TUITION, FEES and OTHER COSTS
Effective Fall 2008

A college education is one of the most important investments a student will make.  Linn State Technical College is committed to providing access to everyone who can benefit from a program of higher education.  The cost of attending Linn State Technical College varies depending on in-state residency; whether or not one lives on campus; or the instructional program of study one pursues and other services needed.  The following Student Financial Aid section defines the types of financial assistance available.  This assistance can help provide students with the financial support needed for tuition, housing, books and other educational items, but is not intended to completely fund their education.

Costs are incurred on the date of registration.  Failure to complete appropriate paperwork for withdrawals during the first week of classes will result in a financial obligation to the college.

The following information covers general costs the student may expect by attending Linn State Technical College.

TUITION
Tuition is determined by the student’s residency classification and the number of semester hours of enrollment.  College fees, miscellaneous fees and costs are subject to change without notice by action of the Linn State Technical College Board of Regents.

 * Tuition change effective Summer 2007

FEES

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SPECIFIC COSTS 

Student and Course/Laboratory Fees
Funds from student fees support student activities, intramural sports, student publications, graduation, parking and other student support services. 

Course/laboratory fees are assessed for specific courses to cover the cost of course-specific equipment and supplies.

Books, supply and tool costs vary by program.  Contact the Linn State Technical College Bookstore at (573) 897-5124 for current costs.

Bookstore 
Textbooks are required for most Linn State Technical College classes.  The Linn State Technical College Bookstore, located in the lower level of the Information Technology Center, is a full-service bookstore that sells required textbooks, tools, supplies, clothing, novelties and sundries.  The cost of textbooks and tools varies by class and instructional program.  A 10% non-refundable deposit is required on all tool orders.  The Bookstore is open from 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  For more information call (573) 897-5124.

OTHER FEES/FINES

Linn State Technical College also assesses fees to cover costs incurred by students for the following:

• Library fines of 10 cents (.10¢) per book each day

• Library fines of 50 cents (.50¢) per video each day

• Library fine of $2.00 per day per DVD title

• Traffic fines minimum $25.00 per violation

Note:  Some programs may have additional fees and/or costs not listed with general tuition cost information.

On-campus Housing Costs

Meal Plans

(Last update 6-23-2008)

Meal plan dollars remaining from each semester will be carried forward to the next semester with the exception of spring to summer semesters.

On-campus housing students with required internships may contact the Resident Manager for a meal plan and housing adjustment.

Payment of Tuition and Fees
Payment of tuition and fees is due by the first day of the semester.  Payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express, personal check, cashier’s check, US Money Order or cash.  No credit card charges under five ($5.00) dollars will be processed.  Students may choose 100% payment or a payment plan offered through the college.  If the student’s account is 30 days past due and the student has not made payment arrangements with the college, registration will be voided.  The student will be responsible for all charges incurred.  A finance charge of 2% will be applied to all past due accounts.  Incomplete financial aid will not be calculated in the balance due.  Finance charges will apply to all accounts with a balance due.  Delinquent accounts will be turned over to a collection agency.  A collection fee may be added to the balance.

Interest-Free Monthly Payment Option
Linn State Technical College understands that education expenses are easier to pay when spread over predictable, interest-free monthly payments.  Our Interest-Free Monthly Payment Option Plan is an alternative to large annual or term payments and helps limit borrowing.  The Interest-Free Monthly Payment Option Plan is available for a small enrollment fee.  Only tuition and fees are eligible expenses for the payment plan.  Late fees will be assessed if payments are not received by the 10^th of each month.  To participate in the payment plan offered by the college, please contact the Cashier located in the Nilges Technology Center.  A fee of $35.00 must accompany the payment plan form.

Third-Party Billing
Third-party billing is a payment agreement among the student, college and a student sponsor.  The sponsor is an outside source that takes responsibility for all or partial payment of tuition, fees, books, etc.  A third-party sponsor is not an individual, i.e. parent, grandparent, etc., but a company or agency such as Military, Vocational Rehabilitation, Training Rehabilitation Act (TRA), Workforce Investment Act (WIA), or other state agencies.  The college will not bill third party agencies for class re-takes unless the student contacts the agency for payment approval.

