What Is a Course Withdrawal (W Grade)?
A course withdrawal means that you formally leave a course after the add/drop period has ended but before the final deadline to withdraw. Instead of a letter grade, your transcript typically shows a W. The course does not count in your GPA at most institutions, but it remains visible as an attempted course.
How it works
Colleges set a withdrawal deadline, often around the middle or two-thirds of the term, listed in the academic calendar. You submit a form or use the online system, and some schools ask for an advisor's or instructor's approval. After the deadline, withdrawal is usually allowed only for documented emergencies, handled as a petition or a medical or administrative withdrawal.
Do not simply stop attending. If you never formally withdraw, you may receive an F, which affects your GPA and can lead to academic probation.
Effects to consider
- Financial aid: unearned aid may need to be returned, and the credits you attempt but do not complete count against satisfactory academic progress rules.
- Time to degree: you will need to retake or replace the course, which may delay graduation.
- Full-time status: withdrawing can drop you below the credit minimum for insurance, visas, scholarships and athletics.
- Tuition: refunds usually end well before the withdrawal deadline.
- Repeated withdrawals: some programs limit how many W grades you can have, and graduate or competitive programs may notice a pattern.
Before you withdraw
Talk to your instructor about your standing, to your advisor about your plan, and to the financial aid and international student offices if relevant. Consider alternatives such as getting tutoring, requesting an incomplete or changing to pass/fail if your school allows.
Related terms
See add/drop period, incomplete grade, satisfactory academic progress and academic standing.
Frequently asked questions
Does a W affect my GPA?
At most US colleges, a W does not count in your GPA, though it appears on the transcript. Some institutions treat late withdrawals differently, so check the policy.
Is withdrawing better than failing?
Often a W protects your GPA more than an F, though it uses up a course attempt and may affect aid and progress. Talk to an advisor and your financial aid office before you decide.
Can I get a refund after withdrawing?
Usually only within the published refund period, which is often earlier than the withdrawal deadline. After that, you may still owe tuition.