Student Accounts

Fiscal Responsibility Code

Students who enroll at the University are expected to adhere to a fiscal responsibility code as described below. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the University.

Promise to Pay

Students who register for any class or receive any service from the University accept full responsibility to pay all tuition, fees, and other associated costs assessed as a result of their registration and/or receipt of services.  

Timely Payment

Students who register for any course or receive any services from the University accept the responsibility to pay all tuition, fees, and other charges according to the payment schedule outlined by the University. This expectation applies regardless of the payment method.

Maintaining Accurate Records

Students are responsible for keeping their records current. Students are responsible for notifying the Office of the Registrar of any changes in name, address, phone number, or other relevant demographic information within 30 days of any change.

Exercising Fiscal Responsibility

In the event the student receives federal funding, the student agrees to use this money for educationally related expenses, which include costs for tuition, fees, book supplies, transportation, housing and food costs, and incidental expenses.

Tuition and Fees

A  Tuition and Fees  schedule is published annually and is available on the University’s website as part of this catalog. The University reserves the right to adjust tuition and/or fees without prior notice.

Depending upon the program of study, the University charges students enrolled in degree and certificate programs on either a fixed term rate or a per-credit hour rate. In reference to programs charging a fixed term rate:

• Students enrolled in more than the maximum credits hours allowed by their program of study in a single term will be charged a per-credit hour rate for credits taken above the maximum.
• Students enrolled less than full-time (as defined by the program) are charged a per-credit hour rate based upon the tuition rate of their program of study.

Students who are required to retake all or a portion of the program will be charged an additional per-credit hour rate for repeated courses.

The University charges Accelerated Sciences students on a per-credit hour rate based upon the number of credit hours in which the student is enrolled.

In all cases, changes in a student’s enrollment status due to adding, dropping, or withdrawing from a course may impact tuition and fees.

Additional Costs

Students are responsible for meeting additional costs associated with their program of study such as travel, accommodations, food, books, software, technology equipment, and supplies. 

Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee

The Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee allows students to pay the tuition rate in effect at the time of matriculation for the duration of their program of study. The Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee does not apply to Accelerated Sciences students. The Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee will vary depending on the program in which the student is enrolled. The Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee does not apply to fees. 

To qualify for the Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee the student must maintain continuous enrollment including summer in their program of study, and graduate either on time, or with one additional term of the published program length.  In addition, students will remain eligible for the Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee in effect at the time of the original date of entry if:

• The student takes a Military Leave of Absence. 
• The student qualifies to return under the Reentry policy (return within one year of withdrawal).
• The student returns as scheduled from an approved Leave of Absence (return within six months).

Students will be subject to the tuition in effect at the time of their return to the University if:

• The student is suspended for disciplinary reasons.
• The student qualifies to return under the Readmissions policy (more than one year after withdrawal).
• The student took an approved Leave of Absence but did not return as scheduled (including any return after six months).

Payment Deadlines

With the exception of Accelerated Sciences students, all other students are required to ensure their student financial account is in good standing by the end of business on the Friday of the second week of each term. An account shall be considered in good standing if one of the following applies:

• Payment is made in full by the end of business on the Friday of the second week of the term (certificate and degree students) or the end of the first day of the block regardless of when the first class session is scheduled (Accelerated Sciences students).
• Students relying on payment plans have been reviewed and revised by the Office of Student Accounts by end of business on the Friday of the second week of the term (certificate or degree students) or the end of the first day of the block regardless of when the first class sessions is scheduled (Accelerated Sciences students). To be accepted by the Office of Student Accounts, a student must have completed the required payment plan process online via mySCU, the University’s intranet.
• Students relying on Veteran’s Administration funds (excluding vocational rehabilitation) have been approved by the Office of Financial Aid by the end of business on the Friday of the second week of the term. To be approved by the Office of Financial Aid, all requested documentation necessary to check benefit eligibility and certify benefits must be received by this day. Approval may be granted even if funds are delayed by the agency.
• Students relying on Vocational Rehabilitation or other third-party providers funds have been approved by the Office of Student Accounts by the end of business on the Friday of the second week of the term. Students relying on Vocational Rehabilitation funds to take Accelerated Sciences courses must be approved by the Office of Student Accounts by the end of the first day of each block. Approval may be granted even if funds are delayed by the agency.
• Students relying on both federal financial aid (grants and/or loans) or private loans and a payment plan (for any tuition and fees not covered by loans) must be accepted by the Office of Student Accounts and by the Office of Financial Aid by the end of business on the Friday of the second week of the term (certificate and degree students) or the end of the first day of the block (Accelerated Sciences students).

