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Credit balances due to overpayment will be automatically refunded to the student.
Tips on ensuring auto-refund success:
Credit Card Payments: In the event a credit card was used to pay any student charges, credit balances in the student’s account will first be applied to the credit card used, with any remaining balance paid to the student.
Residence rate adjustments are made by Housing & Residential Life. For specific rate adjustments, refer to the Residence Hall and Dining License Agreement on their website.
Tuition credits are granted based on the date of the official withdrawal processed by the Office of the University Registrar. Non-attendance does not constitute official withdrawal. Credit policies vary according to the duration of the course. Typical tuition adjustments are made according to the schedules shown below. The first week of class is the week containing the “classes begin” date listed in the academic calendar.
Payment options and credit policies vary for some courses (4-week, 5-week, and 6-week intensives; workshops; and special sequence courses) and special programs. If you are unsure about a course you are taking, contact the Office of Student Accounts.
Information on the University’s Emergency Leave of Absence policy is located in the Undergraduate Catalog in the “Academic Policies and Procedures” section.
Diplomas will not be released until all financial obligations to the university have been met. All rates are subject to revision at the discretion of Northeastern University’s Board of Trustees.
For information regarding policies that effect eligibility for federal grants and loans upon your withdrawal or adjustment to course enrollment, please see withdrawal policy in the section above.
View refund information for California residents.
If a student drops one or more courses, they are eligible for a full reversal of the course tuition as long as the course(s) were dropped before the course drop deadline and the student receives an approved Petition to Reduce Course Load. Once the deadline to drop a course without a W grade passes, the student is responsible for 100 % of tuition and associated charges—no partial refunds will be provided. Refer to the academic calendar for course registration dates. Please see the Undergraduate Financial Aid page for information on how financial aid will be impacted for withdrawing from or dropping a course.
Credit balances will be refunded to the student unless otherwise directed by the student or the bill payer. Note the following exceptions:
If a student submits an official withdrawal from the university, they may be eligible for a tuition adjustment based on the official withdrawal date recorded.Note that nonattendance does not constitute official withdrawal.
Tuition adjustments vary according to the duration of the course.
| Full Term | Half Term | Thirds | First Semester JD Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before Term | 100% | 100% | 100% | 80% |
| Week 1 | 100% | 100% | 0% | 60% |
| Week 2 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 40% |
| Week 3 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| Week 4 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Before Term | 100% |
| 12-Week quarters | |
| Week 1 | 100% |
| Week 2 | 100% |
| Week 3 and thereafter | 0% |
| 6-8-Week quarters | |
| Week 1 | 100% |
| Week 2 | 100% |
| Week 3 and thereafter | 0% |
| 4-Week quarters | |
| Week 1 | 100% |
| Week 2 | 0% |
| 1-week or less quarters | |
| Week 1 | 100% (First Day only) |
| Week 2 | 0% |
Important note: Non-attendance does not constitute dropping a course. A student must submit a formal drop request in order to be eligible for a refund.
Refunds are granted only on the basis of a formal withdrawal from the JD program; non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal. Seat deposits are nonrefundable. The impact of withdrawing from the JD program on other types of billing and financial aid depends upon the timing of a student’s formal withdrawal. Tuition refunds are granted in accordance with the following schedule:
Upper-Level Students
Week 1 through 3 – 100% refund of tuition
Week 4 – 60% refund of tuition
Week 5 – 40% refund of tuition
After Week 5 – no refund of tuition
Financial aid will be adjusted for any withdrawal based upon the withdrawal date and the type of financial aid. Visit the School of Law website for additional information.
*Note: Northeastern University School of Law academic years begin with the summer term.
The information provided in this section furthers the Leaves of Absence and University Withdrawal Policy described in the Academic Catalog and Student Handbook and is effective for semesters beginning on or after July 1, 2026.
The Schedule of Tuition Adjustment for withdrawal established below is applicable across all University campuses and locations. Note that non-attendance does not constitute official withdrawal; all adjustments are based solely on the date of withdrawal recorded through the Office of the Registrar.
Students who notify the school of withdrawal up to and including the first class session or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later, are eligible for a refund of 100% of tuition charges and certain fees.
Students who drop one or more courses may be eligible for a full or partial adjustment to course tuition if the course(s) were dropped during the course add/drop period defined in the Academic Calendar and the student receives an approved Petition to Reduce Course Load (if applicable).
Students who officially withdraw from the university, take an approved leave of absence, or do not participate in course activities during the first ten consecutive days of the term may be eligible for an adjustment of tuition and certain fees.
For students who qualify, the schedule of tuition adjustment is as follows:
| Full Semester or Term | First-Half and Second Half | Initial-Third, Middle-Third, and Final Third | School of Law | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before Term | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Week 1 | 100% | 100% | 80% | 100% |
| Week 2 | 100% | 100% | 60% | 100% |
| Week 3 | 87% | 72% | 0% | 87% |
| Week 4 | 80% | 58% | 0% | 80% |
| Week 5 | 74% | 0% | N/A | 74% |
| Week 6 | 67% | 0% | N/A | 67% |
| Week 7 | 60% | 0% | N/A | 60% |
| Week 8 | 54% | N/A | N/A | 54% |
| Week 9 | 47% | N/A | N/A | 47% |
| Week 10 | 40% | N/A | N/A | 40% |
| Week 11 and Beyond | 0% | N/A | N/A | 0% |
Note that a week is defined as a seven-consecutive calendar-day period, beginning on the first day of scheduled classes for the applicable term and continuing through each successive seven-day interval thereafter. The first week of the term begins on the first day of scheduled classes regardless of the student’s individual start date, class schedule, or day of the week on which classes begin.
Refunds are granted only upon formal withdrawal from the JD program; non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal. Seat deposits are nonrefundable. The impact of withdrawing from the JD program on other types of billing and financial aid depends upon the timing of a student’s formal withdrawal.
Visit the School of Law website for additional information.
*Note: Northeastern University full-time JD upper-level years begin with the summer term.
Any credit balances resulting from a tuition adjustment will be issued to a student within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of determination of a student’s withdrawal or cancellation. The date of determination is defined as the date on which the University becomes aware that the student has withdrawn, either through official notification by the student or administrative determination by the University.
For students who cease attendance without providing official notification, the University may determine the withdrawal date based on the last date of academically related activity, as documented in the University’s records.
For students admitted to a program of study located in British Columbia, California, Florida, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Ontario, Virginia, and Washington: If an Enrollment Agreement is canceled, or a student does not begin attendance in their program, the university will retain a maximum administrative fee of no more than $100.00 USD. For students admitted to a program of study in Massachusetts, or a fully online program, the university may retain a higher administrative fee, including but not limited to an amount equivalent to the enrollment deposit(s).
Students who receive financial aid should be aware that a cancellation, withdrawal, leave of absence, or course load reduction may result in an adjustment to their financial aid award, including the return of all or a portion of aid funds to the applicable federal, state, provincial, private, or institutional program. Any such adjustments will be made in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and the terms and conditions governing each aid program or awarding agency. Students remain responsible for any balance owed to the university after tuition adjustments and financial aid adjustments have been applied.
This information is provided in accordance with all other University policies, including but not limited to the Leave of Absence and University Withdrawal policies found in the Academic Catalog. Northeastern University also complies with the Return of Title IV Funds Policy and all applicable State Refund policies, as published in the Academic Catalog and on the Student Financial Services (SFS) website. Additional information regarding the impact of a withdrawal on financial aid eligibility, billing policies, course drops, course overloads, and reduced course loads is available in the Academic Catalog and on the SFS website.