Expenses, Payment, Refund Policies and Financial Aid

• Basic Expenses
• Payment of Business Office Accounts
• Refunds
• Enrollment Changes and Tuition Adjustments
• Return of Student Aid
• Financial Aid
• Types of Financial Assistance

The University year is divided into two semesters averaging sixteen weeks each and a summer session. Full-time tuition does not include courses taken during the summer. Tuition and fees are the same for audited and credit courses. Accounts must be paid in full, or payment arrangements made, before the beginning of each term in order to be considered in good standing.

All rates, terms of enrollment, discounts, and policies listed below are subject to change.

Basic Expenses (2024-2025)

Note: Other Meal Plans for Commuters are available. Contact the Student Success Center for further information.

Payment of Business Office Accounts

Contact the Business Office at 816-501-3700 or businessoffice@avila.edu

Advanced Payments

An Enrollment Deposit is required of all new students entering the University to reserve both a space in class and/or the residence halls. For students entering in the fall semester, an enrollment deposit is due by the date established in the written notification of acceptance. This deposit is non-refundable after May 1. Students entering in the fall semester who apply, are accepted, or register after August 5 will be required to make payment of one-fifth of the semester balance, less finalized financial aid, at the time of registration. For students entering in the spring semester, an enrollment deposit is due and is non-refundable after January 1. Students entering in the spring semester who apply, are accepted, or register after January 5 will be required to make payment of one-fifth of the semester balance, less finalized financial aid, at the time of registration. The Enrollment Deposit will be credited to the student’s account and deducted from the first semester’s expenses.

Payment of Accounts

All charges (tuition, fees, room & board, miscellaneous fees) must be paid in full with a combination of out-of-pocket personal payment, financial aid/scholarships or enrollment in a Deferred Payment Plan by the payment due date for each term announced in the class schedule. This is approximately two weeks before a term starts. If a student has not paid in full for a term with a combination of out-of-pocket personal payment, financial aid/scholarships or Deferred Payment Plan, at the beginning of the term, the student may be assessed a late fee, have a hold placed on their records, and/or be dropped from classes by the university.

Early application for financial aid allows the aid to be finalized by the payment due date. Access to enroll in the Deferred Payment Plan is in the student’s MyAU portal before the start of each term. There is a $40 fee for each term the student enrolls in the Deferred Payment Plan such as fall, spring, or summer terms. Students are responsible for the total tuition and other charges even though a third party may pay the university directly or reimburse the student. Payments with cash, check, or money order may be made in the Avila University Business Office. Payments made through the Deferred Payment Plan may be made with an electronic check (e-check) for free, or a credit/debit card with a 2.75% convenience fee, or an accepted 529 college savings plan with a $10.00 fee per transaction.

Each term such as fall, spring, or summer, must be paid in full by the end of that term. If a term’s charges have not been paid, and the student is not enrolled in a Deferred Payment Plan, a hold on future class registration and/or a hold on academic transcripts for non-Title 4 recipients will be placed by the Business Office until the bill is paid in full.

Each student is required to have a signed Financial Statement of Responsibility document on file.

Billing statements are available in the student’s MyAU portal, and paper statements are not sent.  

If a student account is past due, the student will be sent a letter informing them of the past due balance and, if not paid in full, the account will be placed with an outside collection agency. If a student’s account has been placed with a collection agency, restrictions will apply to future enrollment. These restrictions include paying the collection agency balance in full and pre-paying for the term in which the student will enroll with a combination of financial aid/scholarships and personal funds. 

Deferred Payment

Through Avila’s Deferred Payment Plan, the term charges, after accepted financial aid is applied, may be paid in equal installments throughout the semester. Payment plan agreements should be selected through the student’s MyAU portal prior to the beginning of each semester. If a plan is not selected, the enrollee, by making the first payment of the deferred payment plan, accepts all conditions of the plan. A $40.00 per term plan fee is charged. If payments are not made on or before the installment due dates, the student will have a $10.00 late fee assessed by AU’s payment plan servicer, Transact and registration and/or transcript holds for non-Title 4 recipients placed until payments are up-to-date. Each term such as fall, spring, or summer, must be paid in full by the end of that term. The student’s responsibility for the total charges is not changed by having some portion of the payment deferred.