Student Refunds

When a refund is due to a student, a refund check or direct deposit will be generated within 14 days of the date the student’s account has a credit balance. Refunds stemming from Financial Aid and/or Veteran Affairs benefits are issued after the aid/benefit funds have been received from the respective entity(ies) and a credit is generated on the student’s account.

A student who is eligible for a refund due to excess financial aid and who uses a credit card to pay any and all tuition and fees will have a refund processed to the credit card up to the amount of the card payment. This policy applies to all credit card transactions, regardless of the order of payment. Any remaining refund due to the student over the amount paid by credit card will be processed through direct deposit or paper check.

Student Account Holds

Students whose accounts are not in good standing by the end of business on the Friday of the second week of the term will have a student account hold placed on their account. Students participating in a payment plan who fail to make payments according to the payment schedule will have a student account hold placed on their account. Students whose accounts have been put on hold generally are given three business days to remedy the hold. Students who do not remedy the hold in that three-day period will be prohibited from registering in future courses. Students may also be subject to fees and penalties.

Student Account Withdrawals

Students whose financial accounts are not in good standing 45 days after the first day of the term may be subject to administrative withdrawal. Students whose financial accounts are not in good standing at the end of the term will be prohibited from registering for the subsequent term. A student’s account is considered in good standing if:

• The student’s account balance is less than $500.
• The student has been making payments on-time according to their payment plan. 
• The student has provided all necessary paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid and/or Office of Student Accounts, regardless of whether or not there is a student account balance. This typically means that the University can verify that student is waiting for funding from a third party.

Late Payment Fees

Students who fail to make payments in a timely manner are subject to late payment fees.

Pro Rata Refund Policy (Certificate- and Degree-Seeking Students)

Students who withdraw, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence from the University after attending will be eligible for a tuition refund according to the table below. The withdrawal date, as determined by the Office of the Registrar, is used to calculate the refund. Fees, tuition deposits, and other charges are not refundable.

The pro rata refund will be determined by the total number of days the student completes in a term divided by the total number of calendar days in the term. All days in the term count toward the number of days the student completes in the term, not just those days in which a student has a scheduled class session. If the amount is less than 60%, the student is provided a prorated refund based upon the total number of days the student completed in the term. If the amount is equal to or more than 60%, the student is ineligible for a refund. Note: The pro rata refund policy is not applicable to students in Accelerated Sciences.  

Note: Students who are billed on a fixed term rate and who drop courses during the add/drop period for their program that bring their total units below full-time (as defined by the program) will be charged on a per unit basis.

Students will not be eligible for a refund for any courses dropped after the add/drop period, regardless of the number of units the student is registered in. 

A standard 15-week term begins on a Monday and ends on a Sunday. A 5-week block begins on a Monday and ends on a Sunday. A 7 ½-week block begins on a Monday or a Thursday and ends on a Sunday.  If Monday is a holiday the term will begin on Tuesday.

15-WEEK TERM (applies to Standard and Non-Standard Term Academic Calendar)

7 ½-WEEK BLOCK (applies to Two-Block Academic Calendar)

5-WEEK BLOCK (applies to Three-Block Academic Calendar)

Refund Policy (Accelerated Sciences)

Students who drop or withdraw from Accelerated Sciences courses will be eligible for a tuition refund according to the table below. Fees and other charges are not refundable.

Please note: Refunds are based upon the first day of the block, not the actual first day of class.

Accelerated Sciences Courses Only