Student's Right to Cancel
You have the right to cancel your enrollment agreement and obtain a refund of charges paid through attendance at the first class session, or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later.
If you choose to cancel, you will receive a full refund of all tuition and fees paid, less a non-refundable administrative fee of $250.00, within 45 days of cancellation. If your application is declined, you will be fully refunded.
You may cancel by emailing [email protected].
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
You may withdraw from the program at any time by emailing [email protected]. If you withdraw after the cancellation period (described above) has passed, you may be eligible for a partial refund based on the time you were enrolled.
A withdrawal may also occur through a student’s conduct, including ceasing to attend class.
Refund Eligibility: Students who have completed 60% or less of the scheduled days in the current payment period (month) shall receive a pro-rata refund. The refund will be calculated based on the daily tuition rate for the days you were enrolled up to your date of withdrawal.
- After 60% Completion: If you have completed more than 60% of the scheduled days in the payment period, you are not eligible for a refund for that specific period.
Non-Refundable Item: an administrative fee of $250.00 is non-refundable and will be deducted from the total refund amount. State-imposed STRF fees may also apply (more below).
Refund Calculation Examples
For the following examples, a student paid $1,200 for a particular month of class, which includes three class days, and then cancels.
- If the student cancels before any class has taken place that month, the student is eligible for a $950 refund (a full refund less a $250 administrative fee).
- If the student cancels during or after the first day of class and before the second day of class, the student is eligible for a $550 refund (two thirds refund less a $250 administrative fee).
- If the student cancels during or after the second day of class, they are not eligible for a refund.
Refund Payment Timeline
All refunds will be paid within 45 days of the date of cancellation or withdrawal.
For the purpose of determining a refund under this section, a student shall be deemed to have withdrawn from a program of instruction when any of the following occurs: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.
- 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.
Request Review
If you believe your refund was calculated incorrectly, you may request a review by emailing [email protected] within 30 days. USM will respond within 15 business days.
A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling (888) 370-7589 toll-free or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained on the bureau’s Internet website www.bppe.ca.gov.
Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)
The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled, or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition. You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment if you are not a California resident or are not enrolled in a residency program.
General Credit and Deposit Expiration Policy
- For the first 60 days after the credit is issued (or after USM notifies the student of a cancellation or rescheduling), the student may request a cash refund for eligible amounts.
- At any time within 3 years of the credit being issued, the student may either:
- apply the credit toward another USM offering, or
- donate the credit to USM and receive a donation receipt.
- After 3 years, any unused credit expires and the funds are recognized as general operating revenue (no donation receipt will be issued at that point).
Recorded Offerings, Memberships, Instructional Materials
The University of Santa Monica makes no refunds on standalone recorded offerings, memberships, books, and other instructional materials and accepts no returns.
Access to such recordings and materials is provided via a license to access the content (not ownership).
