College Expenses
The total charges to attend Alma College for the 2008-09 academic year are $32,970. As shown in the accompanying chart, these charges include tuition, board and double room, and the student activity fee for the Fall and Winter terms. Spring Term charges are reflected in the schedule below. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to change any charges prior to the opening date of any term.
The tuition charge shown ($24,630 for the Fall and Winter terms) is for a term load of 13 to 18 credit hours. Students registering for more than the normal allowable credit hours per term are charged at the rate of $955 per credit hour for the overload.
Students enrolled full time are required to live in Alma College residences and dine at the College's food service. Exceptions to this policy must be approved through the Student Life Office.
| Costs for Full-Time Students in 2008–09 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Tuition | Student Activity Fee | Double Room | Board | Total |
| Fall Term | $12,315 | $110 | $2,000 | $2,060 | $16,485 |
| Winter Term | $12,315 | $110 | $2,000 | $2,060 | $16,485 |
| SUBTOTAL | $24,630 | $220 | $4,000 | $4,120 | $32,970 |
| Spring Term | $330 | $0 | $0 | $559 | $889 |
| TOTAL | $24,960 | $220 | $4,000 | $4,679 | $33,859 |
| Spring Term Expenses. | |||||
Full year students who attend Spring Term pay $330 tuition and $559 board. Costs for Spring Term students who have been enrolled for only one term or who are entering as new students are shown below. |
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| Student Category | Tuition | Double Room | Board | Total | |
| Full-Year Student | $330 | $0 | $559 | $889 | |
| One-Term Student | $1,880 | $275 | $559 | $2,714 | |
| New Student | $3,770 | $543 | $559 | $4,872 | |
Housing Expenses. Costs shown for 2008-09 reflect double room occupancy. Students living in small single rooms will be charged $2,205 each term. Those residing in large single rooms will be charged $2,383.
Deposits. All accepted applicants are required to pay a Commitment Deposit of $200, refundable until May 1. Special deposit requirements for international students are described elsewhere in this catalog. Half of the Commitment Deposit is applied as credit to the student's account for the Fall Term. The other half serves as a security reserve from which the College may recover expenses incurred by the student for damage to or loss of College property. Any unexpended portion of this fee is refunded to the student after separation from the College. Returning students are required to make a new commitment deposit of $50 each spring to reserve a room for the following year.
Tuition-Exempt Credits. All students are permitted to enroll in a maximum of two ensemble credits above the normal load of 18 credits without incurring a tuition overload charge. Contact the Registrar's Office for exempt courses.
Auditing Courses. Tuition for students who audit classes (for no credit) is $477 for each credit hour.
Insurance Plan. All students are required to have health insurance coverage. Alma College makes a comprehensive student medical reimbursement plan available to all full-time students. The plan provides for extended hospitalization, surgery, doctors' visits, x-rays and usual laboratory tests while hospitalized. Students covered under a family plan, or who have other coverage comparable to the Alma College Plan, may waive coverage under the College Plan. Full details about and costs for the insurance plan may be obtained from the Vice President for Finance and Administration or the Health Center.
All incoming international students must have health insurance coverage. Any international student who does not have a medical insurance policy cleared through the Health Center before the start of classes for any given term is automatically enrolled in the Alma College student medical insurance policy and is billed accordingly by the College.
Off-Campus Programs. Alma College students will pay Alma College published tuition, fees, room and board for off-campus programs. Alma College will pay on behalf of the student, the tuition, room, board and associated academic fees charged by our partnering host institutions. If the total costs of the off-campus program exceed the published tuition, room and board rates for the same semester at Alma College, the student is responsible for the additional costs.
Preterm Orientation. All incoming students are required to attend Preterm Orientation before the Fall Term. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to attend Preterm. The charge for Preterm is $315 and includes room and board.
Student Activity Fee. The students of Alma College have elected to tax themselves at the rate of $220 per year. This fee is used to sponsor social events such as dances, movies and live entertainment; support the yearbook, student newspaper and campus radio station; and admit each student to athletic events. All students enrolled for eight or more credits are charged this fee.
Summer Session. Tuition for the 2009 summer session is $348 per credit hour or $1,392 for a four-credit course.
Payment of Tuition and Fees. Charges for tuition, room, board and fees are billed to students each term. There are three alternatives for paying these charges:
- Full payment is due on or before August 27, 2008, and December 30, 2008, respectively, for the Fall and Winter terms.
- Payment of half the balance due (after financial aid credits have been applied) for the Fall Term must be paid by August 27, 2008, with a deferred second payment for the remaining balance on or before October 17, 2008. The first payment for Winter Term is due on or before December 30, 2008, and the deferred second payment on or before February 20, 2009. Deferred payment plans must be approved by the Director of Business Services.
- An educational financing plan that permits payment of the annual expense over the academic year is available through Academic Management Services (AMS). Information can be obtained from AMS directly at (800) 635-0120 or through their Web site at http://www.tuitionpay.com. Some literature is also available from the Business Office or Admissions Office.
