Withdrawal, Refund, and Extension Policy

Tuition refunds are given for courses taken for academic credit under the guidelines listed below. Students registered for a course are expected to complete all scheduled requirements (as listed in the classroom’s course syllabus) within the allotted time frame: 8 weeks or 16 weeks. Students experiencing difficulties that prevent them from completing their coursework on time should discuss their situation with their instructor. In extreme situations, they may wish to consult the Student Handbook to determine whether they should submit a formal request for a course extension or withdraw from the course entirely. Procedures for both actions are explained in the Student Handbook. Students who elect to submit a request for a course extension forfeit the option to withdraw from the course, but in most cases, a course extension is preferable because it allows time for students to complete the course and advance towards their academic goals. In addition, a course withdrawal will reduce the number of credit hours being taken during the semester and may have a negative impact on students' status as a full-time or part-time student, which in turn may affect eligibility for some forms of financial aid. Required forms are available in the Online Campus.

If a student decides to drop from a course, the online Drop/Withdrawal from Course form must be submitted during the first week of the course. APUS will not consider appeals for a penalty-free drop after the first week of the course has ended because of late book arrival as it is the student's responsibility to drop the course on time.

If a student earning academic credit submits an online Drop/Withdrawal from Course form after the first week of the course, s/he will be withdrawn administratively and will receive a grade of "W" as long as the withdrawal was requested during the allowed timeframe. A “W” grade does not carry a grade point value and has no effect on the student's cumulative APUS GPA. Students taking courses as Audit (not seeking academic credit) will receive a "W" if they withdraw at any time during the course.

Course Withdrawals may be requested after the start of the second week until the beginning of the last week of the course. The date of withdrawal will be the date the request is received. Refunds are processed as follows:

APUS refunds 100% of tuition for course drops occurring before or during Week 1 of a course taken for academic credit or as an Audit.
After a course begins, refunds will be based on the weekly course schedule.
Go Army Ed Students: The withdrawal date in Go Army Ed is considered by the Army to be the withdrawal date of record for refund purposes.

Please find the appropriate semester-length on the Refund Schedule to determine your refund. Students should allow 30 days for the processing of tuition refunds.
8-Week Course -- Tuition Refund Schedule
Withdrawal Request Date
Tuition Refund Percentage
Before or During Week 1
100%
During Week 2
75%
During Weeks 3 and 4
50%
During Weeks 5 through 8
No Refund
16-Week Course-- Tuition Refund Schedule
Withdrawal Request Date
Tuition Refund Percentage
Before or During Weeks 1 or 2
100%
During Weeks 3 and 4
75%
During Weeks 5 through 8
50%
During Weeks 9 through 16
No Refund