Tuition and Fees

An investment in a Saint Joseph’s College education is a wise purchase that will reap dividends for years to come. The education students earn is recognized for its real-world applications, allowing students to make significant contributions to their workplace and their communities. A quality Saint Joseph’s College education, combined with an extensive array of support services geared to the adult learner, and the convenience and flexibility of distance education all add up to a tremendous value.

There are several ways to manage the cost of a Saint Joseph’s College education including a tuition installment plan, private loans, and traditional financial aid programs. Many employers also offer tuition reimbursement programs for their employees. Saint Joseph’s also accepts major credit cards for payment of tuition and fees, which enables students to enroll by phone or online. Students can also pay by personal check or by money order.

Tuition and fees vary by program of study. For current tuition rates and a complete fee schedule, visit http://online.sjcme.edu/tuition.

• Students who are applying and/or enrolling in their first course(s) may contact an Admissions Counselor at 800-752-4723 or 207-893-7841.
• Students who have already begun their program of study may contact their Academic Advisor or the Student Support Office at 800-343-5498 or 207-893-7800.

Students may use the online payment form with a valid credit card for tuition and fee payments at: https://kappa.sjcme.edu/sjc_Forms/Form/payform. 

All financial obligations must be satisfied in order to insure continuance at the College. Grades and/or transcripts will not be released until all financial obligations are met. When it is necessary to forward an unpaid account to an outside collection agency, that account is responsible for all collection fees.

The College anticipates that enrolled students will complete the courses in which they are enrolled. Should it be necessary to withdraw from a Graduate & Professional Studies course, students must make their requests in writing to their advisor. The Treasurer will determine the amount of refund according to the following schedule for tuition (but not for special fees or room and board) based on the number and type of courses the student was enrolled in.

 Independent Study/Capstone/Practica Courses:

• Withdrawal before official course start date - 100% of tuition, if paid in full.
• Withdrawal within 15 days of official course start date - 75% of tuition, if paid in full.
• Withdrawal within 30 days of official course start date - 50% of tuition, if paid in full.
• Withdrawal after 30 days of official course start date - No refund.

Fixed Term and Classroom-based (non-summer) Courses:

• Withdrawal before official course start date - 100% of tuition, if paid in full.
• Withdrawal during first week of class - 75% of tuition, if paid in full.
• Withdrawal during second week of class - 50% of tuition, if paid in full.
• Withdrawal during third week of class - 20% of tuition, if paid in full.
• Withdrawal after third week of class - No refund.

Any student dismissed from the College for infraction of College regulations will not be granted a refund of tuition.

Financial aid recipients who choose to withdraw or must withdraw from the College are subject to federal refund regulations as well as the tuition refund policy. A student is generally able to keep aid that has been earned based on the length of time the student has been enrolled during the period of education. The refund calculation is performed within 30 days of the date the official withdrawal form is received by the Office of Financial Aid. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 800-752-1266 or 207-893-6612.

http://www.sjcme.edu/gps/financial-aid-overview.php

Payment Options: Payment in full is expected upon registering for courses. Saint Joseph’s College accepts payment by personal check, money order, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. In addition, payment can be made by debit card, a Tuition Assistance voucher, or by going online at https://www.sjcme.edu/forms/gps/tuitionpayment.php. Note: There is a $30 charge for all returned checks.

For students using a payment plan, a deposit equal to one credit hour of tuition per course is required upon registration. The remaining obligation, including the tuition installment plan fee, is made in two scheduled payments with the total due within 60 days of course registration.

For more information:

• Students who are applying and/or enrolling in their first course(s) may contact an Admissions Counselor at 800-752-5498 or 207-893-7841.
• Students who have already begun their program of study may contact their Academic Advisor or the Student Support Office at 800-343-5498 or 207-893-7800.

http://www.sjcme.edu/gps/financial-aid-overview.php

The College offers federal financial aid for students enrolled in degree programs in the Division of Graduate & Professional Studies. Eligible students who have schedules that will allow them to complete courses on time, and who also plan to remain enrolled without breaks, may find that federal aid is a good option. A student must be enrolled half-time in order to be eligible for financial aid. Funding is available through both the Federal Stafford Loan and the Federal Pell Grant (for undergraduates only). For students who desire a more flexible financing option, please contact the Office of Financial Aid for credit-based educational loans that can be used to meet tuition and summer residency costs.

To apply for financial aid, a student must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) and the Graduate & Professional Studies Financial Aid Application. A copy of the student’s (and spouse’s, if applicable) signed federal tax return and W2s must also be provided. These materials are reviewed and an award letter will be sent to the student once the student has been fully admitted to a degree program and the student’s transfer credits, if any, have been evaluated. A policies and procedures sheet is included with the award letter. Financial aid for distance courses can be used to help meet the cost of tuition and books. During summer residency courses, financial aid may also be available to assist with travel, room, board, and book costs.

Financial aid for distance courses can be used to help meet the cost of tuition. Stafford Loan funds will be disbursed on approximately the 30th day after the official start date of the course. At that time, the student is required to have submitted at least one assignment in each class for which the loan disbursement is being received. A student is eligible for a Pell Grant payment only after 25% of the coursework has been submitted for the term.

Many students choose to pay for coursework through means other than financial aid but are still interested in deferring student loans borrowed previously. A student must be enrolled half-time in order to be eligible for most deferments. The College reports enrollment information through the Clearinghouse, a national student loan database, on a monthly basis. If your lender does use the services of the Clearinghouse, you must contact the lender or services for a deferment form for each 15-week period she/he is enrolled. This form (including the lender/services name and address) should be sent to the Office of Academic Records for completion.

Maintaining Half-Time Status and Eligibility for Financial Aid and Loan Deferment

As an undergraduate student, you will be considered half‐time if you are enrolled in six credits and submit a unit every 30 days in each of the courses in which you are enrolled. As a graduate student, you will be considered half‐time if you are enrolled in three credits during the assigned 15-week semester and submit a unit at least every 30 days. The 30-day time frame restarts each time you submit a unit. The course(s) must be completed within the assigned 15-week semester. To be half‐time in an 8-week/10-week cyber course, you must meet the course participation requirements at least every 30 days. Note: If you fail to submit the next required assignment within 30 days or fail to meet the cyber course participation requirement, you will be considered less than half-time and will be ineligible for financial aid and/or deferment of prior loans. While your academic advisor may grant you an extension on your coursework, financial aid guidelines prohibit us from granting any extensions.

Note: A change of a course’s official start date will adversely affect a student’s financial aid and loan deferment eligibility.

For more information, application materials, or the Graduate & Professional Studies financing brochure, please call the Office of Financial Aid at 800-752-1266 or 207-893-6612.