Tuition and Fees

• Residency
• Tuition
• Fees
• Tuition and Fee Payment Policies
• Refunds
• Charts

Student Accounts Office
Miller Building, Room 323
(607) 753-2313
www.cortland.edu/student_accounts

Expenses listed in this section are current as of the time of publication. All charges are subject to change without prior notice. It is recommended that students inquire about current rates or check the Student Accounts Office Web site.

Residency

The SUNY system was designed to provide quality educational access to qualified residents of New York state. SUNY residency standards require that students have established a domicile, a principal and permanent home to which one always intends to return, as opposed to temporary residence incidental to community college or university attendance. A person may have many residences but only one domicile.

Students who have not maintained a domicile in New York state for a period of one year prior to their first registration are not considered residents. One does not acquire domicile by mere physical presence in New York for purposes of attending a college or university. Proof of domicile is based on documented, previous and continuing intention to remain in New York state. Mere physical presence in New York for a 12-month period does not constitute domicile. Persons who have been physically present in New York for more than 12 months, but have maintained (or are dependents of someone who maintains) a permanent and principal residence outside of New York or who intended to leave New York upon termination of their studies will not be eligible for resident tuition rates. Students who are receiving resident educational benefits from another state are nonresidents.

Dependent students are considered residents of the state where their parents/guardians live. Their documentation would rely on information relating to themselves and parents or legal guardians. Students claiming emancipation must furnish evidence of both financial independence and establishment of domicile.

Such documentation would include, but not be limited to, independent filing of both federal and New York state full-year resident tax returns, documented duration and purpose of physical presence in New York, exclusion of parental income on FAFSA documents, exclusion of parental claim for dependency on tax returns, employment within New York, state of residence of the student’s family (parents, spouse, children), voter registration, vehicle registration, real property ownership or evidence of residential rental lease, student’s assets or liabilities, evidence of utilities in the studen’s name, sources and extent of parental or other income, and place of residence during school recesses.

Driving a vehicle registered to one’s parent, enrollment in a parent’s health insurance plan as a dependent student, or use of PLUS loans constitutes acceptance of parental support. If students continue to accept financial support from parents, they may not be considered emancipated, even if the parents do not claim the students as dependents for tax purposes.

Emancipated students are totally responsible for paying all of their educational costs. The amount of income claimed by students must be in excess of educational expenses, including those expenses associated with living in non-university housing. Income includes financial aid awarded directly to the students with the exception of parental loans.

Non-immigrant aliens admitted to the United States in visa categories that prohibit them from establishing a United States residence would not be able to obtain resident tuition rates, regardless of the time domiciled in New York state. The Student Accounts Office will determine if a visa falls within one of these categories. Immigrant aliens who may lawfully reside in the United States on a permanent basis may obtain resident tuition rates under normal domiciliary requirements.

Military personnel, their spouses or dependents may qualify for resident tuition rates while the military person is stationed on active duty on a full-time basis in New York. Documentation of such must be provided each semester for active military personnel and their dependents, as well as an application for resident tuition rates.

Governor Pataki signed an amendment to section 355 of the Education Law that provides that students who complete both their junior and senior years, as well as graduate from a New York state high school may qualify for resident tuition rates if they attend SUNY Cortland within five years of high school graduation. The students must provide the Student Accounts Office with a certified high school transcript to substantiate this fact along with an application for resident tuition rates.

The Student Accounts Office has information regarding residency. Applications for residency for tuition purposes may be obtained at the Student Accounts Office or downloaded from the Student Accounts Web page. Residency applications must be completed no later than the last day to add or register for courses for the semester in question. In accordance with SUNY policy, any students who fail to complete and return the application and provide required documentation in order to confirm New York resident status will be charged nonresident tuition rates.

Tuition

In accordance with SUNY Board of Trustees Policies, tuition charges are assessed by the student’s matriculation status. Nonmatriculated students are charged tuition by the level of the course, as defined by the institution: undergraduate rates for undergraduate-level courses and graduate rates for graduate-level courses. Matriculated students are charged tuition based on the level of their matriculation. Matriculated undergraduate students will be charged undergraduate rates for all courses taken, regardless of course level.

A confirmation/remittance portion of the billing statement must be returned each semester to confirm attendance and acceptance of charges. Online acceptance of charges may be substituted if the student’s billed charges are fully covered by financial aid at the time payments are due or Web payment options are utilized.

* Students are considered full time for tuition and financial aid purposes at 12 or more credit hours.

Students must be registered for 12 unduplicated hours in order to be eligible for TAP. A minimum of six credit hours is required for receipt of federally guaranteed subsidized or unsubsidized student loans. Please contact Financial Advisement for details.

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Fees

College Fee

The College Fee is $25 per year or $12.50 per semester for full-time students or $.85 per credit hour for part-time students. The fee is required under the administrative policy of State University of New York and generally is not refundable.

