Financial Information

Office of Student Accounts Information

The activities of the Office of Student Accounts include billing students, recording payments, processing refunds, coordinating payment plans, collecting outstanding balances, and handling transactions affecting accounts receivable. Each semester Student Accounts is responsible for ensuring that students have met their financial obligation to the University before being permitted to register for classes, move into residential halls, and receive bookstore authorizations. Student Accounts is also responsible for documenting the receipt of funds necessary for processing students’ requests to have official transcripts mailed out. The Office of Student Accounts is the final exiting point that each student must clear in order to be graduated from the University.

Tuition

1. For Degree Status full-time or part-time students: $515 per credit hour.
2. For Non-Degree status students taking courses for credit: $515 per credit hour

9 credits per semester will be considered full time.

Technology Fee:

$150 per semester

All fees are due 10 days before the class start date.

Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time by action of the Board of Trustees of Bethune-Cookman University. However, changes in tuition and fees do not occur during the semester. Students should obtain a current schedule of fees from the Student Accounts Office.

Methods of Payment to Bethune-Cookman University

Before the start of each academic year, the University publicizes the deadlines for students to clear their financial obligations. Payment for charges may be made through the following methods:

• Payments can be made with cash, cashier’s check, money orders, or traveler’s check. Personal checks are not accepted. Cash should never be mailed. Payments should be made payable to Bethune-Cookman University and include the student’s first, middle initial and last names, student I.D. number or social security number. Payments should be mailed to: Bethune-Cookman University, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Florida, 32114-3099, Attn: Cashier’s Office.
• Credit Card payments (American Express, Discover, Visa or MasterCard) can be made online by accessing the Wildcat Web at www.cookman.edu. Students will need both their B-CU student I.D. and pin numbers in order to access the Wildcat Web. Third party payments to a student’s account can be made online through the following link: https://wildcat.cookman.edu/cgi-bin/payidentbu.mbr/identifystudent.
• Payments can also be made in person by visiting the Cashier’s Office (located on the first floor of White Hall, the University’s Administration Building or by calling the Cashier’s Office at (386) 481-2289 or 2292.

University Refund Policy for Fees

Dropping Courses

No adjustment is made to tuition charges when a student drops a course after the last day of the Add/Drop Late Registration Period. It is the student’s responsibility to know the last day to drop courses in any given semester. This information is readily available on the University’s Homepage and through the Registrar’s Office. Students may call the office at 386-481-2525. Academic Advisors are also able to provide students with this information.

Withdrawl from the University

Withdrawal from the University is not accomplished by no longer attending classes. Withdrawing from the University is a process that involves several steps which must be followed in the prescribed order so as to avoid unnecessary expenses and/or failing grades. When a student officially withdraws from the University, a refund or adjustment of tuition will be calculated. Students should familiarize themselves with the following Tuition Refund Schedule:

Fall and Spring Semesters:

1. 100 percent of tuition charges, if the student withdraws on or before the last day of the Late Registration Period.
2. Up to 90 percent of tuition charges, if the student withdraws after the last day of Late Registration but on or before the last day of the second week of classes.
3. Up to 50 percent of tuition charges, if the student withdraws after the second week, but on or before the last day of the fourth week of classes.
4. Up to 25 percent of tuition charges, if the student withdraws after the fourth week, but on or before the last day of the eighth week of classes.

First-time students are eligible to receive a 100 percent adjustment/refund of tuition charges, if they withdraw on or before the last day of the Late Registration Period; a prorated adjustment/refund will be processed, if they withdraw after the last day of Late Registration but on or before the last day of the tenth week of classes.

Summer Sessions:

1. 100 percent of tuition charges, if the student withdraws on or before the last day of the Late Registration Period. Up to 90 percent of tuition charges, if the student withdraws after the last day of Late Registration, but on or before the last day of the first week of classes.
2. Up to 50 percent of tuition charges, if the student withdraws after the first week, but on or before the last day of the second week of classes.
3. Up to 25 percent of tuition charges, if the student withdraws after the second week, but on or before the last day of the third week of classes.

First-time students are eligible to receive a 100 percent adjustment/refund of tuition charges, if they withdraw on or before the last day of the Late Registration Period. A prorated adjustment/refund will be processed if they withdraw after the last day of Late Registration, but on or before the last day of the fourth week of classes.

Adjustments/refunds will be processed by the Office of Student Accounts, if written notice of withdrawal of enrollment from the University is received from the student or designated staff person and approved prior to the end of the eighth week (returning students) or the tenth week (first-time students) of classes during the Fall and Spring semesters. The withdrawal must be received prior to the end of the third week (returning students) or the fourth week (first-time students) of classes during the summer sessions.

There will be no adjustments or refunds for, institutional paid charges, waived charges, bookstore charges, late registration fees, housing assessment fees, or fines under the following conditions:

• When a student is required to withdraw due to disciplinary action, the student forfeits their legal rights and privileges as a member of the University family. All fees paid toward assessed charges are also forfeited. There will be no reimbursement of tuition, room and board charges and fees, or any other payments made to the University.
• In the event the operation of the University is suspended for any time as a result of any act of God, strike, riot, disruption, or for any other reason beyond the control of the University.

