How to dispute your tuition
You can submit a tuition dispute if—due to extenuating circumstances—you drop a course or withdraw from all courses after the refund period.
Tuition and fee appeal
Students who experience specific extenuating circumstances that result in an involuntary withdrawal from some or all courses after the refund deadline may use the tuition appeal process to request an exception to the university's refund policy.
Before you file
As the student, only you can initiate a tuition appeal. We’ll consider appeals from a parent or legal guardian only when extremely serious and documented circumstances prevent the student from filing an appeal.
Tuition and fee appeals will only be considered for courses that have been dropped. Students are not eligible to submit an appeal if they:
- Are still enrolled, attending classes, or have received a grade other than "W" in the course(s). Get info about grade changes.
- Cite reasons such as inability to pay, challenges in obtaining financial aid, poor academic performance, or dissatisfaction with the quality of instruction.
Students may submit a tuition appeal within one year following the conclusion of the semester.
Reasons for appeal and required documentation
Tuition appeals may be submitted for the following reasons. Approval requires the appropriate supporting documentation:
Recent medical condition
Submit the Bursar Medical Documentation Form completed by your doctor. No other medical records will be accepted.
Immediate family emergency
For the death of an immediate family member, acceptable documentation includes: an obituary listing the student as a survivor, a death certificate, or a statement from the funeral home confirming the student as an immediate family member.
For other family emergencies, submit a letter from a social worker, doctor, nurse, or other medical professional verifying that the student was responsible for an immediate family member. Include any additional documentation that provides proof of the emergency.
Immediate family members are defined as a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, sibling, grandparent, in-law of the same degree, or step-relative of the same degree.
University error
Provide documentation from your advisor, professor, or school confirming that incorrect information was provided, which resulted in the error.
Transfer to another university
Submit official enrollment verification from the new university, which must:
- Be on university letterhead with the university seal.
- Include the dates and term attended.
The transfer must have occurred during the disputed term. The student's attendance record at Indiana University must show no attendance during that period.
Timeline for appeal decisions
Tuition appeals are generally reviewed, and a determination is made within one week. If the tuition appeal requires review by the tuition appeal committee, the committee meets once a month. Students should monitor their email for updates on the status of their appeal. Please be advised, if a tuition appeal is granted, future appeals may not be approved.
