How do I drop or withdraw from a course?

You can drop or withdraw from a course through your class schedule in MyUMGC.

Is withdrawing from a course the best option for me?

This decision can potentially impact your academic and financial aid standing and should only be done if it is your only option. The first thing you can do before withdrawing from a class is talk with your instructor. Your instructor can inform you about your progress in a specific course based on the grading criteria stated in the syllabus and your participation and grades earned to date. Your instructor may also be able to explore opportunities that may allow you to successfully complete the course in accordance with university guidelines and policies. If you are an undergraduate student, UMGC's Center for Student Success can help you: Find a mentor or tutor Connect to resources in our Effective Writing Center Meet professionals in your field of study To find out more about the resources and services available to you, please e-mail studentsuccess@umgc.edu.

What is the difference between a course drop and a course withdrawal?

An academic drop occurs when you remove yourself from a course before or during UMGC's drop period. There are no academic consequences for this action, but there may be financial aid repercussions for this drop if you no longer meet aid qualifications. The course will show on your registration history as dropped but will not post on any unofficial or official transcripts and does not count as attempted credit. An academic withdrawal from a course occurs when you remove yourself from a course after the drop period has passed. There will be financial repercussions for this withdrawal based on the refund schedule. The academic consequences for this action include receiving the grade of "W" for the course, which will appear on any unofficial or official transcripts. A grade of "W" will not impact your GPA but does not count as completed credit toward your degree.

What is the Course Drop and Withdrawal Policy?

View UMGC's Course Drop and Withdraw Policy for full information.

What is the refund policy for dropping or withdrawing from courses?

If you withdraw after the drop period, you will not receive a 100 percent tuition refund. You must withdraw before or during the drop period of your class to receive a refund, excluding the application fee. Under special circumstances, you may request an exception to course drop and withdrawal and refund policies. For more information, please visit refund policies and refund exceptions. You are expected to make payment at the time of registration. There are penalties for non-payment. If your payment is not received by the due date, you may be penalized by being disenrolled from your courses or having your account balance transferred to the State Central Collections Unit.

Are there financial aid implications to dropping or withdrawing from courses?

Dropping or withdrawing from courses may affect your financial aid. Please review our financial aid policies as well as the Return of Title IV Funds Policy for more information.

Are there military benefits implications to dropping or withdrawing from courses?

Dropping or withdrawing from courses may require you to pay back the military if you used Tuition Assistance.

Are there veterans benefits considerations for course drops or withdrawals?

If you drop or withdraw from courses, you will be required to repay veterans education benefits received for the course(s). This may include tuition payments, book allowances, and housing or monthly allowances. The Department of Veterans Affairs may reduce benefits from the beginning date of your enrollment, and you may be required to repay all benefits unless you can show that the drop/withdrawal was due to mitigating circumstances, which are defined as unavoidable or unexpected events beyond your control, such as illness or employment/child care changes. The VA will ask you to submit supporting evidence for your withdrawal, such as a statement from your doctor or employer. If mitigating circumstances are approved, the VA may allow benefits up to the last date of attendance. View the information about mitigating circumstances and the 6-credit exclusion policy at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Drop and Withdrawal FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about dropping and withdrawing from courses.

UMGC is committed to helping you achieve your academic goals; however, we realize that sometimes circumstances may arise that prevent you from successfully completing your coursework as planned. Dropping and/or withdrawing from a course can have financial and academic implications that should be taken into consideration when making this decision.

Recent changes in financial aid rules and veterans education benefits have further complicated the course withdrawal process; only trained representatives have the knowledge to help students make the best decision(s)—financially and academically.

Before dropping or withdrawing from a course, we suggest you review the answers to the following most frequently asked questions. The processes listed here are for UMGC students in the U.S. Learn about UMGC Asia course withdrawal and UMGC Europe course withdrawal.

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