Financial Aid and Loan Recipients

In order for financial aid awards to be applied, a student must have a completed FAFSA on file in the Financial Aid Office with all documents submitted and awards accepted. 

The student will be responsible for any payment due on the scheduled due dates. If finalized financial aid does not cover the term balance, personal payment will be due on the scheduled dates. Loan proceeds must be applied to any balance due, and any resulting credit balances will be refunded as noted under Credit Balance Refunds.

Please remember: Loans of any type must be repaid.

Late Payment Penalties

Failure to make arrangements for any balance due on a campus account by the due date may result in one or more of the following actions:

1. Late payment fee
2. A hold on the student’s transcript for non-Title 4 recipients and/or registration, and/or
3. Cancellation of the student’s registration

A student may be reinstated within the designated time period by bringing the account to current status. However, the original classes cannot be guaranteed.

Financial Statement of Responsibility

Students agree to be financially responsible for all costs of the courses they register for, regardless of how the registration occurs and are bound by all terms of the Avila University Financial Statement of Responsibility .

Refunds

Credit Balance Refunds

Refunds are available from the Business Office as outlined below:

• Students not receiving federal assistance may request a refund at any time after the second day of classes.
• Students receiving any federal assistance (Pell, SEOG, Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loans) will automatically receive a credit balance return on the schedule outlined below. Credit balances resulting from these federal monies must be issued to the student by the 14th day following the receipt of funds by the University.
• In instances where credit balances are created by funds paid from outside sources (such as businesses, governments, and banks), the money must first be received by Avila University in order to issue a disbursement to the student. An authorization to bill an outside source does not create a credit balance.
• Refunds will be issued via ACH through our partner, BankMobile. Students may set-up a BankMobile Vibe checking account or use their own personal checking account.  If the student has not linked their bank account in BankMobile, the refund cannot be direct deposited into the student’s bank account and BankMobile will issue a paper check sent to the student’s permanent address on file with the University.

Loan Recipients (Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Private):

• Note: Loans of any type must be repaid
• Avila University regulations will not permit credit balances generated by student loans to be refunded until classes have begun and attendance has been verified. When such a credit balance exists, the refund will be available on the 14th day following the disbursement of financial aid.

Residence Hall Refunds

Students who have been granted a withdrawal from the University may check out of the residence halls and receive refunds as follows:

• If within the first eight calendar days of the semester, students will receive a partial refund of their total room fees and board fees.
• After the first eight calendar days of classes, adjustments will be calculated by dividing the total room and contract amount by the number of weeks in the semester and then multiplying that by the number of weeks the student has resided in the residence hall. Board fees are not refunded.
• Students who are dismissed from the halls for disciplinary reasons will not receive a refund.

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) Refund Policy

This policy pertains solely to students who receive Military Tuition Assistance (TA). TA is granted with the expectation that the recipient will remain enrolled for the duration of the assistance period. If a student withdraws, they may become ineligible for the full TA amount initially granted. In adherence to the Department of Defense (DOD) guidelines, Avila University will reimburse any unused TA funds on a prorated basis up to at least 60% of the assistance period. TA funds are earned incrementally throughout the enrollment period. Any unused TA funds, determined by the point of student withdrawal, will be refunded directly to the relevant military branch, not to the service member in compliance with DOD policy.

Enrollment Changes and Tuition Adjustments

In any instance of adding, dropping, or withdrawing from courses, the student must complete a Change of Schedule form available in the Registration and Student Records Office and return the form to that office. The date the form is returned and processed in the Registration and Student Records Office is the date used for adjustments to charges. The time periods for the adjustments commence with the first day of the term according to the academic calendar and not the beginning date of the individual courses, unless otherwise noted. Fees are only refundable with cancellation of registration.