Students who withdraw from courses after the Late Registration Period may be eligible for full tuition adjustments/refunds, if one or more of the following holds true:

1. Student is called to active military duty.
2. Death of the student or member of his/her immediate family (parent, spouse, child, sibling).
3. Illness of the student of such severity or duration, as confirmed by a physician, that completion of the semester is not possible.
4. Cancellation of the course(s) by the University.
5. Exceptional circumstances, upon approval of the University President or his/her designee.

Refund of Credit Balances

Refunds are processed by the Office of Student Accounts when a student has resolved all financial obligations against their University debts and their student account reflects a credit balance. Refunds are processed within 14 days after the student’s account reflects a credit balance. Students are responsible for informing the Office of Student Accounts of any changes to their addresses.

Through the Wildcat Web located on the University’s website, students have access to review their charges, financial aid, payments, credit balances, refunds issued, and/or any balances that may be due. If a student visits the Office of Student Accounts and requests information about his/her account, the student must present university issued identification or another form of picture identification.

Following the full payment of tuition, fees, and other expenses, Bethune-Cookman University will refund excess payments (excluding any non-refundable financial aid) directly to the student. This is university policy, regardless of whether funds were paid by the student, the student’s parents or any other third party. Bethune-Cookman University assumes no responsibility for remitting such excess payments to any person other than the student.

Credit Balance Authorization Form

A Credit Balance Authorization Form must be submitted, if the student or parent (Plus Loan) is requesting Student Accounts to hold a credit balance and apply the funds towards the expenses of a future term within the same academic year. If the Credit Balance Authorization Form is not on file prior to processing a refund, the refund will automatically be issued.

Billing Statements

Student Accounts will mail billing statements several times during an academic year. The statements will indicate all activity on the student’s account and the remaining balance due. Billing statements are mailed to the student’s address on file in the Registrar’s Office.
Students are encouraged to use the Wildcat Web to review their accounts as it is the students’ responsibility to be aware of any balances that may be due on their accounts.

Collection of Past Due Balances

If a student has a balance due on his/her account, a “hold” will be placed on the student’s account, and the balance must be paid in full before the student will be permitted to register for the next semester, reside on-campus, receive a Bookstore Authorization or graduate.

When a student has a past due balance and is not enrolled, the student will not be permitted to receive a transcript. However, a student with a past due balance, who is enrolled at the time a transcript request is made, will be permitted to receive an “unofficial” transcript.
If the balance is not paid within a year of the date that the balance occurred, the student’s account balance will be turned over to an outside collection agency. The selected agency will actively pursue collection of the bad debt against the student.

Scholarships

Scholarship awards are available at times for qualified candidates, depending on degree program. Information regarding scholarships is available from the School of Graduate Studies, Office of Athletics, and the Office of Financial Aid.

Scholarship recipients are required to be in good standing and make satisfactory academic progress to continue to receive a scholarship award. To be considered in good standing, fellowship recipients are required to maintain the standards listed below.

• Students must be fully accepted into a graduate degree program.
• Students must be enrolled as full-time graduate students.
• Students must maintain the scholarship’s required GPA status each term of the award.
• Students cannot receive a grade of Incomplete (I) and continue to receive the award.

Failure to meet any one of these standards will cause cancellation of the scholarship. The School of Graduate Studies may grant rare exceptions to this policy after review of evidence of mitigating circumstances presented by the student and the graduate program.

Loan Programs

To apply for the following programs, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Direct/Stafford Unsubsidized Loan

The Higher Education Amendments of 1992 created a new program offering “unsubsidized” Federal Direct/Stafford Loans to students who do not qualify in whole or in part for “subsidized” Federal Direct/Stafford Loans. A Federal Direct/Stafford Unsubsidized Loan is a low interest loan made to students by the federal government “directly” or by a private lender (bank, credit union, etc.). Under this program, the student borrower (and not the federal government) pays the interest that accrues on the loan To apply for the following programs, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Direct/Stafford Unsubsidized Loan

The Higher Education Amendments of 1992 created a new program offering “unsubsidized” Federal Direct/Stafford Loans to students who do not qualify in whole or in part for “subsidized” Federal Direct/Stafford Loans. A Federal Direct/Stafford Unsubsidized Loan is a low interest loan made to students by the federal government “directly” or by a private lender (bank, credit union, etc.). Under this program, the student borrower (and not the federal government) pays the interest that accrues on the loan.

Withdrawals

Financial Aid is to be used first for direct educational costs-tuition and fees, and room and board if the student is in University housing. Students on financial aid who withdraw from the University and are due a refund of their fees will therefore not receive fee refunds until funds representing financial aid awards have been applied to the respective accounts. Normally the fee refunds are returned to the financial aid programs on a prorated basis and according to the components of a financial aid package.