Authority: Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

History: First Issued: 1966. Last Revised: July 8, 2025.

Related Policies:

NCSU RUL02.66.02 – Registration Cancellation NCSU REG 07.55.03 — Refunds NCSU REG 02.05.05 – Undergraduate Leave of Absence NCSU REG 02.20.02 Adding and Dropping a Course RUL 02.66.01 – Undergraduate Readmission and Appeals
REG 02.05.03 – Progress Toward Undergraduate Degree

Additional References:

Term Withdrawal Guide
Refund of Tuition and Fees
Undergraduate Withdrawal Process
Graduate Withdrawal Process
Graduate Certificate Withdrawal Process
Non Degree Withdrawal Process

Academic Calendar
Withdrawal Appeal Process

Contact Info: Registration and Records (919-515-2572)

1.  Introduction

1.1 This regulation describes the term withdrawal process used when students wish to drop all of their courses for the term in which they are currently enrolled or for a term in which they were previously enrolled.

1.2 Students who plan to be away from the University in a future term and return to the university should follow the relevant university leave of absence process. Undergraduate students should follow the process described in the Undergraduate Leave of Absence regulation (REG 02.05.05). Graduate students should follow the Leave of Absence process described in the Graduate Handbook.

1.3 Students wishing to drop one or more courses (but less than all of their courses) for a term must follow the process described in the Adding and Dropping Courses regulation (REG 02.20.02).

2. Student Obligations

2.1 To avoid financial and academic obligations, students who do not plan to attend the university for a term should ensure that their classes have been dropped prior to the start of the term.

2.2. As of the first day of any term, students enrolled in classes are financially and academically committed to the University for those enrollments. Students who wish to drop all courses for which they are enrolled after the first day of the term must withdraw from the University for the remainder of the term. Students are encouraged to consult with University personnel before initiating a withdrawal to make an informed decision that takes into consideration academic, financial, and campus access impacts. Tuition and fee refunds for withdrawals are prorated based on the schedule of refunds for tuition and fees linked in additional references.

2.3 Students may initiate a withdrawal through the appropriate withdrawal process described in this regulation.

2.4 Re-enrollment for undergraduate students after a term withdrawal is subject to readmission (REG 02.66.01) and Satisfactory Academic Progress (REG 02.05.03) rules.  Graduate students must meet the continuous enrollment requirement outlined in the Graduate School Handbook in order to continue.

3. Process and Timelines for Withdrawals

3.1 Prior to the drop/revision deadline reflected on the Academic Calendar for the term, a student may withdraw from the term without obtaining prior university approval. Students considering withdrawal are strongly encouraged to consult their academic advisor or departmental coordinator of advising for undergraduate students or their faculty advisor or director of graduate programs for graduate students. All students should consider consulting with the financial aid office before beginning the withdrawal process. 

3.1.1 If a student withdraws before the first day of classes for a term, the withdrawal will not appear on the transcript, will not be included in attempted hours, and will not have any impact in any grade point average calculation.

3.1.2 If a student withdraws after the first day of classes, but prior to the term census date, the term withdrawal will be recorded on the student’s academic transcript without reference to the specific withdrawn courses. The courses for the term will not be used in any grade point calculation nor included as attempted hours. 

3.1.3 If a student withdraws after the term census date, but prior to the drop/revision deadline, the student will have the withdrawal noted on the student’s academic transcript. The withdrawn courses will reflect a W grade and will count as attempted hours, but will not count in any grade point average calculation. The withdrawn courses are subject to all financial aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress rules and calculations.

3.2 After the drop/revision deadline reflected on the Academic Calendar students are expected to complete all courses for which they are enrolled. Students must receive approval for a term withdrawal after the drop/revision deadline and must provide reasonable supporting documentation demonstrating serious extenuating circumstances to receive approval. Examples of serious extenuating circumstances may include, but are not limited to, medical reasons (physical and/or mental health), personal/family emergency, personal hardship, or military service. Term withdrawals for students are initiated through the withdrawal process linked in the additional references section of this regulation.

3.2.1 The dean’s designee in the academic office of the student’s college reviews and approves withdrawals for undergraduate students.

3.2.2 The student’s director of graduate programs, the associate dean of their college, and the Graduate School review and approve withdrawals for graduate students.

3.2.3 Graduate Certificate student withdrawal requests will be routed to the Graduate School for review.

3.2.4 The Office of Registration and Records reviews and approves withdrawals for non-degree students.

3.2.5 Students granted a term withdrawal after the drop/revision deadline will have the withdrawal noted on the student’s academic transcript. The withdrawn courses will reflect a W grade and will count as attempted hours, but will not count in any grade point average calculation. The withdrawn courses are subject to all financial aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress rules and calculations.

3.2.6  Students whose withdrawal request has been denied may appeal the decision to the Withdrawal Review Committee through the Withdrawal Appeal Process.  Appeals must be in writing and received within ten (10) calendar days from the date of the denial decision. If the tenth (10th) calendar day falls on a weekend or University holiday, the deadline for filing the appeal will be extended to the next University business day. Failure to submit the appeal within this time limit will render the original decision final and conclusive.

4. Withdrawals from Coursework Subject to Interinstitutional Arrangements

NC State students carrying course work at another campus under the interinstitutional arrangement must contact the Office of Registration and Records to initiate the process necessary for removal from classes at the other institution.