Refund Policy

Refund of Tuition and Mandatory Fees, Including Nonresident Tuition

Regulations governing the refund of mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition and tuition assistance for students enrolling at the California State University Maritime Academy are included in Section 41802 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations. For purposes of the refund policy, mandatory fees are defined as those systemwide and campus fees that are required to be paid in order to enroll in state-supported academic programs at the California State University Maritime Academy. Refunds of fees and tuition charges for self-support, special session, and extended education programs/courses at the California State University Maritime Academy are governed by a separate policy established by the University, available at the Extended Learning.

A student who drops units resulting in a lower tuition and/or mandatory fee obligation, within the California State University Maritime Academy designated drop period and in accordance with the university’s established procedures shall be entitled to a refund of applicable tuition and mandatory fees less an administrative charge established by the California State University Maritime Academy.

When a student requests a refund or withdraws from Cal Maritime, an audit is made on the account to verify the actual amount that should be returned. Any refund due back to a student is applied first toward any required return of student financial aid funds from federal, state, institutional, or external sources, then towards any outstanding fees or debts to California State University Maritime Academy. Any remaining balance may be returned to the student or to the parents if the balance is the result of a parent’s PLUS loan.

Credit balances of less than $10.00 will not be refunded, unless those balances are the result of a federal financial aid distribution. Information concerning any aspect of the refund of tuition and fees may be obtained from the Cashier’s office.

Refund of tuition and fees does not constitute formal withdrawal from Cal Maritime. To withdraw formally, a student must contact the Registrar’s Office in writing with their intent to withdraw.

 

Withdrawal from the University

Full Refund:  In order to receive a full refund of mandatory fees, less an administrative charge established by the campus, including nonresident tuition, a student must cancel registration or drop all courses, and officially withdraw from the University prior to the first day of instruction for the term. Information on procedures and deadlines for canceling registration and dropping classes is available at the Office of the Registrar.

Pro-Rata Refund: The pro-rata refund is determined on the basis of the date of the student's withdrawal and the length of the academic period. The length of the academic period is calculated from the first day of instruction through the final exam day of the period and excludes any breaks of five (5) days or more.

No student withdrawing after the 60 percent point in the term will be entitled to a refund of any mandatory fees and/or non-resident tuition.

Example: The first day of instruction for the fall semester is August 27, the final day of the exam period is December 14, and there are no breaks longer than 4 days. The length of the academic period is 110 days. The sixty percent point in the terms is day 66 which falls on October 31. No student who withdraws after October 31 is entitled to a refund. If a student withdraws on October 31, the campus has "earned" sixty percent of the student's fees and the student is entitled to a refund of forty percent of the applicable tuition and mandatory fees less an administrative charge established by the campus. 

Financial aid students who wish to cancel their registration or withdraw from all classes after receiving financial aid funds MUST contact the Office of Financial Aid. Withdrawal from the University during an academic term or a payment period, may require students to return and/or repay the amount of grant or loan assistance received. Following the federal regulations, all refunds will be credited back to the appropriate Title IV Financial Aid programs that were used to pay University charges.

 

Late Application of Refunds

Title V of the California Code of Regulations provides for late application of refunds under the following circumstances:

  • The tuition and fees were assessed or collected in error;
  • The course/s for which the tuition and fees was assessed or collected was cancelled by the university.
  • The university makes a delayed decision that a student was not eligible to enroll in the term for which tuition and mandatory fees were assessed and collected and the delayed decision was not due to a student not providing complete or accurate information; or
  • The student was activated for compulsory military service.

Students who are not entitled to a refund as described above may petition the university for a refund demonstrating exceptional circumstances. The Registration Appeals Committee will review and make a recommendation to authorize a refund if the Committee determines that the fees and tuition were not earned by the University. 

Student must submit the following documents to the Cashier’s Office to justify late request for a refund: 

  • Petition for Waiver of Financial Regulations *
  • Refund Request for Tuition and Registration Fees
  • Written documentation to support the request

Note:  *The Petition for Waiver of Financial Regulations is applicable for the current semester only and the petition may be reviewed only for up to one year from the last day of the semester/session identified in the petition.

