Fees and Expenses
Basic educational fees for 2008-2009:
| Tuition (full-time) | $33,385 |
| Student Service Fee | $620 |
| Campus Housing | $3,650-$4,550 |
| Meal Plans | |
| Per Year | |
| 19/week | $3,530 |
| 14/week | $3,215 |
| 10/week* | $2,675 |
| 5/week* | $1,500 |
Orientation Fee
All first-year and transfer students must pay an orientation fee of $200 for the fall semester and $150 for the spring semester.
Off Campus Study Fee
For each semester, or portion thereof, that a student participates in an off-campus program while enrolled at Washington College, the student must pay tuition and fees associated with the off-campus program and an additional $880 Off-Campus Study Fee.
Certain off-campus programs also require the payment of a special program fee that is generally non-refundable. The program fee is paid in two installments. A deposit is generally required at the time the student applies to the program, and the balance of the program fee is due upon billing.
Graduation Fee
There is a $150 mandatory graduation fee for all students expected to receive a Washington College degree. Generally the fee will be billed and due during the senior or final year. The graduation fee is a one-time non-refundable fee.
Part-time Student Fees
Part-time students are defined as those taking fewer than three courses in a semester. Tuition is charged at the rate of $5,565 per semester undergraduate course and $900 per semester graduate course. Part-time undergraduate students are also assessed a pro rata student fee ($103 for a full credit course). Graduate students are also assessed an $80 non-refundable per course registration fee. For auditing a course without academic credit, the charge is $300.
Special Course Fees
Certain courses, such as applied music, education internship, and some specialized instruction classes in physical education, have additional fees.
Maintenance of Degree Fee
If a student, after achieving second-semester senior status, does not graduate and completes non-credit College requirements either in residence or out of residence, the College will assess maintenance of degree fee of $300 payable for each full or partial semester until graduation requirements have been met.
(Grandfathered population prior to 7/1/07)
Late Payment Fee
The amount of the late payment fee is $100 on any balance of $1,000 or more for undergraduate students and $75 on any balance of $750 or more for graduate students. A late fee is charged when a student:
- has not paid their account in full or made payment arrangements by the officially posted due date for the current semester; or
- has defaulted on a payment plan; or
- has financial aid cancelled, in any manner.
Deposits
Once admitted to Washington College, full-time matriculating undergraduate students are required to make a $300 enrollment deposit. The College reserves places in the entering class in the order in which these deposits are recorded. The $300 deposit is non-refundable after May 1 for students entering in the Fall semester and December 15 for students entering in the Spring semester. This deposit will be applied to first-semester tuition bills.
All students who will be living on campus are required to make a non-refundable housing deposit of $300 for returning students and $200 for first-time students. This deposit will be applied to the room billing for the semester.
In addition to semester fees, all undergraduate students are required to maintain a security deposit of $275 throughout their College careers.
Billing and Payment Policies
TUITION, FEES, ROOM, AND BOARD
The College bills for tuition, fees, room, and board twice a year, in early July for the Fall semester, and in early December for the Spring semester. At the beginning of each semester, pending financial aid is allowed as a credit to the student’s account, and is counted as payment until September 30 and January 31 for the Fall and Spring semesters respectively. Students who have not completed all necessary paperwork to finalize pending aid by that time are required to pay in full. If financial aid is later reinstated, the student will be given a full refund of any credit balance. This refund is available by contacting the Business Office.
The due date for each semester is indicated on the student statements. Generally, the due date will be one week prior to the first day of classes.
Students who have not paid in full, or who have not made satisfactory arrangements to pay in full using financial aid or the AMS payment plan, by the due date for the semester, will not be considered as having met their financial obligation. Until this obligation has been met, students may not return to campus, or attend classes
Students who have not paid, nor made satisfactory arrangements to pay, prior to the posted due dates will be assessed the late payment fee.
Students who subsequently default on their AMS tuition installment plan, who reject or fail to complete necessary documentation for financial aid, originally counted as payment for the semester, will be assessed the late payment fee and their campus charging privileges will be suspended.