Full-Time Students

Cancellation of Registration

Prior to the start of classes and during the first fourteen calendar days (16-week session) of the semester, a cancellation of registration will result in a cancellation of all tuition and fees. See calendar for other session details. Cancellation of registration is a complete withdrawal from the university and no records will be kept. The Change of Schedule form must be returned to and processed by the Registration and Student Records Office to officially cancel registration. The return of any Title IV federal student aid and non-federal student aid will follow the policies listed under Return of Title IV Federal Student Aid.

Change of Status from Full-time to Part-time

Prior to the start of classes and during the first fourteen calendar days of the 16-week term, tuition charges will be re-assessed at the part-time rate. After fourteen calendar days of the 16-week term there will be no tuition reduction and the original charges will be due and payable. The Change of Schedule form must be returned to and processed by the Registration and Student Records Office during the first fourteen calendar days of classes to officially re-assess tuition and fee charges. The return of any Title IV federal student aid and non-federal student aid will follow the policies listed under Return of Title IV Federal Student Aid.

Withdrawal from Some or All Classes

Classes meeting 16 weeks

Students withdrawing from classes will be re-assessed tuition based on the following schedule. The Change of Schedule form must be returned to and processed by the Registration and Student Records Office during the given period to officially re-assess tuition.  Fees are not refunded.

• Before start of the 16-week semester and through first fourteen days of the 16 week semester:
  • 100% tuition and fees refund
• 15th through 21st calendar day from start of the 16-week semester:
  • 50% tuition refund; no refund for fees
• 22nd calendar day from start of the 16-week semester and after:
  • no refund of tuition or fees

Classes meeting 8 weeks 

Students withdrawing from classes will be re-assessed tuition based on the following schedule. The Change of Schedule form must be returned to and processed by the Registration and Student Records Office during the given period to officially re-assess tuition and fee charges.

• Before start of the term in which the class is scheduled and through seventh day of the term:
  • 100% tuition and fees
• Eighth through 11th calendar day from the start of the term in which the class is scheduled:
  • 50% tuition refund; no refund for fees
• 12th calendar day from the start of the term in which the class is scheduled:
  • no refund of tuition or fees

Classes Meeting 3 Weeks

Students withdrawing from classes will be re-assessed tuition based on the following schedule. The Change of Schedule form must be returned to and processed by the Registration and Student Records Office during the given period to officially re-assess tuition and fee charges.

• Before start of the term in which the class is scheduled and through third day of the term:
  • 100% tuition and fees
• Fourth calendar day from the start of the term in which the class is scheduled:
  • 50% tuition refund; no refund for fees
• Fifth calendar day from the start of the term in which the class is scheduled:
  • no refund of tuition or fees

The return of any Title IV federal student aid and non-federal student aid will follow the policies listed under Return of Title IV Federal Student Aid below.

See the Avila website at https://www.avila.edu/academics/registrar-office/current-students/.

The return of any Title IV federal student aid and non-federal student aid will follow the policies listed under Return of Title IV Federal Student Aid.

Part-Time Students

Cancellation of Registration

Prior to the start of term and during the first fourteen calendar days of the semester, a cancellation of registration will result in a cancellation of all tuition and fees. Cancellation of registration is a complete withdrawal from the university and no records will be kept. The Change of Schedule form must be returned to and processed by the Registration and Student Records Office. The return of any Title IV federal student aid and non-federal student aid will follow the policies listed under Return of Title IV Federal Student Aid.

Withdrawal from Some or All Classes

Will follow the same calendar days as listed above with full-time students.

Non-Credit Students

Adjustments will be made according to the full-time and part-time student policy.

Refund and Tuition Adjustment Appeal Policy

Students who feel their individual circumstances warrant an exception from the above stated refund policies may appeal in writing. The appeal should include a statement of the exception being requested, an explanation as to why an exception should be granted, and appropriate materials to support the request for the exception. The appeal letter and supporting materials should be sent to the Academic Affairs Office. Once all appeal materials are complete in the Academic Affairs Office, the student will receive written notification of the decision. The appeal must be received by the Academic Affairs Office within one year after the semester in which the registration occurred.

