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 https://www.sjcme.edu/admissions/online/costs-and-billing/

• 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 Online Advising team 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 students will complete the courses in which they are enrolled. Should it be necessary to withdraw from an online course, students must seek approval from their Academic Advisor and submit the Withdrawal Form. The Student Accounts Office will determine the amount of any applicable refund according to the following schedule based on the number and type of courses the student was enrolled in. Special fees, room and board, and non-refundable fees will not be included in tuition adjustments or refunds. 

Once the Read & Understood Agreement has been completed, online students will be held to the following schedule:

• Withdrawal prior to course start date - No tuition charged or 100% refund if paid in full
• Withdrawal on days 1-3 of course - No tuition charged or 100% refund if paid in full
• Withdrawal on days 4-9 of course - 50% tuition charged or 50% refund if paid in full
• Withdrawal on days 10-15 of course - 75% tuition charged or 25% refund if paid in full
• Withdrawal on/after day 16 of course - 100% tuition charged or no refund if paid in full

Any student dismissed from the College for infraction of College regulations will be responsible for applicable tuition and ineligible for tuition adjustments or refunds.

Financial aid recipients who choose to 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 official withdrawal date. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 800-752-1266 or 207-893-6612.

Financial Aid Overview

Payment Options: Payment in full is expected upon registering for courses, unless utilizing the College’s tuition installment plan. 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://kappa.sjcme.edu/cc_Forms/BusForm/buspay. Note: There is a $50 charge for all returned checks.

For students using the tuition installment plan, a deposit equal to one credit hour of tuition per course and the installment plan fee is required upon registration. The remaining balance is paid in two scheduled payments, with the total due within 50 days of the course start date.

For more information:

• 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 Online Advising team at 800-343-5498 or 207-893-7800.

Financial Aid Overview

The College offers federal financial aid for students enrolled in degree programs in the Online Division. 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 Saint Joseph’s College Online 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 online 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 online 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 servicer does not use the services of the Clearinghouse, you must contact the servicer or services for a deferment form for each 10 or 12 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

To maintain eligibility for financial aid and loan deferment, students must be enrolled at least half-time.  An undergraduate student  will be considered half-time if s/he is enrolled in 6 credits. The courses must be completed within the 12 week enrollment period.  A graduate student will be considered half-time if s/he is enrolled in at least 3 credits during the 10 or 12 week enrollment period. Students must also maintain satisfactory academic progress, which requires at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and completion of at least 70% of all credits attempted including those that have been transferred to Saint Joseph’s.  Course extensions and/or incompletes are not applicable to financial aid or deferment eligibility. 

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 please call the Office of Financial Aid at 800-752-1266 or 207-893-6612.