FAFSA Update: The 2025-2026 FAFSA is available to complete online. Due to Federal delays in releasing FAFSA information, Northeastern will require additional time to process your offer of financial assistance.

Refunds from Credit Balances & Withdrawals

State Specific Refund Policy

The following state specific refund policies apply to California residents that are on-ground and/or hybrid students enrolled in courses at the Silicon Valley regional campus. In the case that a refund is requested, the specific state refund policy will be applied in addition to the institutional refund policy. In the event that there is a conflict in the policies, the state policy will superseded the general university policy, unless the university policy is more generous. The applicable policies are outlined below:

STUDENT REFUND AND WITHDRAWAL POLICIES
Inquiries about credit balances should be directed to Student Accounts. Refund requests for credit balances are made via the self-service tab on the student’s myNEU portal. Credit balances will be refunded to the student unless otherwise directed by the student or the bill payer. Note the following exception: If the credit in your account is due to a Parent Plus/Alternative Loan and/or payment plan payment(s), we need to have the borrower or bill payer complete the Refund Authorization form prior to releasing the funds requested.

STUDENT’S RIGHT TO CANCEL
1. You have the right to cancel your agreement for a program of instruction, without any penalty or obligations, through attendance at the first class session or the seventh calendar day after enrollment, whichever is later. After the end of the cancellation period, you also have the right to stop school at any time; and you have the right to receive a pro rata refund if you have completed 60 percent or less of the scheduled days in the current payment period in your program through the last day of attendance.

2. Cancellation may occur when the student provides a written notice of cancellation at the following address: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY-SILICON VALLEY, 4N 2nd St. San Jose, CA 95113. This can be done by mail or by hand delivery.

3. The written notice of cancellation, if sent by mail, is effective when deposited in the mail properly addressed with proper postage.

4. The written notice of cancellation need not take any particular form and, however expressed, it is effective if it shows that the student no longer wishes to be bound by the Enrollment Agreement.

5. If the Enrollment Agreement is cancelled the school will refund the student any money he/she paid, less a registration or administration fee not to exceed $250.00, and less any deduction for equipment not returned in good condition, within 45 days after the notice of cancellation is received.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM
You may withdraw from the school at any time after the cancellation period (described above) and receive a pro rata refund if you have completed 60 percent or less of the scheduled days in the current payment period in your program through the last day of attendance. The refund will be less a registration or administration fee not to exceed $250.00, and less any deduction for equipment not returned in good condition, within 45 days of withdrawal. If the student has completed more than 60% of the period of attendance for which the student was charged, the tuition is considered earned and the student will receive no refund.

For the purpose of determining a refund under this section, a student shall be deemed to have withdrawn from a program of instruction when any of the following occurs:

The student notifies the institution of the student’s withdrawal or as of the date of the student’s withdrawal, whichever is later.
The institution terminates the student’s enrollment for failure to maintain satisfactory progress; failure to abide by the rules and regulations of the institution; absences in excess of maximum set forth by the institution; and/or failure to meet financial obligations to the School.

For the purpose of determining the amount of the refund, the date of the student’s withdrawal shall be deemed the last date of recorded attendance. The amount owed equals the daily charge for the program (total institutional charge, minus non-refundable fees, divided by the number of days in the program), multiplied by the number of days scheduled to attend, prior to withdrawal. If the student has completed more than 60% of the period of attendance for which the student was charged, the tuition is considered earned and the student will receive no refund.

If any portion of the tuition was paid from the proceeds of a loan or third party, the refund shall be sent to the lender, third party or, if appropriate, to the state or federal agency that guaranteed or reinsured the loan. Any amount of the refund in excess of the unpaid balance of the loan shall be first used to repay any student financial aid programs from which the student received benefits, in proportion to the amount of the benefits received, and any remaining amount shall be paid to the student. If the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of moneys not paid from federal student financial aid program funds. If the student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student will have the responsibility to repay the full amount of the loan plus interest, less the amount of any refund (CEC §94911(f)).

The federal or state government or a loan guarantee agency may take action against the student, including applying any income tax refund to which the person is entitled to reduce the balance owed on the loan. The student may not be eligible for any other financial student financial aid at another institution or other government financial assistance until the loan is repaid. If a student defaults on a federal or state loan, both the following may occur:

1. The federal or state government or a loan guarantee agency may take action against the student, including applying any income tax refund to which the person is entitled to reduce the balance owed on the loan.

2. The student may not be eligible for any other federal student financial aid at another institution or other government financial assistance until the loan is repaid.

NOTICE: YOU MAY ASSERT AGAINST THE HOLDER OF THE PROMISSORY NOTE YOU SIGNED IN ORDER TO FINANCE THE COST OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ALL OF THE CLAIMS AND DEFENSES THAT YOU COULD ASSERT AGAINST THIS INSTITUTION, UP TO THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID UNDER THE PROMISSORY NOTE.

Please note: If a student attends a class in Silicon Valley, the California state specific refund policy will be applied in addition to the University Institutional Refund Policy. In the event that there is a conflict in the policies, the state policy will supersede the general University policy, unless the University policy is more generous. Please refer to http://www.northeastern.edu/financialaid/policies/ for University policies.