Policies
- Account Responsibility
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Wake Forest Students are financially responsible for making payment to the University. Failure to receive a statement does not warrant exemption from the payment of tuition and fees or from penalties and restrictions.
Failure to pay balances due on a student account may result in a financial hold. This hold will prevent registration, change of registration and processing of official transcripts. This hold does not prevent transmission of grades.
Students who have not pre-registered for courses will be required to make payment for tuition, fees, required deposits and any past-due balance at the time of registration.
- Credit Balances & Refunds
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Credit Balances
Adjustments to charges, prepayments, financial aid disbursements and overpayments often result in credit balances on student accounts. A credit balance is indicated on the student account statement by parentheses ( ) surrounding the balance.
Credit balances are applied toward future charges on a student account, unless a refund is requested. See Refund Requests section below. To apply a credit balance toward a tuition deposit, contact us »
Refunds
Financial Aid Disbursement Refunds
All Financial Aid must be received and posted to the student's account before a refund will be issued. Students who receive Federal Title IV Funds should fill out an Authorization for Use of Federal Title IV Financial Aid Funds Form and submit it to Student Financial Services.
Financial aid disbursement refunds are processed after the start of classes for the fall and spring semester and three to five business days after the credit appears on the account. For students studying abroad in non-WFU programs, refund checks will not be sent to study abroad institutions on the student's behalf. Students will need to submit a student refund request form and the refund will be made payable to the student. Students will be responsible to pay their respective study abroad institutions.
Food Dollars
Food Dollars are non-refundable. Unused Food Dollars within a meal plan carry over from week to week through the end of the spring semester and then expire. Food Dollars purchased outside of a meal plan roll over from year to year until a student graduates or leaves the University and then expire.
Deacon Dollars
Deacon Dollars remain on the Deacon OneCard until depleted or until a student graduates or leaves the University. When a student graduates or leaves the University, remaining Deacon Dollars are transferred to the student's account and any outstanding fees are deducted. Any remaining balance is refunded.
Vehicle Registration Fee
The Vehicle Registration Fee is non-refundable if the parking sticker has been placed on the vehicle.
Refund Requests
Student Financial Services disburses refund checks on Wednesdays and Fridays. A separate refund request must be submitted for each refund disbursement. Refund checks are only made payable to the student with the exception of credits resulting from a Parent Plus Loan. For students studying abroad in non-WFU programs, refund checks will not be sent to study abroad institutions on the student's behalf. Students will need to submit a student refund request form and the refund check will be made payable to the student.
For a refund, please complete a Student Refund Request Form.
To ensure payment, complete the address portion of the form and indicate whether the check should be mailed or held in the Student Financial Services' Office for pick up. Students who request that a refund check be mailed must use the student's primary or local address on file with Wake Forest. Students are responsible for updating addresses with the appropriate Registrar's Office.
Students who request to pick up refund checks must do so within 14 business days of issuance or the refund will be mailed to the student's primary address on file. Students must present a photo ID, Wake Forest Student ID or driver's license in order to claim a refund check in person.
View full Refund of Charges and Return of Financial Aid Funds Policy »
- Deposits
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Fall Tuition
Fall tuition deposits are non-refundable.
Because DEAC is not currently set up to receive deposits, students receive a Returning Student Deposit Form at their primary address in February each year to return with their fall deposit.
For Reynolda Campus students, the deposit is applied toward fall semester charges.
For students in affiliate study abroad programs, the deposit is applied toward the student's fall study abroad enrollment fee.
Study Abroad
Students participating in Wake Forest semester study abroad programs in London, Venice, Vienna, Dijon, Salamanca and Southern Cone: Chile & Argentina are required to pay a non-refundable deposit to confirm their intent to participate in the program. For students studying abroad in the fall, the study abroad deposit includes the $500 fall tuition deposit.
IMPORTANT: If a student does not participate in the study abroad program, the deposit is forfeited and cannot be used toward Reynolda Campus tuition and fees.
Some summer study abroad programs also require a non-refundable deposit. Contact the Center for International Studies for additional information.
