre Session 1

      1/7/19

      1/13/19

      1/11/19
      Asia Session 1 and Intensive Session 1

      1/14/19

      3/10/19

      2/16/19
      Asia Sessions 1 and 2 (7-day break)

      1/14/19

      5/12/19

      3/29/19
      Asia Session 2 and Intensive Session 2

      3/18/19

      5/12/19

      4/20/19

    • Asia Graduate

      Session Start Date End Date 60% Completion Date
      New Grad Model Session (Requiring PRO, DCL, or CBR 600)

      4/3/19

      6/18/19

      5/19/19

Example of How Changes in Your Enrollment Period Affect Your Financial Aid Eligibility

Example: Student A from the example above has decided to drop his third class of the semester. He drops this class on October 16 before it starts.

Period of Enrollment Table Drop Before Start

Student A was originally scheduled to attend UMUC from August 17 until December 13, for a total of 119 days. Since the student has a seven-day consecutive break, we must subtract seven days from this total (all scheduled breaks greater than five days must be subtracted from the enrollment period per Federal regulations), making his total enrollment period for this semester 112 days. Upon dropping his Online Session 4 class, the student changed his period of enrollment and thus only completed 56 days (August 17 – October 16). Therefore, he completed 56 days of his scheduled enrollment of 112 days, or 50 percent of his period of enrollment. Student A did not complete his Period of Enrollment. He earned 50 percent of his term financial aid, and 50 percent must be returned. Therefore, an R2T4 calculation will be completed.

Changes in Enrollment and Pell Grant

 Not all enrollment changes will result in an R2T4 calculation, but any change in your enrollment can affect your eligibility for a Pell Grant. By dropping or withdrawing from a class, you are changing your enrollment status. Even though you may have completed 60 percent of your enrollment period, your enrollment status has changed and therefore, your Pell Grant will adjust to match your new enrollment status.

Example: Student C is enrolled in two Online Session 1 (August 17 – October 11) classes and two Online Session 4 (October 19 – December 13) classes. Therefore, his period of enrollment spans from August 17 through December 13. He withdraws from one of his Online Session 4 classes on October 30. Since this student is not withdrawing from his last class of the semester, his enrollment period is not changing, so he will not trigger an R2T4 to determine if he met 60 percent of his enrollment period. However, he will be reviewed by the Office of Financial Aid to determine if this change in enrollment affects his financial aid. Since Student C is a Pell Grant recipient, the Office of Financial Aid will adjust his Pell Grant to reflect his new 9-credit or three-quarter time enrollment.

In the above scenario, Student C's Pell Grant would have also reduced to match his active 9-credit enrollment if he had received an FN instead of a W in one if their Online Session 4 classes.

More In This Section

Dropping Classes and Financial Aid FAQs

Get answers on dropping classes and financial aid.

Tips to Manage Your Financial Aid

Learn six tips for managing your financial aid.