Skip to content

Student Fee Appeals

Students enrolled at the University of California, Merced are responsible for payment of tuition, registration fees, health insurance, food and housing, and any other authorized charges assessed to their student account. Students are responsible for complying with all University dates and deadlines as well as drop and/or withdrawal policies.

Students who wish to appeal their charges must have extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control that caused them to be unable to successfully attend courses for a substantial portion of the term.

Extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to the following:

  • A personal or family-related illness

  • An accident

  • Domestic violence

  • A death of an immediate family member (spouse, mother, father, guardian, sibling, or child)

  • Involuntary call to active military duty

The following conditions are not subject to appeal:

  • Lack of attendance in a course(s)

  • Instances of academic misconduct

  • Errors in judgment regarding personal schedules, academic ability, or finances

  • Work conflict

  • Changes in financial aid

  • If you received a refund, you cannot appeal a balance associated with an amount that we refunded to you

Requirements for submitting a student fee appeal:

  • The appeal submission can be no later than 1 year from the date of when the account balance became delinquent.

  • The appeal must be submitted to Student Billing Services (SBS) in writing via an email or U.S. mail.

  • The appeal should state, as concisely and clearly as possible, the reason for the appeal and include supporting documentation that is both relevant and timely.

  • The appeal should include a current email address and U.S. mailing address that a SBS staff member can notify you of the decision on the appeal.

  • If a medical reason is cited, original supporting documentation from medical personnel, hospital, or insurance records must be included that clearly shows that the student was physically unable to continue with school.

  • If a death in the family, we require a copy of death certificate or verification of death from the hospital or attending physician and the deceased’s relationship to the student.

How to submit your appeal:

You may email or send by U.S. mail your student fee appeal and the required documentation to:

University of California, Merced
Student Billing Services
P.O. Box 2450
Merced, CA 95344


Appeal Review

Once a fee appeal is received by Student Billing Services (SBS), someone from this office will acknowledge receipt of the student fee appeal. Student fee appeals are presented to Senior Management for their review. If additional information or documentation is requested from you, you will be contacted via email. If necessary, pertinent data/information will be gathered from other respective offices at UC Merced for review by the committee. The entire review process can take up to 8 weeks.

After review of the student fee appeal by the committee members, the decision reached by the committee will be conveyed to the student in writing by a SBS staff member. The decision of Fee Appeal Committee will be considered final and not subject to further appeal.