Return of Student Aid

Return of Title IV Federal Student Aid

The US Department of Education requires institutions to apply the Return to Title IV Funds policy for students withdrawing from a University who receive Title IV financial aid.  This policy includes both official and unofficial withdrawals.  Unofficial withdrawals include any student that receives Title IV aid and subsequently fails to complete any coursework (drop, withdraw, or receives a failing grade) in a given term.  The Title IV programs include: Federal Pell Grants, TEACH Grants, Direct Loans, Direct Plus Loans, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs).

The requirements for Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from any refund policy that the school may have.  Therefore, you may still owe funds to the school to cover unpaid institutional charges.  Avila University will charge the student for any Title IV program funds that were required to be returned. These funds must be returned even if the University provides no refund to the student.  This means the student could owe the University and/or the U.S. Department of Education a significant amount of money.

Return of Non-Federal Student Aid

The return of federal funds is the first priority for students receiving federal aid. If the student received institutional aid, state aid, or made personal payment, the institutional and state aid are repaid proportionally according to the source of the payment. If repayment of aid programs results in a balance owed to Avila on the student’s account, it is the responsibility of the student to pay the amount owed and it is due upon notification that a balance owed exists.

Financial Aid

Avila University believes that qualified students should not be denied an educational opportunity due to lack of financial resources and that financing a student’s education should be a cooperative effort between the student and the institution. While the student’s family has primary responsibility for the student’s education, the University, federal and state governments, and other external agencies work as partners in making higher education affordable. The University commits its own scholarship, grant, and work resources to assist qualified students in assembling the resources necessary to pay for an Avila education.

Students and families are strongly encouraged to call or visit the Financial Aid Office to engage in this planning process: the office may be reached by phone at 816-501-3600 or via email at financialaidoffice@avila.edu. Please note that counseling on debt management and loan repayment is also available to all students attending Avila University.

Detailed information about aid programs and the application process for federal, state, institutional, and private assistance is available at https://www.avila.edu/avila-life/sleptiza-center-for-student-excellence/student-financial-services/financial-aid-office/.

Application Process for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Avila University uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as its primary application for all federal and state financial aid programs; no supplementary applications are required. Students are encouraged to apply online at www.studentaid.gov. The FAFSA is completed using the student’s and parents’ federal income tax returns and should also include Avila University’s School Code (002449). When possible, students should utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import their tax information from the IRS’s database into the FAFSA.

Avila University does not have established deadlines for processing financial aid. However, students are encouraged to file the 2024-2025 FAFSA as soon as possible. Several types of funds are limited and thus awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note: Missouri residents must file the FAFSA by the state’s priority deadline in order to qualify for the state Access Missouri Grant.

Financial Aid awards will be communicated to the student via the Financial Aid Award Letter; newly enrolling freshman and transfer students will receive a hard copy award letter by mail to the address submitted on their FAFSA; continuing students, graduate students, and all students enrolled in School of Innovation programs will receive their award letter via email to their University email address. The student is then expected to confirm acceptance of the offer of financial aid by returning to the Financial Aid Office a signed copy of the award letter or by accepting awards through their MyAU account online.

Generally, the initial offer of financial assistance delineated in the award letter is non-negotiable. The financial aid package may, however, be altered as a result of one or more of the following conditions:

• Changes in the student’s housing status
• Changes in the student’s enrollment status (i.e., credit hours)
• Lack of satisfactory academic progress
• Receipt of financial aid from an outside source
• Discrepancies noted as a result of the verification process

(Note that the U.S. Department of Education randomly selects one in three FAFSA applications for verification. The verification process entails the comparison of actual financial aid data to that supplied on the FAFSA. Students selected for this process will be notified by the Student Success Center and additional documents may be requested.)

Students must submit all documents requested with the financial aid award letter. Financial aid packages cannot be finalized, nor aid applied to a student account, until the financial aid file is complete.

Types of Financial Assistance

Financial aid packages at Avila University may be comprised of a combination of grant, scholarship, loan, and work-study funding. Grants and scholarships are forms of assistance that do not have to be repaid, while loans must be repaid with interest. Interest rates and repayment terms vary as a function of the type of loan a student has secured. The following paragraphs identify and describe the types of funding at Avila University.