Program Service Charge

The College Program Service Charge is required of all students enrolled in credit-bearing course work and is designed to incorporate various normally required fees and charges. It is acknowledged that all students will not equally participate in each of the component fees but will receive equivalent overall benefit from the universally available services, enhancing the campus life experience. Equitable distribution of costs across student populations helps keep offerings rich and varied while keeping the level of fees low in comparison to benefits provided. Certain special and remote-site programs are exempt from some fees.

Other Important Facts

On-campus courses are not eligible for waivers of the Program Service Charge. However, field placements (internships, student teaching, etc.) more than 100 miles from campus may apply for a waiver of the Student Health Services Fee component only. All such waiver requests must be made in writing to the Student Accounts Office and received by Oct. 1 for fall semesters, March 1 for spring semesters, and June 1 for summer sessions.

Fees marked with an asterisk (*) are pending approval.

The Program Service Charge consists of the following charges:

Student Activity Fee

The Student Activity Fee is used for on- and off-campus activities governed by the Student Government Association (SGA). SGA manages and allocates expenditures for clubs, organizations, fitness centers, speakers and special cultural, educational or social events.
Allocation: $8.20 per credit hour for part-time students and $98 per semester (fall/spring) for 12 or more credit hours.

Technology Fee

The Technology Fee funds a variety of technology networking and access services for students, including e-mail accounts, computer labs, Internet access and technical support. All students pay the Technology Fee, except for study abroad students from other SUNY units who have paid this fee at their home campus.
Allocation: $11*  per credit hour for part-time students and $132* per semester (fall/spring) for 12 or more credit hours. The Technology Fee for summer and winter sessions is charged per credit hour.

Intercollegiate Athletics Fee

The Intercollegiate Athletics Fee funds intercollegiate athletics opportunities and is managed by the College Intercollegiate Athletics Board. NCAA regulations require this fund to be kept separately from Student Activities Fee funds.
Allocation: $13* per credit hour for part-time students and $156* per semester for 12 or more credit hours.

Student Health Services Fee

The Student Health Services Fee provides various health services to students, such as allergy shots, health and physical examinations, physician examinations and referrals, and various other services and educational programs. This fee may be waived only for students on student teaching or internship assignments with field placements more than 100 miles from campus and for most online courses. All waiver requests must be made in writing to the Student Accounts Office and be received by Oct. 1 for fall semesters, March 1 for spring semesters, and June 1 for summer sessions.
Allocation: $10* per credit hour for part-time students and $120* per semester for 12 or more credit hours. The Health Services Fee may be charged during summer sessions.

Transportation Fee

The Transportation Fee supports the enhanced on-campus shuttle service, provides for maintenance and student vehicle parking at the Route 281 lot. Students/staff must pay a vehicle registration fee.
Allocation: $5.40* per credit hour for part-time students and $64* per semester for 12 or more credit hours.

Transcript Fee

Effective Fall 2008, all enrolled students (undergraduate and graduate) will be charged a $5 per semester transcript fee. Any student enrolled at SUNY Cortland prior to Fall 2008 will be “grandfathered” as a former student and receive unlimited official transcripts as a lifetime service. Refer to the Registrar’s Web site for detailed information on how to request an official college transcript. The College reserves the right to deny transcripts to any student who is delinquent in an obligation to the College.

Alumni Fee

The Alumni Fee of $15 is included on each student’s semester bill.The Alumni Association, through its endowment, provides more than $34,000 annually in student scholarships. By electing to pay the Alumni Fee included on the semester bill, scholarships and other programs and events are made possible. More information is available on the Alumni Association Web site at alumni.cortland.edu.

As an optional charge, students have the opportunity to waive the fee and have it removed from their semester billed charges. All waivers should be processed via myRedDragon using the “Waiver Requests” menu item in the Student Accounts section.

Online waivers may be accepted up through the last day to officially withdraw from classes for the semester. Published official deadlines can be found on the registrar’s Web site at www.cortland.edu/registrar/calendarinformation.html. After that date, any request for waiver of the Alumni Fee must be made in writing directly to the Alumni Affairs Office, Brockway Hall, Room 208. No Alumni Fee waiver requests will be honored after the end of the semester in which the fee was charged.

Parking and Vehicle Registration Fee

Students are required to register their vehicles with the University Police Department. The cost for parking on campus is $56.20 per semester. This includes parking and registration fees and New York state sales tax.

Room and Board

Room and board expenses vary depending on accommodations and the meal plan chosen by the student. Basic charges are listed in the table of estimated costs below. Meal plan details are available on the Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) Web site at www.cortlandasc.com/mealplans/.

Tuition Deposit

The student admission deposit of $50, billed at the time of acceptance, is credited toward the payment of tuition.