- Financial Aid
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Financial Aid awards are applied to student accounts as follows:
Type of Financial Aid How Applied Outside Scholarships Evenly between fall and spring semesters, unless otherwise instructed by benefactor. Perkins, Denmark, Hutchins, Wallace, DB Bryan, and Friends of Wake Forest Loans After a promissory note has been signed. If a Master Promissory Note has been signed, another promissory note is not needed unless the terms of the loans change. Stafford and PLUS Loans Upon receipt of the funds. IMPORTANT: If for any reason loans or scholarships are not received or are reduced, the student is responsible for the balance due.
Student borrowers of Federal Stafford or Federal Perkins Loans have the right to cancel all or a portion of the loan disbursement within a certain period of time. Students should be aware that canceling any aid may result in unpaid charges and prevent enrollment. For details, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid or call (336) 758-5154.
- Past Due Accounts
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A student with past-due balances cannot:
- register for future semesters
- receive an official transcript of academic record
- have academic credits certified
- receive a diploma at graduation
In addition, a student with a past-due balance may be subject to cancellation from classes.
- Returned Checks/Rejected Payments
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(This policy not applicable to the monthly payment plan) All returned checks and rejected eCheck payments will be assessed a $25 fee. Student Financial Services will notify students/authorized payers of returned or rejected payments as follows:
Returned Checks: A letter will be mailed to the student's primary address on file or an email will be sent to the student's Wake Forest email address.
Rejected eCheck Payments: An email will be sent to the student and authorized payer email addresses as specified in DEAC.
If an account indicates a history of returned checks, the University may require future payments by cash, money order or certified check.
- Withdrawal/Course Drop
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A student who withdraws from the University during a term or who drops a course before completing it may be entitled to a refund as follows:
Schedule of Adjustments for Withdrawal or Continuous Enrollment Start Date
Fall & Spring Semesters
Official Date Tuition Refunded Before Classes Begin 100% , less deposit First week of classes 90% Second week of classes 75% Third week of classes 50% Fourth week of classes 30% Fifth week of classes 20% After fifth week of classes 0% Summer Sessions
Class Days Tuition Refunded Days 1 - 3 Total tuition, less deposit Day 4 75% Day 5 50% Day 6 25% After Day 6 0% Students are responsible for officially dropping courses to be eligible for a refund. Nonpayment for classes for which you are registered or non-attendance in a registered class does not release you from financial obligation and will not drop you from the class.
For more information, refer to the Refund of Charges and Return of Financial Aid Funds Policy.
IMPORTANT: A withdrawal/course drop may affect financial aid eligibility.
A student using scholarships, grants, or loans to help pay educational expenses, whose account was paid-in-full prior to withdrawal, is likely to owe the University after withdrawal. Return of Title IV funds are handled in accordance with federal law. Please refer to Wake Forest's official Refund of Charges and Return of Financial Aid Funds Policy. Students should consult the Office of Student Financial Aid for more information.
Tuition, fees, room rent and related charges are not refunded for findings of responsibility within the undergraduate student judicial review process.
Course Drop/Withdrawal Procedures
Undergraduate students should contact the Registrar for course drop information or the Office of Academic Advising at (336) 758-3320 for withdrawal procedures. An undergraduate student may not register for part-time status (fewer than 12 hours in a semester) without specific permission of the appropriate dean prior to the last day to add a course and is subject to the tuition refund schedule.
Graduate and professional students should refer to their school's bulletin or website.
- Tuition Concession
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University employees and their families who enroll as students and use the tuition concession benefit offered through Human Resources are required to meet Wake Forest payment deadlines and follow all policies and procedures.
- Prepaid Health Care Debit Cards
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Wake Forest does not accept prepaid health care debit cards as a method of payment for student health charges. Students/parents should request that their medical prepaid plan provider issue a check made payable to Wake Forest University for the charges. The check should include the Student ID Number and be mailed to:
Wake Forest University
Box 751425
Charlotte, NC 28275-1425