Avila University Awards

Avila University awards are awarded to full-time traditional undergraduate students only. The primary form of assistance offered to full-time incoming freshmen and transfer students is provided through the Avila Achievement Award or Avila Transfer Achievement Award. These award offers are made by the Office of Undergraduate Admission to students who qualify on the basis of their prior academic performance. New freshmen are evaluated on their cumulative high school grade point average and their standardized test scores (ACT or SAT), and transfer awards are made based upon the student’s cumulative college grade point average. Awards are renewable for the entirety of the student’s undergraduate career, provided the student maintains full-time enrollment status and a satisfactory level of academic progress.

New full-time, first-year and transfer students may also qualify for one or more of the following other Avila awards based on financial need and/or merit:

• Avila Grant
• Mission Grant
• Institutional Work Study
• Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Award
• A+ Recognition Scholarship
• Athletic Performance Grants (baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, dance, football, soccer, softball, track, or volleyball, as well as athletic managers)
• Academic Performance Grants (advertising, art, campus ministry, communication, kinesiology, music, newspaper, theatre, video production, or writing)

All Avila University awards may only be applied toward tuition assessed by Avila University and, therefore, cannot be applied toward housing costs. Further, these awards will not be awarded in conjunction with other institutional benefits, such as employee tuition remission or the tuition exchange program. Awards are available only during the regular academic year and are not offered during the summer terms.

Avila University awards are partially funded through endowed funds donated by generous friends of the University.

Private Scholarships

Various service clubs, organizations, churches, schools, and industries offer scholarships to students. High school counselors, libraries, and hometown newspapers are often excellent sources for information concerning private scholarships. The Financial Aid website provides a listing of various scholarship websites that will enable you to conduct your searches on your own and to apply for these scholarships online. For a complete listing, students can visit the Student Financial Services outside scholarships page.

State and Federal Programs

Grants: the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Access Missouri Grant are need based and awarded based on the results of the FAFSA. The Missouri Department of Higher Education offers additional state grants including the Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship (“Bright Flight”), Missouri Teacher Education Scholarship, and the Marguerite Ross Barnett Scholarship (for part-time students). For applications and additional information please visit the Missouri Department of Higher Education website at http://dhe.mo.gov.

Loans: students attending Avila University can borrow funds from the Federal Direct Loan program, or through private lenders. Students completing the FAFSA will automatically be awarded all federal loans they are eligible for. The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is based on financial need while the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not. Students are encouraged to exhaust federal loan options prior to applying for additional aid through private lenders. Also available is the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan which allows parents to borrow for their dependent student’s cost of attendance.

Employment: Work-Study (Federal and Institutional) is a program providing on campus employment in a variety of settings for eligible students. Students are compensated at a competitive wage and may work between five and twenty hours per week during the academic year. Eligibility and award amounts are based upon demonstrated financial need in combination with the total amount of financial aid received by the student from all other sources. To be considered for work study, the student must have filed the FAFSA. Funding is limited and priority is given to students who have filed their financial aid application earliest.

Federal TEACH Grant: Avila University participates in the Federal TEACH Grant program. This program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in high-need fields in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. For additional information regarding this program, please contact Financial Aid Office at 816-501-3600.

For additional information regarding state and federal funds, please visit the Financial Aid website at https://www.avila.edu/avila-life/sleptiza-center-for-student-excellence/student-financial-services/financial-aid-office/.

Per Section 103 of Public Law (PL) 15-407, “Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018,” an individual can attend or participate in a course of education, pending VA payment, providing the individual submits a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require institutions to establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving federal, state, and/or institutional financial aid. All aid applicants are required to maintain a designated grade point average (GPA) and satisfactorily complete a percentage of the number of credit hours they attempt. The full Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is available at: https://www.avila.edu/academics/registrar-office/current-students/.

All students are encouraged to thoroughly read all information sent from Student Financial Services including the terms and conditions for all awards prior to accepting their aid. For more information about the financial aid process, visit https://www.avila.edu/avila-life/sleptiza-center-for-student-excellence/student-financial-services/financial-aid-office/ or contact the Financial Aid Office at 816-501-3600.