If you are considering withdrawing*, dropping** or taking a leave of absence, we encourage you to consult with your academic advisor, the Registrar's Office, the Business Office, and the Financial Aid Office.
A student may receive a tuition credit for the semester in which he/she withdraws/drops depending on the date of withdrawal/drop, less non-refundable student fees and deposits. A student withdrawing (from a course or program) or taking a leave of absence from the school is responsible for completing all applicable paperwork as required by the progrom for which they are enrolled.
* a withdrawal is defined as a request to be removed from a class after the add/drop period, resulting in a Wd grade on your transcript.
**a drop is defined as the removal of oneself from a class prior to or during the add/drop period and is not recorded on your transcript.
Your balance due or refund will be based on:
The date you submit the applicable form (Request to Withdrawal/Leave of Absence)—if you are a Residential student
The date you last accessed the LMS (Learning Management System)—if you are a Distance Learning student less any non-refundable student fees.
The date you submit written notification of withdrawal (date of request on Request to Withdraw form or date of email to Registrar) if you are participating in the Residential Summer Session.
Any applicable Title IV Regulations (Federal Financial Aid) and scholarship pro-ration.
Note: Distance Learning students who are attending Residential Program classes will be subject to the Residential program withdrawal policy for those Residential credits.
Note: Residential students who are attending Distance Learning Program classes will be subject to the Distance Learning program withdrawal policy for those Distance Learning credits.
Note: Students participating in the AJD program will be subject to the Residential Program Withdrawal Policy for all semesters (Summer, Fall & Spring).
Dismissals & Suspensions:
A student who is either dismissed or suspended for any reason during the academic semester will receive a tuition credit based on the applicable tuition credit percentage in effect at the time of dismissal/suspension (within 1st 4 weeks).
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM
Tuition charges will be adjusted according to the following schedule for students taking Residential classes. Students are responsible for payment of non-refundable student fees in full if they withdraw*, drop** or take a leave of absence after the start of classes/semester. A student withdrawing (from a course or program) or taking a leave of absence from the school is required to complete an Request to Withdraw/Leave of Absence form and obtain the Registrar's signature.
* a withdrawal is defined as a request to be removed from a class after the add/drop period, resulting in a Wd grade on your transcript.
**a drop is defined as the removal of oneself from a class prior to or during the add/drop period and is not recorded on your transcript.
| Spring/Fall Terms | Tuition Credit |
| If form is dated prior to the beginning of the semester | 100% |
| If form is dated during Add/Drop period | 100% |
| If form is dated during the first week * | 80% |
| If form is dated during the second week * | 60% |
| If form is dated during the third week * | 40% |
| If form is dated during the fourth week * | 20% |
| If form is dated during the fifth week * | 0% |
*Note: The calendar week for cancellation of tuition ends on FRIDAY. For example, if the add/drop period ends on a Wednesday, the withdrawal period, for the purpose of tuition credit calculation, will be the end of the business day on Friday of that same week, this would constitute week 1 of the policy. If a student withdraws on the Monday AFTER the end of add/drop, the withdrawal calculation would be for week 2.
The date of withdrawal for purpose of calculating the tuition credit is the date of request on the submitted form.
Appeals to the above policy or calculation for special circumstances may be made in writing to the Business Office.
Transcript requests will not be released for any student who has an outstanding balance with Vermont Law School until the balance and any applicable interest is paid in full.
Payment Plans:
Students who are enrolled in the payment plan option and withdraw during the refund period (first four weeks), should note that their refund will be calculated on the full amount charged, and not the amount remitted via the payment plan.
Title IV Refunds
In addition to Vermont Law School's tuition credit policy, the Financial Aid Office is obliged to return to the federal government that portion of federal aid that is unearned. The Financial Aid Office will calculate unearned aid based on a daily pro-rata calculation. All Vermont Law School scholarship will follow the same daily prorata calculation as unearned aid.
It is important to understand that after 60% of the semester has been completed, there will be no adjustment to the financial aid received. The daily prorata calculation follows the guidelines set in the Federal Return to Title IV funds regulations.