All students are required to complete and submit to the Business Office an Account Responsibility Form. This form serves as consent for Business Office personnel to discuss questions regarding the student’s account with the indicated parties. Only those persons listed may be given information regarding the student’s account. This form must be signed by both the student and by any other individual who has assumed responsibility for payment.
CAMPUS CHARGING
The College allows registered full-time undergraduate students who are eligible, to charge on campus using their student ID card. Eligibility is based upon the following criteria:
- Good financial standing.
- Past semester history shows compliance with regular monthly payment cycle.
- The Account Responsibility Form is on file in the Business Office.
- Payments are made monthly for all charges.
The Business Office bills each month for all charges incurred on campus. Voluntary charges include charges made at the Bookstore, Cove, Dining Service, Student Center, Health Services, and for Telephone, as well as other occasional charges, such as tickets for the annual Birthday Ball. In addition to voluntary campus charging, fines incurred by the student, which have not been settled, are also billed on the monthly student statement. These include parking violations, Student Affairs fines, Library fines, Honor Board fines, dorm damages, and other assessed charges. Parents/guardians should first discuss questionable charges with the student, before calling the Business Office. Students are given detailed receipts at the time of their purchases on campus, and are notified in writing when any fines are levied. Campus charging generally ends the last business day in April.
All charges are due upon receipt of the monthly Student Statement of Account. Any charge that is outstanding for more than 30 days will result in the suspension of campus charging privileges.
Once the campus charging privilege has been suspended, this privilege is forfeited for the entire semester. Outstanding balances that remain unpaid at the end of the semester will result in further suspension during the following semester. In addition, grades will not be sent, transcripts of academic credit will not be issued, a diploma will not be issued, and pre-registration for subsequent semesters may be delayed.
Students may view their student account through Web Advisor on the Washington College website at http://businessoffice.washcoll.edu.
PAYMENTS
Washington College Business Office accepts cash, cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, wire transfers, and money orders in payment of student accounts. Wire transfer information can be obtained by calling the Business Office (410-778-7708). Personal checks are also accepted, unless there has been a previous incident of payment by check that was returned for non-sufficient funds. Once a non-sufficient funds check has been returned on a student’s account, future payments must be made using another acceptable form of payment. Post-dated checks are not acceptable. Credit card payment for student account balances may only be made via the Washington College Web site at http://businessoffice.washcoll.edu. There is a processing fee for this service.
Personal checks submitted for payments on student accounts will have the student’s College ID number written on the face of the check. Parents wishing to insure against the financial losses associated with medical withdrawals after the beginning of classes may purchase insurance through the College. (Contact the Business Office for more information.)
Academic Management Services (AMS), in partnership with Washington College, offers tuition installment plans. Tuition and fees may be paid in 10, 11, or 12 monthly installments under these plans. Information about the AMS Monthly Installment Plan is mailed to all current and accepted students and can be obtained through the Business Office. All payment obligations not included in the Plan must be paid in full by the due date for the semester. If AMS terminates the student’s plan for nonpayment, the student will be subject to a default penalty charge equal to the late payment fee.
WITHDRAWALS AND REFUNDS
The College must make financial commitments to its faculty, staff, and service contractors on an annual basis and thus depends on tuition and other dollars to meet those commitments. If a student withdraws from the College during a semester, the student will be responsible for all non-refundable amounts. When the student withdrawal results from a disciplinary action, the College makes no refund of any kind.
Tuition refunds or credits will be allowed according to the following schedule: Before classes begin—100%; during the first two weeks of classes—75%; during the third week of classes—50%; during the fourth week of classes—25%. After the fourth week of classes there will be no refund.
Fees are generally not refundable after the start date of the semester.
Residence hall spaces are assigned for the full semester; therefore no refunds or credits for rooms are given for a student withdrawing after classes begin.
Board refunds or credits will be determined on a pro-rata basis.