The Business Office must receive written approval from the sponsor for each semester the student attends Linn State Technical College.  An invoice will be sent to the sponsor after the add/drop period is over.  If the sponsor fails to respond to the bill by the given due date, the charges are reversed back to the student’s account for payment by the student.  The sponsor will receive the refund or credit for any reduction of fees that were originally billed.

Personal Check Policy
Registered students may cash personal checks, second-party checks from immediate relatives, cashier’s checks, or US Money Orders up to $20, (one check per day) at the Cashier’s window in the Nilges Technology Center.

Any student who presents a personal check that is returned by the bank to Linn State Technical College unpaid will be charged a $40 fee and may thereafter be required to pay all fees by cash, US Money Order, cashier’s check or approved credit card.  Students not redeeming the check promptly after notification of its return may be subject to dismissal from the college.  Returned checks that are not redeemed promptly will be sent to the local prosecuting attorney for collection.  The college reserves the right to refuse to cash any check deemed questionable.

REFUNDS
Class Refunds
To receive a refund, a Special Student Schedule Form must be completed and submitted to the Academic Records Office.  This form is available in the major departments and the Academic Records Office.  The date of receipt of the form in the Academic Records Office is used to determine eligibility for refunds and/or final approval of the classes dropped.  Students who never attend, or cease to attend, any class in which they have enrolled may be administratively withdrawn upon recommendation of the Dean or Vice President.  A student also may be withdrawn from a class by administrative action as a result of disciplinary procedures.  The student may be financially responsible for charges incurred. 

If Linn State Technical College cancels a class for any reason, students will receive a full refund for that class.

All refund percentages are based on 100% payment.  Students who drop class(es) will receive partial refunds according to the following schedule:

16-Week Term:

• Any class not on a 16-week schedule will be prorated based on the above schedule. 

• Students may change sections of the same class with the approval of the instructor(s).  There is no cost at any time of the semester for approved section changes.  However, students who receive approval to change from a classroom to a web-based section of a class will be required to pay the additional cost per credit for web-based classes.

• Refunds on sales paid by check will not be processed until 20 days from date of sale.

Fees that are not refundable include:

• Advanced Technology Fee

• Meal Plans

• Parking Fees

• Self-paced Math (SPM) Course Fees

• Seminar Fees

• Uniform Fees

• Web-based Course Tuition

Student Housing Refunds
Please consult the current housing agreement for policy regarding housing refunds.  A copy of this agreement may be obtained from the Resident Manager.

Credit Balance Refunds
No refund will be made until 20 days have elapsed for any payment made by check. Third party billing refunds will not be processed until the third party billing has been submitted for payment.  The billing process will begin after the second week of each term.

Bookstore Refunds
The Linn State Technical College Bookstore textbook return policy requires students to keep sales receipts for full refunds.  During the first week of purchase or prior to the semester starte,the student may receive a 100% refund of purchase price only if the book is in original condition and with the sales receipt.  During the second week of purchase the student may receive a 90% refund of purchase price for books in original condition and with a sales receipt.  Sales paid for by check will be issued a check 20 days after original date of sale.


FINANCIAL AID IMPACTS OF CLASS WITHDRAWALS

Return of Title IV Funds
The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 Public Law 105-244 dictates the formula for calculating the amount of aid a student and school may retain when the student totally withdraws from all classes.  If students withdraw up through the 60% point in each payment period or period of enrollment, the school must determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal.  After the 60% point in the payment period or period of enrollment, a student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds.

The college encourages students to read this procedure carefully.  If the student is thinking about withdrawing from all classes PRIOR to completing 60% of the semester, he/she should contact Financial Aid to understand how withdrawing will affect financial aid.

