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Undergraduate Learning

Withdrawing from Clemson

Dropping all your classes in iROAR indicates your intent to withdraw from the University. Refer to the checklist below if you intend to withdraw.

Call 864-656-2171 or email the Registrar’s Office with questions.

Instances of crisis withdrawal are handled individually, for example in cases of medical emergency. If this applies to you, please email Lisa Traynham at lltrayn@clemson.edu, and she will guide you through the process.

Student Checklist for Withdrawing

Academics

Withdrawing

You can drop all of your classes via the iROAR registration portal. Please contact the Registrar's Office with questions.

Re-Entering

Undergraduate students withdrawing from Fall or Spring terms requires an Application for Re-Entrance with fee to return to Clemson.

Medical/Crisis Withdrawal

If you are in need of a medical withdrawal, please see the medical withdrawal FAQ below and contact: 

*Per federal regulation, the date of the institution's determination that the student withdraws varies depending on the type of withdrawal. For example, if a student begins the official withdrawal process or provides official notification to the school of his or her intent to withdraw, the date of the institution's determination that the student withdraws would be the date the student begins the official withdrawal process or the date of the student's notification, whichever is later.

Finances

Financial Services

Any adjustments to your tuition/fees and financial aid will be based on the date on which you’ve completed the withdrawal process. Please see Clemson's Adjustment Schedule. If you are entitled to a refund, it will be automatically sent by direct deposit or a check to your permanent home address. However, students who drop all classes after the semester begins may find that their financial aid has been decreased or cancelled, and a repayment of some aid or payment plan may be due.

Please contact Student Financial Services for questions about your balance.

Financial Aid

If a student withdraws prior to completing over 60% of a term, a pro-rated portion of the federal financial aid dollars must be considered "unearned" and returned to the federal programs and could cause students to owe the university a significant amount upon withdrawal.

In addition to the amount of federal aid that Clemson must return, students who received financial aid for other educational costs, including off-campus living expenses, may be required to repay a portion of those funds to the federal programs. Failure to return aid due to the federal aid programs will result in loss of eligibility for federal aid assistance. 

For more information, please contact Financial Aid directly at 864-656-2280 or email Financial Aid.

Housing and Parking

Please contact the Resident Assistant of your housing facility, schedule a time to check out and return your key prior to leaving campus. If you have any additional questions, please contact University Housing at 864-656-2295 or email University Housing.

Parking decals must be returned to Parking Services. If you purchased an annual parking permit, a partial refund may be given up to March 15. For more questions, please contact Parking Services directly at 864-656-2270 or email Parking Services.

Student Considerations

Veteran’s Benefits

If you are receiving Veteran's Benefits, you may be responsible for returning funds to the VA. If you have any additional questions, please call 864-656-5280 or email VA Benefits.

Veterans, please see withdrawal options when Called to Active Duty.

International Students

If you are an international student, you are required to contact International Services at 864-656-3614 or stop by 108 Long Hall before withdrawing from the University.

Medical Withdrawal FAQ

*There is NO cherry-picking of classes, medical withdrawals are for all classes within the current semester*

If you want to move your classes from in-person to online, you must reach out to your instructor. They are not required to do this, and it is up to their discretion.

If the drop date has not passed (last day to receive a W), you may drop your courses in iRoar. Whether you drop yourself or do a medical withdrawal they both appear on your transcript as a “W”. There is no “M” on the transcript for medical, only a medical classification in Registrar’s records.

If it is past the drop date, you have until the week before final exams start a request for a medical withdrawal, after the drop date that is your only option to get out of your classes.

Please note: If you haven’t attended classes for several weeks, your best option is to speak to us about a medical withdrawal as we may be able to backdate it depending on your class activity. The refund period deadline dates can be found on the Adjustments Page.

For Parents

We can only speak to the student unless your student is hospitalized and not able to use the phone or email. Please have your student contact Lisa Traynham at  LLTrayn@clemson.edu. They will need to make the initial request for us to consider a medical withdrawal. Do this as soon as a withdrawal seems necessary, even if you ultimately change your mind. We cannot withdraw a student after the semester ends.

  • How do I go about getting a medical withdrawal?
    • You (the student) must request a withdrawal via email/phone. We prefer email as it’s easier to track. The email must be from your Clemson.edu account.
    • You will receive a form to fill out and you will scan it back to us. (No photocopies or screenshots please).
    • We need a doctor’s letter from your medical provider that is on letterhead, which states that THEY RECOMMEND a medical withdrawal. They will also need to include a brief description of the reason you must medically withdraw from classes.

    Once we have these two items (letter and form), we will contact your instructors to determine your last date of class activity. 

    NOTE: The week before final exams is our busiest time, so please be patient. Withdrawals are done in the order in which they are requested. Instructors usually do not respond overnight; it can take time to get the needed information. You will receive an email from the Registrar’s office once your withdrawal has been completely processed. 

  • How will I know if I am getting a refund?

    We only do the withdrawal paperwork and will not know anything about your refund status. Please contact Student Financial Services by phone at 864-656-5592 or by email at  studentbillquestions@clemson.edu.

  • How will this affect my grades and look on my transcript?

    You will receive a W grade for every class you withdraw from.

    Your GPA will remain at its previous value until you return to complete a new semester. 

    If you are on academic probation, taking a medical withdrawal will not eliminate your probation. You will still have the same academic status when you return.

  • What if I have grants, scholarships or financial aid?

    Please contact The Office of Student Financial Aid by email at: finaid@clemson.edu or by phone at: 864-656-2280 for information related to scholarships, grants and financial aid.

  • When is the deadline for medical withdrawals?

    The deadline for medical withdrawals is the Friday before final exams start.

  • How will I know when my medical withdrawal has been successfully processed?

    A withdrawal usually takes 3-5 days, but it can take up to two weeks. It will depend on how long it takes your instructors to respond to us with your last date of attendance. Wait times will be longer the week before final exams.

    When your medical withdrawal has been successfully processed, you will receive an email from the registrar’s office stating so.