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Refund Policy

First Year and Transfer Admission Deposits

Students who have been accepted for admission must confirm their intention to enroll by making a $300 reservation deposit. The reservation deposit is applied to the entering semester charges for the upcoming year.

Fall Semester: The deposit is refundable if requested in writing before May 1.
Spring Semester: The deposit is refundable if requested in writing before December 21.

Graduate Student Admission Deposits

Students who have been accepted for admission must confirm their intention to enroll by making a $500 reservation deposit. The reservation deposit is applied to the entering semester charges for the upcoming year.

  • Summer Term: The deposit is refundable if requested in writing before February 1.
  • Fall Semester: The deposit is refundable if requested in writing before May 1.
  • Spring Semester: The deposit is refundable if requested in writing before December 21.

Reservation Deposits for Returning Students

The reservation deposit is due early in the spring semester (due dates to be announced each year) and is nonrefundable.

Refund of Parent Plus Loans

The funds disbursed from the Parent Plus loan will be the last payment applied against tuition and fee charges each semester.  Per the Federal Student loan handbook, the law requires any excess plus loan funds be returned to the parent, unless requested differently at the time of loan application.

Refund Following Withdrawal from College

To withdraw from Bridgewater College at any time during a semester, a student must first confer with the associate dean for academic affairs who will provide a form requiring the signatures of appropriate College personnel. A student who fails to withdraw properly may forfeit his or her residence and room key deposit, will receive failing grades in all currently enrolled courses and may be ineligible for refunds as described below.

Only limited refunds can be made when a student withdraws from the College. Advance deposits are not refunded in any instance. The financial aid of a student who does not complete the semester for any reason will be reduced in accordance with mandatory federal guidelines. All questions concerning refund amounts should be addressed to the student accounts office.

Withdrawal Due to Health Reasons or Military Service

In the event of an approved withdrawal for health reasons or military service, a refund of tuition, technology fee, student service fee and residential fee is provided according to the following schedule:

  • During the first two weeks of the semester – 80%
  • During the third or fourth weeks – 50%
  • During the fifth or sixth weeks – 20%
  • After the sixth week – No Refund

Confidential written documentation in support of a medical withdrawal must be provided by a physician or other certified medical practitioner to the associate dean for academic affairs. A student called to active military service is responsible for providing the appropriate military orders. In most cases, the supporting documentation must be received within two weeks after the withdrawal date.

Withdrawal Due to Personal Reasons

In the event of an approved withdrawal for personal reasons, a refund of tuition, technology fee, student service fee and residential fee is provided according to the following schedule:

  • During the first two weeks of the semester – 50%
  • During the third or fourth weeks – 25%
  • After the fourth week – No Refund

Mandatory Withdrawal

In the event of a disciplinary suspension or administrative withdrawal, refunds are generally treated as a withdrawal due to personal reasons.

Residential Damage Deposits

A residential damage deposit is required from all students at the time the student first enrolls at the College. Returning students cover assessments that have been made against the deposit by bringing it back to the level of the initial deposit at the time of each fall registration. Students must return their residential key and checkout slips at the end of each academic year or the deposit will be forfeited. Any unused portion of the deposit will be refunded at graduation or upon withdrawal from the College once the student has properly checked out of their room.