Expenses, Payment, Refund Policies and Financial Aid

The University year is divided into two semesters averaging 15 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 semester in order to be considered in good standing.

Basic Expenses (2016-2017)

Note: Other Meal Plans for Residents and Commuters are available. Contact the Campus Life Office for further information.

Part-time Students (1-11 hours)

Avila Advantage Students

Summer Students (2016-2017)

Dual Enrollee Student

(high school junior or senior) 33% of current tuition per credit hour

Special Tuition

For Lab Fees and Miscellaneous Fees see the Semester Class Schedule.

Payment

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, a $200 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, a $200 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 accounts must be paid in full (via personal payment or financial aid) by the payment due date announced in the class schedule or arrangements must be made to pay in installments through Avila’s Deferred Payment Plan. Early application for financial aid allows for the aid to be finalized by the payment due date. Students are responsible for the total tuition and other miscellaneous charges even though a third party may pay the university directly or reimburse the student. In addition to cash, check, or money order Avila University accepts VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit cards via on-line payment. A 2.75% convenience fee is assessed on credit card payments. Electronic check payments can be made with no convenience fee.

Each student is required to have a signed financial statement of responsibility statement on file in the Business Office.

If a student account is placed with an outside collection agency additional restrictions will apply to future enrollment.

Deferred Payment

Through Avila’s Deferred Payment Plan, the tuition and fee balance, after accepted financial aid is applied, may be paid in equal installments throughout the semester/ trimester. Payment plan agreements should be selected on-line prior to the beginning of each semester/ trimester. 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 $75.00 annual plan fee or $50.00 semester plan fee is charged. If payments are not made on or before the due dates, a $25.00 late payment penalty is assessed. 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 signed copy of the Financial Aid Award Letter indicating aid that is being accepted must be returned to the Financial Aid Office. Additional documents may be required and must be received prior to disbursement of some funds.

The student will be responsible for any payment due on the scheduled due dates. Loan proceeds must be finalized to be considered as payment on the student account. If finalized financial aid does not cover the semester balance, personal payment will be due on the scheduled dates. Perkins Loan recipients must sign the loan papers in the Business Office during the first week of classes. Loan proceeds must be applied to any balance due and any resulting credit balances will be refunded as noted under Credit Balance Refunds. Please note: Loans of any type must be repaid.

Late Payment Penalties

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

1. Late payment fee
2. A hold on the student’s record 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 and paying a reinstatement fee. 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 Stafford 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 beginning of class or the receipt of funds by the University (whichever occurs last). Federal Perkins Loan papers must be signed in order to be included in any credit balance returns. Refunds for Perkins Loan proceeds will be available on the 14th day following the beginning of class or the completion of the Promissory Note by the student (whichever occurs last). In instances where credit balances are created by funds paid from outside sources (such as business, government and banks), the money must first be received by Avila University in order to issue a disbursement check to the student. An authorization to bill an outside source does not create a credit balance.

Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and/or Perkins Loan recipients:

• 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.

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 classes 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 eight 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 during the first week of classes 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 eight calendar days of the semester, tuition charges will be re-assessed at the part-time rate. After eight calendar days 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 eight calendar days of classes to officially re-assess tuition 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.

Total Withdrawal of Registration

After the first week of classes, full-time students withdrawing from all 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 charges. Fees are not refundable.

• 1 through 8 calendar days
  100% tuition refund (see cancellation above)
• 9 through 15 calendar days
  75% tuition refund
• 16 through 22 calendar days
  50% tuition refund
• 23 through 29 calendar days
  25% tuition refund

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 classes and during the first eight 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 during the first week of classes 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.

Withdrawal from Some or All Classes

After the first week of classes, part-time students withdrawing from classes will be reassessed 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 charges. Fees are not refundable.

• 1 through 8 calendar days
  100% tuition refund (see cancellation above)
• 9 through 15 calendar days
  75% tuition refund
• 16 through 22 calendar days
  50% tuition refund
• 23 through 29 calendar days
  25% tuition refund

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.

Weekend and Avila Advantage Classes

See the Avila website at www.avila.edu/registrar/withdraw.asp

Non-Credit Students

Adjustments will be made according to the 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

Students who withdraw from all courses before 61% of the semester has elapsed will be evaluated according to the Department of Education guidelines and formula as stipulated by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. Federal aid is earned by the percentage of the payment period the student completes. The percentage of aid earned is derived by dividing calendar days attended in the period by total days in that period. Weekends are included, but scheduled breaks that are at least five (5) days long are excluded. If the student completes more than 60% of the term, 100% of the aid is earned for the period and no immediate repayment obligation results. If the student completes 60% or less of the term, the portion of the federal aid determined to be unearned must be repaid to the federal programs.

The Title IV federal programs that are affected include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Plus Loans (parent and grad), Direct Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized loan programs. Federal aid programs are returned in the following order: Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loan, Direct Stafford Subsidized Loan, Perkins Loan, PLUS, Pell Grant, SEOG, and other Title IV programs.

Avila will return Title IV aid from the student’s account according to the federal formula. A student may be required to return a Title IV aid overpayment. When a student receives notification from Avila of an overpayment, the student has 45 days to return the funds to the Business Office. Students not complying with the 45-day requirement will be submitted to the Department of Education for collection. The student will be ineligible for further Title IV aid until the overpayment has been paid in full to Avila University and/or satisfactory repayment arrangements have been made with the Department of Education.

The return of enrollment charges policy calculation and applicable institutional refunds will be processed within 30 days of the withdrawal date. A letter indicating the calculation results, any applicable refund or the adjusted statement of charges will be sent to the student’s home address.

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 finaid@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, Avila and private assistance is available at www.avila.edu/financialaid.

Application Process for the 2016-2017 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.fafsa.ed.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 2016-2017 FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1, 2016. Several types of funds are limited and thus awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note: Missouri residents must file the FAFSA by April 1, 2016 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 and all students enrolled in the Avila Advantage program 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.

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 (i.e., credit hours) status
• 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 Financial Aid Office 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 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, 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 Office 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 http://www.avila.edu/financialaid/outside-scholarships.asp.

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 www.dhe.mo.gov.

Loans. Students attending Avila University can borrow funds from the Federal Direct Stafford loan program, the Federal Perkins loan or through private lenders. Students completing the FAFSA will automatically be awarded all federal loans they are eligible for. The Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan and the Federal Perkins Loan are based on financial need while the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford 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 the Financial Aid Office at 816-501-3600.

For additional information regarding state and federal funds please visit the Financial Aid Office website at www.avila.edu/financialaid.

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 http://www.avila.edu/financialaid/academic-progress-policy.asp.

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