This procedure shall apply to all students who withdraw from Linn State Technical College and receive financial aid from Title IV funds:

a.  The term “Title IV Funds” refers to the federal financial aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) and includes the following programs:

• Unsubsidized FFEL Loans

• Subsidized FFEL Loans

• FFEL PLUS Loans

• Federal Pell Grants

• Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant

• Federal SEOG

b.  A student’s withdrawal date is:

i. The date the student initiated the institution’s withdrawal process or officially notified the institution of intent to withdraw, or

ii. The student’s last date of attendance at a documented, academically related activity (applicable only to specifically funded programs).

c. How does the college determine the last date of attendance?  Attendance information is collected from faculty to verify financial aid eligibility.  If the student is not attending classes, he/she is required to complete the official withdrawal process of the college. 

Refunds on all institutional charges, including tuition and fees, will be calculated using the refund policy published in this catalog.

Title IV aid is earned in a prorated manner on a per diem basis up to and including the 60% point in the semester.  Title IV aid is viewed as 100% earned after that point in time.  For the Heavy Equipment Operations Program, actual clock hours completed are used to calculate the percentage of Title IV aid earned.

a.   The percentage of Title IV aid earned shall be calculated as follows:  Number of days completed by student ÷ total number of days in the term (not counting breaks that include more than five days) = the percentage of aid earned.

b.   The percentage of Title IV aid unearned (i.e., to be returned to the appropriate programs) shall be 100% minus the percentage earned.

c.   Unearned aid shall be returned first by Linn State Technical College from the student’s account calculated as follow:

Total institutional charges times the percentage of unearned aid equals the amount to be returned to the program(s).

Unearned Title IV aid shall be returned in the following order:

1.  Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

2.  Subsidized Stafford Loan

3.  Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

4.  Federal Pell Grant

5.  Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant

6.  Federal SEOG

7.  Other assistance under Title IV for which a return of funds is required.

 d.  When the total amount of unearned aid is greater than the amount returned by Linn State Technical College from the student’s account, the student is responsible for returning unearned aid to the appropriate program(s) as follows:

1.   Unsubsidized Stafford Loan *

2.   Subsidized Stafford Loan *

3.   Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

4.   Federal Pell Grant **

5.   Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant**

6.   Federal SEOG **

7.   Other Title IV Grant Students **

 * Loan amount is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note.

**Amounts to be returned by the student to federal grant programs will be 50% of the amount owed.

Note:  Linn State Technical College will return any grant money owed by the student. 
         The student will be responsible for reimbursing the college for any grant money returned.
 

Refunds and adjusted bills will be sent to the student’s accounts receivable address following withdrawal.  The student is responsible for any portion of his/her institutional charges that are left outstanding after Title IV (Financial Aid) funds are returned.  A student with a past due balance will have a business hold placed on his/her records.  If payment is not made, the student’s account may be turned over to a collection agency, which may affect his/her credit rating.
 

Institutional and student responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV funds.
a.  Linn State Technical College’s responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV funds include:

·            Providing each student with the information given in this policy.

·            Identifying students who are affected by this procedure and completing the Return of the Title IV Funds calculation for those students.

·           Returning any Title IV funds that are due to the Title IV programs

·            Determining the withdrawal dates for students who withdraw without notification.  If a student does not officially withdraw and fails to earn a passing grade in at least one class, for financial aid purposes, Linn State Technical College will assume the student has unofficially withdrawn.  The midpoint of the semester may be used as the student’s last date of attendance for the return of Title IV funds calculation..

·            Notifying students of the result of withdrawal in regard to their financial aid.
 

b.  The student’s responsibilities in regard to the return of the Title IV funds include:

·            Becoming familiar with the Return of Title IV funds procedure.

·            Understanding the college’s official withdrawal process.

·            Repaying to the Title IV programs any funds that were disbursed directly to the student and which the student was determined to be ineligible based on the Return of Title IV Funds calculation.

 

Linn State Technical College will notify the student of the amount of any federal grant overpayment.  The student must repay the amount in full to Linn State Technical College.  The college will then repay the U.S. Department of Education.  The student must complete these arrangements within 45 days of notification of the overpayment status or risk losing eligibility for future Title IV assistance.