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AMU Student Handbook
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Last Revision: January 24, 2025

Deciding Whether to Drop or Withdraw from a Course

If a student changes their mind about taking a course, or if circumstances prevent them from completing a course in which they are registered, they may consider requesting a course drop or withdrawal. If a student is having difficulty finishing a course due to unexpected time constraints, they also have the option of extending the course rather than withdrawing.

Undergraduate students waiting for hard-copy textbooks through the APUS book grant should always drop the course before the end of week one if they have not received their books by then. Students will not be able to appeal for a tuition refund later based on the late arrival of their books. 

Important Definitions

  • Course Drop: Removal of a course from a student's schedule before the end of the first week of class.
  • Course Withdrawal: Any removal of a course from a student's schedule after the end of week one using the online form provided.
  • End of Week One: 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time on the first Sunday of the course.
  • Drop or Withdrawal Date: The date a student submitted the online “Drop/Withdrawal from Course” form, or the date they contacted the Registrar’s office with their official request by email or voicemail.
  • SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress): One measure used to determine eligibility for both federal student aid and graduation. Withdrawals impact SAP, as they count against a student's maximum cap of 150% of courses attempted vs. courses successfully passed.

Consequences of a Course Drop

  • Grades: Students will see a "DP" for the course when viewing grades inside the Records Menu area of the ecampus under My Academic Plan or My Academic Records under Grade Reports.
  • GPA (Grade Point Average): A student's GPA is not impacted.
  • Transcript: If a student has a transcript sent out, it will NOT show any record of the dropped course.
  • Refunds: There is no fee for dropping a course, and students will receive a full refund of any tuition charge, although not for late registration fees.
  • SAP: Classes a student drops do not count as “attempted” in calculations used to determine eligibility for Federal Student Aid or graduation eligibility.
  • Federal Student Aid:  A student's eligibility for FSA funding may be decreased or lost if the course drop changes (reduces) their enrollment status. If a course drop results in not completing a semester a student was scheduled to attend, they may be considered withdrawn from the semester and subject to a Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation.
  • Course Access: A student will no longer have access to a course once dropped.

Consequences of a Course Withdrawal

  • Grades: Students will see a "W" for the course when viewing grades inside the Records Menu area of the ecampus under My Academic Plan or My Academic Records under Grade Reports.
  • GPA: A student's GPA is not impacted.
  • Transcript: If a student has a transcript sent out, it will show this course with a “W” grade.
  • Refunds: Students will only receive a refund of the course based on the refund schedule, listed in the How to Pay for Courses section.
  • Military TA (Tuition Assistance): If a student uses Military TA, they should contact their ESO or ACES Counselor for a military withdrawal approval first, as they may be responsible for paying the military back for any tuition not refunded.
  • SAP: Withdrawn courses do count as “attempted” in calculations used to determine eligibility for Federal Student Aid or graduation eligibility.
  • Federal Student Aid: A student's eligibility for FSA funding may be decreased or lost if the course withdrawal changes (reduces) their enrollment status. If a course withdrawal results in not completing a semester a student was scheduled to attend, they may be considered withdrawn from the semester and subject to a Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation.
  • Course Access: Students will no longer have access to a course once dropped.