How to use the online course refund calculator
No nationwide refund table governs online courses in the United States. What you get back comes from the platform's published policy, which usually combines a time window with a limit on how much of the course you have watched. Enter the price, the lessons in the course, how many you finished, how long ago you bought it, and the window and limit your platform states.
Legal basis: there is no federal cooling-off right for an online purchase. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule at 16 C.F.R. Part 429 applies to sales made away from the seller's usual place of business, which does not cover buying a course on a website. Where a school takes federal student aid, the Return of Title IV Funds rule at 34 C.F.R. 668.22 prorates only through the 60 percent point of the term, and many private platforms use the same idea. A published policy that is not honored can be challenged under state unfair and deceptive practices law, and billing disputes run through the Fair Credit Billing Act at 15 U.S.C. 1666. Figures current as of September 2026.
Save a screenshot of the refund policy on the day you buy, because platforms revise these terms and the version you accepted is the one that applies. Ask in writing and note the date, since the window is counted from purchase rather than from when support replies.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation, and your state attorney general's consumer office takes complaints about unhonored policies.
Frequently asked questions
Not at the federal level. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule covers sales made away from a seller's place of business, not online purchases, so the platform's published refund window is usually what you rely on.
Most policies treat a largely watched course as delivered. Schools that take federal student aid stop prorating at the 60 percent point under 34 C.F.R. 668.22, and many private platforms copy that threshold.
A published policy is part of the deal you accepted, so failing to honor it can be a deceptive practice under state law. You can also dispute the charge with your card issuer within the time limits in 15 U.S.C. 1666.