Refund Policies

A student who is withdrawing or taking a leave of absence must (a) notify the Office of the Dean of Studies in writing and (b) contact the Student Accounts Office to request a refund.

*First-year students and transfers will be charged the $400 nonrefundable application deposit.

*Second-semester first-year students and transfers will be charged the $400 nonrefundable application deposit.

In accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, refunds will be credited in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
2. Subsidized Stafford Loans
3. Unsubsidized Direct Loans
4. Subsidized Direct Loans
5. Perkins Loan
6. Federal PLUS Loans
7. Direct Plus Loans
8. Pell Grants
9. FSEOG
10. Other Title IV Programs

Other Refund Policies

For students who reduce their programs with approval from the Dean of Studies, tuition refunds are based on the same dates and percentages as refunds in the case of complete withdrawal.

The policy listed above also applies to students enrolled in Sarah Lawrence College in Paris, Cuba and the London Theatre Program. No refunds will be given for tuition and room and board to students who leave Sarah Lawrence College at Oxford or Florence: An Academic Year Abroad after the start of the second trimester. The $250 deposit is nonrefundable.

Refunds to financial aid grant recipients will be based on a formula prescribed by federal regulations. Federal grants and student loans must first be repaid to the government program.

Refunds will be decided upon by the Student Accounts Office, in consultation with the Dean of Studies. The appeals officer for this process is the vice president for finance and planning.

The College reserves the right to require students to withdraw if their progress is unsatisfactory, or if by remaining they endanger their health or that of others, or if their behavior conflicts with standards which the College considers desirable.

Housing Refund Policy

If a student cancels a housing contract after July 15 and before the first day of classes, the student will be refunded the room charge, less the $500 deposit. Students contract for on-campus housing for an entire academic year. If a student leaves housing during the school year and remains a bona fide student, he or she will be charged a $500 cancellation fee. If the vacated housing is needed by the College and can be contracted out again, the student will be refunded a pro rata portion of the semester's room charge. If the College cannot contract out the housing again, there will be no refund of the semester's room charge.

For students who leave the College after the first day of classes, a refund will be given based on the refund schedule outlined under Leave of Absence/Withdrawal. Improper student behavior in the dormitories may cause the College to cancel the student's room contract.

Meal Plan Refund Policy

All resident students must be on a meal plan for the entire year. First-year students must be on meal plan 1, 2, or 3 for the entire year. Exceptions are granted for medical reasons only and require specific documentation from a physician. Requests and medical documents should be directed to Health Services for evaluation.

If a student changes to a lesser meal plan, a reduction fee will be charged based on the percentage schedule below, applied to the difference between the greater and lesser meal plan.

Within the first week 90% of the semester cost
Within the second week 80% of the semester cost
Within the third week 60% of the semester cost
Within the fourth week 40% of the semester cost
Within the fifth week 20% of the semester cost
After the fifth week 10% of the semester cost

A student wishing to change to a greater meal plan will be charged the difference between the meal plans costs based on the calculated remainder of the semester. In addition, a student changing a meal plan after the first day of classes will be charged a $25 change fee.