 

RETURN OF UNEARNED TUITION ASSISTANCE 

When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of tuition assistance funds originally awarded. In compliance with the Department of Defense policy, California State University Maritime Academy will return any unearned tuition assistance funds on a prorate basis through at least the 60% portion of the the period for which the funds were provided. Tuition assistance funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. These funds are returned to the military Service branch.

When a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, CSU Maritime Academy will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

Course Fee Refunds

All course fee refunds require the student to officially drop the course either through Online Services or the Registrar’s Office. Any fees owed to Cal Maritime and any returns to financial aid will first be deducted from the credit balance. Any remaining credit balance on the student’s account will be refunded unless the student requests that the credit remain on account for future registration.

Firefighting Course Fee Refunds

Refunds for Firefighting course will be made as follows:

  • Up to 7 calendar days before the published first day of the term/semester  - full refund
  • Less than 7 days before the published first day of the term/semester – full refund less an administrative charge of $25
  • On or after the published first day of term/semester - no refund

Summer Sea Term Fee Refunds

Students who did not attend and formally drop the course prior to the published Summer Sea Term Begins date will be issued appropriate refunds based on the following refund schedule:   

  • Up to 30 calendar days before the published Summer Sea Term Begins date  - full refund of applicable fees and tuition
  • From 30 to 15 calendar days before the published Summer Sea Term Begins date -  refund of applicable fees and tuition less an administrative charge of $50
  • Less than 15 days before the published Summer Sea Term Begins date - refund of applicable fees and tuition less an administrative charge of $100
  • On or after the published Summer Sea Term Begins – NO refund

Students who are not entitled to a refund as listed under Title V that provides for late request for refund may submit a Petition for Waiver of Financial Regulations for exceptional circumstances. The Registration Appeals Committee will review and make a recommendation to authorize a refund if the Committee determines that the fees and tuition were not earned by the University.  A $250 administration fee will be deducted from the authorized refund for late drop/withdrawal on or after the published Summer Sea Term Begins date. 

The Registrar’s Office must certify that the student did not attend the Summer Sea Term.

Visiting students enrolled through Extended Learning and Concurrent Enrollment who officially drop the course and do not attend the Summer Sea Term:

  • Non-refundable fees include drug testing and document fee

International Experience Course Fee Refunds

Students who did not attend, and who formally dropped the course prior to the published 1st day of Summer term will be issued appropriate refunds net of the $1,800 non-refundable portion of the IE course fee and other administrative refund fees including outstanding debts owed to the University. 

  • The Registrar’s Office must receive a formal drop request before the published 1st day of Summer term.
  • Students requesting refund for late application due to unforeseeable circumstances must submit a completed Petition for Waiver of Financial Regulations with written supporting documentation to the Registration Appeals Committee to determine the merits of each specific case.  The Registration Appeals Committee will review and make a recommendation to authorize a refund if the Committee determines that the fees and tuition were not earned by the University. 
  • The Registrar’s Office, Financial Aid Office, and Accounting Office will audit refund requests before refunds are processed.

Welding and Manufacturing Lab Fee Refunds

Full refund is issued for those students who formally drop the class prior to the published 1st day of academic term. NO refunds will be made for drops made on or after the 1st day of the term.

MT Lab Fee Refund

Refunds are made only for students who did not attend the Summer Sea Term and who formally dropped the course prior to the published Summer Sea Term Begins. NO refunds will be made for drops made or when a student leaves the ship on or after the published Summer Sea Term Begins date.

 

Refunds of Other University Fees

Parking Permit Refunds

Parking on campus is by permit only. Requests for refunds must be submitted in the same semester as the permit was issued. Refunds are prorated from the start of the semester to the date the permit is returned based on the schedule provided by The CSU Chancellor’s Office Parking Fee and Refund Schedule. Additional information may be obtained from the Public Safety Office.

Housing and Food Service Refunds

Housing and Food service refunds are processed according to the terms of the Housing License Agreement. After the 60% point of the semester, no refunds are made. Students desiring to live off-campus must submit a petition for off-campus housing to the Director of Housing and Residence Life for approval by the published due date. Additional information may be obtained from the Housing office.

California State University Maritime Academy will return any unearned tuition assistance funds on a prorate basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided.