College Expenses
The total charges to attend Alma College for the 2011-12 academic year are $38,070. 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 ($28,980 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 $1,000 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 2011–12 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Tuition | Student Activity Fee | Double Room and Board | Total | |
| Fall Term | $14,490 | $125 | $4,420 | $19,035 | |
| Winter Term | $14,490 | $125 | $4,420 | $19,035 | |
| SUBTOTAL | $28,980 | $250 | $8,840 | $38,070 | |
| Spring Term | $850 | $0 | $600 | $1,450 | |
| TOTAL | $29,830 | $250 | $9,440 | $39,520 | |
| Spring Term Expenses. | |||||
Full year students who attend Spring Term pay $850 tuition and $600 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 and Board | Total | ||
| Full-Year Student | $850 | $600 | $1,450 | ||
| New or One-Term Student | $2,000 | $900 | $2,900 | ||
Housing Expenses. Costs shown for 2011-12 reflect double room occupancy. Students living in small single rooms will be charged $4,800 each term for room and board.
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 providing all student charges have been paid in full.
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 $500 for each credit hour.
Insurance Plan. All Alma College students are required to have health insurance and must participate in the Student Insurance Plan unless proof of comparable coverage is furnished. Students covered under a family plan, or who have other comparable coverage to the Alma College Plan, may waive coverage under the College Plan.
Alma College makes a comprehensive student insurance program available to students. The plan provides for physician visits, prescription drug expense benefit, outpatient services including medical emergency, x-rays, lab procedures and miscellaneous tests, room and board, hospital miscellaneous, surgery (inpatient and outpatient) and a 24-hour Nurse Advice Line. Full details about the plan and costs are available at http://www.CIRStudentHealth.com/Alma or at the Wilcox Health Center.
All international students or exchange visitors who attend Alma College on F, J, or other visa status must purchase and enroll in the Alma College Student Injury and Sickness Plan before the start of classes for any given term, or the College will purchase coverage and place the charges on the student's account.
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.
Orientation. All incoming students are required to attend Orientation before the Fall Term. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to attend Orientation. The charge for Orientation is $325 and includes room and board.
Student Activity Fee. The students of Alma College have elected to assess a fee on themselves at the rate of $250 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 2012 summer session is $425 per credit hour or $1,700 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 19, 2011, and January 3, 2012, 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 19, 2011, with a deferred second payment for the remaining balance on or before October 14, 2011. The first payment for Winter Term is due on or before January 3, 2012, and the deferred second payment on or before February 17, 2012. Deferred payment plans must be approved by the Director of Business Services. There is a $20 fee per term for this payment option.
- An educational financing plan that permits payment of the annual expense over the academic year is available through Sallie Mae. Information can be obtained from Sallie Mae directly at 1-800-635-0120 or through their Web site at http://www.salliemae.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, bank drafts, or money orders. Payments can also be made online with a Mastercard, American Express or Discover card, or with an e-check at the Business Office Web site: https://secure.alma.edu/payments. A 2.5% convenience fee is charged for all credit card payments.
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 | $500/credit |
| Continuing Education | $250/credit |
| Early Examination Fee | $125 |
| Freshman Orientation | $325 |
| Late Registration Fee | $125 |
| Motor Vehicle Registration | |
| Resident Students | $200/year |
| Resident Students - Silver Parking | $175/year |
| Commuter Students | $150/year |
| Proficiency Examination | $250/credit |
| Room Change Fee | $50 |
| Summer Tuition (2012) | $425/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.
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. Students who wish to withdraw from Alma College must complete the withdrawal process by contacting the Academic and Career Planning office. If this process is not completed, students will forfeit their deposits and refunds. The College assumes that students beginning a term intend to complete it. Students who leave during a term without completing the withdrawal process may receive failing grades for course enrollments.
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.