Payment of tuition and fee charges can be made with cash, personal checks, credit cards, bank drafts, or money orders. Payments can also be made online at the Business Office Web site: https://www.alma.edu/community/offices/business_office/receivables.
If the amount of the payment is more than the amount due, students may request a refund or the amount will be credited to their account.
| Miscellaneous Fees | |
|---|---|
| Auditing | $477/credit |
| Commuter Board (Seven-meal Plan) | $980/term |
| Continuing Education | $195/credit |
| Early Examination Fee | $105 |
| Freshman Preterm Orientation | $315 |
| Late Registration Fee | $110 |
| Motor Vehicle Registration | |
| Maroon - First year (if available) and Sophomores | $200/year |
| Maroon - Juniors and Seniors | $175/year |
| Silver - First year and Sophomores | $175/year |
| Silver - Juniors and Seniors | $150/year |
| Commuter - First year and Sophomores | $175/year |
| Commuter - Juniors and Seniors | $150/year |
| Proficiency Examination | $195/credit |
| Room Change Fee | $50 |
| Summer Tuition (2009) | $348/credit |
All drafts and checks should be made payable to Alma College.
Advance billings are sent approximately two weeks before the start of each term. Payment may be made by mail, over the Internet or by calling the Business Office.
Payment must be received by the College prior to registration, or the student will have to make payment at the Business Office during registration. Students are not permitted to attend class without making satisfactory financial arrangements.
Late Payment Fees. Tuition and fees are due on registration day for each term. A late payment fee of one percent per month is assessed on all outstanding balances beginning October 18 for Fall Term and February 21 for Winter Term.
Failure to Meet Financial Obligations. In accordance with standard practice at colleges and universities, students are required to make satisfactory arrangements with the Business Office for the settlement of all financial obligations. These include student accounts, student loans, parking fines, library fines, music record rentals and other expenses.
When a student fails to meet financial obligations, Alma College reserves the right to withhold the issuance of grades, transcripts and diplomas, and to suspend a student until the obligations are met.
Financial Aid. Any financial aid other than a work-study grant awarded by the College for the entire year will be prorated; 50 percent to be available Fall Term and 50 percent to be available Winter Term. A work-study grant may not be deducted from charges because this aid represents funds to be earned during the year. Scholarships and grants awarded by organizations other than Alma College will not be credited until actually received. The Director of Financial Assistance must be notified of any scholarship or grant awarded by organizations and agencies other than Alma College.
Withdrawals from College. The College assumes that a student beginning a term intends to complete it. Any student who wishes to withdraw from the College or from the term must inform the appropriate administrative offices of this decision. Withdrawal forms are available at the Academic and Career Planning office. Failure to complete this form prior to departing from campus will result in forfeiture of all deposits and refunds.
Withdrawal Refund Policy. Tuition, room fee and activity fee are refunded according to the following table.
| Refunds for Fall and Winter Terms | |
|---|---|
| Withdrawal During Calendar Week No. | Percentage of Tuition Refundable |
| 1 | 90% |
| 2 | 85% |
| 3 | 80% |
| 4 | 70% |
| 5 | 65% |
| 6 | 60% |
| 7 | 50% |
| 8 | 45% |
| 9 | 40% |
| 10 and after | No Refund |
College scholarships, grants and/or loans received by the student will be refunded on a comparable percentage basis.
Refunds for other non-College financial aid will be made in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable to those programs.
Refund of Federal Title IV Financial Aid. The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 require that when a student withdraws before completing 60% of the term, the institution must determine the percentage of Title IV assistance the student has earned. For Title IV financial aid regulations, the withdrawal date is the date on which the student states his or her intention to withdraw from the institution. The percentage is determined by dividing the total number of calendar days in the semester into the number of calendar days completed as of the withdrawal date. Any unearned aid must be returned to the Title IV program(s). Funds are returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Subsidized Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, PLUS Loan, Pell Grant, ACG, SMART, SEOG and other Title IV programs. The student must either repay the federal overpayment in full or make satisfactory arrangements with either the Alma College Business Office or the federal Department of Education. The payment or arrangement for payment must be made within 45 days of the date of notification of the federal overpayment or the student will lose further eligibility of federal Title IV aid until the debt is paid in full.
Full refunds will be made for overload charges up to the second Friday of the term. No refunds for overloads will be allowed after that time.
Board. The board charge is refundable on a prorated basis during any term.
Course Fees. Course fees are assessed for courses which incur unusual or extra expense. These expenditures are made on the basis of course registrations. Therefore, no refund is allowed for these fees.
Spring Term. No refund of tuition for withdrawals which occur after the fifth day of classes. There is no refund for room charges and the board fee will be prorated.
Summer Session. No refund of tuition for withdrawals which occur after the fifth day of the term.