Students who withdraw prior to the 60% point in the semester, and who received Federal loans, will owe a prorated repayment to these loans. Vermont Law School will calculate and return money owed to the Federal loan program as part of the refund/repayment process. Repayments due the Federal loan program are first allocated to the Federal Stafford unsubsidized loan, then the Stafford subsidized loan, then the Perkins loan, and then the Graduate Plus loan. Any unused portion of Vermont Law School scholarships and grants will be subject to the semester proration calculation. After payments to Vermont Law School scholarships and grants have been satisfied, remaining funds (if any) will be used to repay outside scholarship sources and finally to reimburse personal payments (unless otherwise dictated by prior arrangements with an outside funding program). If the student is due a refund, any non-refundable deposits are subtracted from the refund.
You should be aware that if you withdraw early in the semester, you could potentially owe money to Vermont Law School.
Transcript requests will not be released for any student who has an outstanding balance with Vermont Law School until the balance and any applicable interest is paid in full.
DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM
Tuition charges will be adjusted according to the following schedule for students taking Distance Learning classes. Students are responsible for payment of non-refundable student fees in full if they withdraw*, drop** or take a leave of absence after the start of classes/semester. A student withdrawing (from a course or program) or taking a leave of absence from the school must complete the Course Withdrawal/drop for or Leave of Absence form.
* a withdrawal is defined as a request to be removed from a class after the add/drop period, resulting in a Wd grade on your transcript.
**a drop is defined as the removal of oneself from a class prior to or during the add/drop period and is not recorded on your transcript.
Note: Within one semester, there are two Distance Learning Terms and this policy is based on terms for Distance Learning classes.
| Spring/Fall/Summer Terms | Tuition Credit |
| If last access date is prior to the beginning of the Term | 100% |
| If last access date is during the Add/Drop period | 100% |
| If last access date is during the first week * | 80% |
| If last access date is during the second week * | 60% |
| If last access date is during the third week * | 40% |
| If last access date is during the fourth week * | 20% |
| If last access date is during the fifth week * | 0% |
*Note: The calendar week for cancellation of tuition ends on FRIDAY. For example, if the add/drop period ends on a Wednesday, the withdrawal period for the purpose of tuition credit calculation, will be the end of the day (11:59 p.m. EST) on Friday of that same week, this would constitute week 1 of the policy. If a student withdraws on the Monday AFTER the end of add/drop, the withdrawal calculation would be for week 2.
The date of withdrawal for purpose of calculating the tuition credit is the date the student last accessed the Learning Management System (LMS).
Appeals to the above policy or calculation for special circumstances may be made in writing to the Business Office.
Transcript requests will not be released for any student who has an outstanding balance with Vermont Law School until the balance and any applicable interest is paid in full.
Title IV Refunds
In addition to Vermont Law School's tuition credit policy, the Financial Aid Office is obliged to return to the federal government that portion of federal aid that is unearned. The Financial Aid Office will calculate unearned aid based on a daily pro-rata calculation. All Vermont Law School scholarship will follow the same daily prorata calculation as unearned aid.
It is important to understand that after 60% of the semester has been completed, there will be no adjustment to the financial aid received. The daily prorata calculation follows the guidelines set in the Federal Return to Title IV funds regulations.
Students who withdraw prior to the 60% point in the semester, and who received Federal loans, will owe a prorated repayment to these loans. Vermont Law School will calculate and return money owed to the Federal loan program as part of the refund/repayment process. Repayments due the Federal loan program are first allocated to the Federal Stafford unsubsidized loan, then the Stafford subsidized loan, then the Perkins loan, and then the Graduate Plus loan. Any unused portion of Vermont Law School scholarships and grants will be subject to the semester proration calculation. After payments to Vermont Law School scholarships and grants have been satisfied, remaining funds (if any) will be used to repay outside scholarship sources and finally to reimburse personal payments (unless otherwise dictated by prior arrangements with an outside funding program). If the student is due a refund, any non-refundable deposits are subtracted from the refund.
You should be aware that if you withdraw early in the semester, you could potentially owe money to Vermont Law School.
Transcript requests will not be released for any student who has an outstanding balance with Vermont Law School until the balance and any applicable interest is paid in full.