Students in compliance with policy set by the State Board of Higher Education and NDSU, who wish to appeal tuition and fee charges due to extenuating circumstances, may do so by completing the Tuition & Fee Appeal form.
When submitting a tuition/fee appeal, please keep the considerations outlined below in mind:
Things to know
- Students are responsible for complying with all University dates and deadlines as well as drop and/or withdrawal procedures. Exceptions to these policies are granted only if extenuating circumstances existed which cause the student to be unable to meet the policy requirements.
- Errors in judgement regarding personal schedules, academic ability, or finances are not cause for appeal.
- Changes in financial aid are not cause for appeal.
- Appeals will not be granted in instances of academic misconduct.
- Non-attendance does not alleviate a student of their financial responsibility.
- Medical and/or mental health emergencies are cause for appeal, however, pre-existing conditions are not eligible.
- Supporting documentation will be required on virtually all appeals.
- Classes in which the student is still enrolled or that have been assigned a grade are not eligible for appeal.
Dates and Deadlines
Students are responsible for complying with NDSU's Dates and Deadlines.
Refunds of Tuition and Fees
NDSU follows the North Dakota University System's policies and procedures for refunding dropped classes or withdrawal from a term. For further information, please see the One Stop website at ve43.158idc.net/onestop/effects-dropping-or-withdrawing.
Examples of why an Appeal may be Denied
If there are extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control, an appeal process is available to request an exception to the Tuition & Fee Refund policy. Examples of why an appeal may be denied include:
- The appeal is not received by NDSU within 60 days of the end of the semester in which the charges were incurred.
- Failure to follow proper withdrawal procedures as outlined on the One Stop website at ve43.158idc.net/onestop.
- Lack of knowledge of applicable dates and deadlines.
- Changes in work schedule or employment.
- Failure to verify class schedule changes.
- Non-attendance of classes.
- Personal errors in judgement regarding the availability of finances to pay associated charges.
- Personal errors in judgement regarding class work load and academic ability.
- Personal errors in judgement regarding time management.
- Personal errors in judgement regarding availability of transportation to and from classes.
- Dissatisfaction with course content or method of instruction. If appealing for this reason, please contact the NDSU Provost Office.
- Inadequate investigation of course requirements prior to registration/attendance.
- Non-qualification, late application, or loss of eligibility for financial aid or scholarships.
- Non-receipt of information/notices sent to student's NDSU e-mail.
- Student errors resulting in the delay of administrative processing relative to registration or the delivery of financial aid funds.
- Not benefitting from course credits in regards to degree requirements or changes in major.
- Not benefitting from a fee (e.g., wishing to appeal the student fees because of not using the Wellness Center).
- Failure to verify self-enrollment in Distance & Continuing Education, online, or self-support courses, resulting in additional tuition charges.
- Lack of documentation to support the appeal request.
- Grades are posted to the student’s academic transcript. In this scenario, the student must successfully Appeal for a Retroactive Withdrawal before a tuition/fee appeal may be considered.
Medical Appeals
- Appeal requests for medical or health conditions must be supported by adequate documentation that proves the condition was debilitating (i.e., hospitalization and/or catastrophic event) and of a duration that would render completion of the class, even with instructor accommodations, unmanageable.
- The diagnosis must have occurred within the semester in question and the timing of this diagnosis subsequently prevented the student from withdrawing in a timing manner.
- Appropriate documentation may include a written statement from health care professionals or a representative of the service provider.
- Providing documentation does not guarantee appeal request will be approved.
- Appeals for medical conditions are not automatically granted.
- Student are not eligible to appeal multiple terms based on the same medical condition.
Appealing NDSU Tuition and Fees Form
The above form may also be used when appealing late payment fees. Please note that there is a substantial grace period before the initial late payment fee is applied each semester. Due to this grace period, no consideration will be given for financial aid in progress or payments that are in transit to the University.
The tuition/fee appeal form should not be used when appealing academic regulations, or disputing parking citations.
If your appeal is based on concerns regarding an instructor and/or methods of instruction, a grievance must be filed with the Office of the Provost before your tuition/fee appeal may be processed. Customer Account Services will not review any appeals of this nature without input from the Office of the Provost.
Appeals must be submitted within sixty days of the conclusion of the semester. Requests received after the deadline will not be considered for a full waiver. Late payment fees incurred as a result of the delayed submission are the responsibility of the student.
Please contact the Customer Account Services department with questions regarding tuition/fee appeals.