Room Deposit (on-campus housing)

New students pay a room deposit of $150 at the same time as the admission deposit. Returning students are required to pay a $150 room deposit at the time of on-campus housing assignment. This is applied to the payment of room charges.

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Other Fees and Fines

Program Fees

Certain courses have additional expenses that may be charged to cover costs of student materials or special equipment necessary for instruction, such as scuba equipment, art materials, etc. These are noted on the Web course listings and will be included on a semester bill. Other courses may have additional costs, payable directly by the student that will not show on a billing statement, such as study abroad programs which require airfare or travel expenses.

Student Health Insurance

All full-time SUNY Cortland undergraduate students, defined as registered for 12 or more credit hours, will have an annual charge for Student Health Insurance added to their fall semester bill. New or readmitted students for spring semesters will have a prorated annual premium on their spring semester bill. This charge may be waived if students have their own coverage or are covered by a parent’s plan.

Waiver of the campus-based insurance is done by submitting a completed a health insurance waiver online on or before the required due date, usually 30 days from the start of the semester. Failure to waive by the required due date will result in the student being held responsible for the cost of health insurance added to his/her bill.

Detailed information regarding health insurance coverage, rates, waivers and due dates and is available on the Student Accounts Office Web page at www.cortland.edu/student_accounts. Students who use financial aid resources to purchase SUNY Cortland health insurance should contact their financial aid advisor to arrange for the cost of insurance to be added to their financial aid budget.

Part-time students and graduate students, enrolled for at least six credit hours of course work, may voluntarily purchase insurance coverage by following instructions on the SUNY Cortland Web site. Restrictions on credit hours required and the dates by which students must enroll will be enforced. Full-time students who are covered by a parent’s HMO plan, but who do not have a provider in the area, may elect to retain the College plan to provide continuity of coverage while they are out of their provider area network.

In accordance with NCAA regulations, participants on SUNY Cortland’s intercollegiate athletic teams must provide proof of health insurance coverage before commencing practice sessions. Therefore, students needing to use the College plan for coverage, must positively affirm their enrollment online with the insurance carrier in advance of practice session start date. This will allow the student to obtain a copy of an insurance ID card to provide to the Athletics Department.

Students on study abroad programs, either inbound or outbound, may be required to purchase additional insurance. The International Health Insurance carrier is chosen by SUNY Central Administration. All international students must have coverage that meets SUNY Board of Trustees minimum requirements.

Health Insurance rates change annually. Please inquire at the Student Accounts Office or consult the www.cortland.edu/student_accounts/ Web site for both international and domestic insurance rates. Voluntary coverage for spouses, domestic partners and/or dependents is available directly through the College’s named insurance provider(s). Please note that students who waive any required health insurance coverage accept full responsibility for any medical expenses they may incur.

Miscellaneous Fees and Fines

The State University authorizes charges for items such as returned checks, late registration, rebilling and drop/add fees. Fines are authorized for parking violations, the late return or loss of library materials and failure to return physical education or infirmary equipment. Residence hall damage fees may be assessed for damage to residence hall premises. All fees are subject to change.

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Tuition and Fee Payment Policies

Payment Policies

Students who register for the fall semester during the official registration period are billed in July with payment due in August. Advance registrants for the spring semester will be billed in December with payment due in early January. Summer advance registrants will be billed in late April with payment due in May. Winter Session bills will be mailed in late November with payment due in early December. Students who register in person after Web registration closes must be prepared to make payment arrangements or show proof of financial aid sufficient to cover their charges at that time.

Students who register during add/drop are also expected to make payment arrangements at that time.

Bills for semester charges are mailed to the permanent address on record. Students are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their billing (permanent) address. Records should be checked often. The Registrar’s Office should be notified of any address, telephone or e-mail address changes. Students can review their bill or financial aid information 24/7 by accessing myRedDragon.

Billing is done on a semester basis. Statements reflect charge and financial aid information as of print date. Deferral of billed charges against financial aid is dependent upon completion of all necessary paperwork, maintenance of satisfactory academic progress and program pursuit, and receipt of documentation from funding sources. Students are responsible for payment of account balances if their financial aid awards do not become actual, are reduced or are removed for any reason. Semester bills plus any monthly statements should be retained for tax and reimbursement purposes.

Students must return the confirmation/remittance portion of their billing statement or confirm attendance online. Online confirmation is available for students whose billed charges are fully covered by financial aid or who are using the Web payment option. Receipt of the online confirmation/remittance portion confirms attendance in classes for the semester indicated. Failure to return the confirmation/remittance portion, along with valid deferral or required payment, by the due date will result in deletion of courses. A postmark on or prior to the payment due date does not constitute evidence of having paid on time. Payments received late are subject to assessment of a late rebilling fee. Payments are deposited upon receipt. Post-dated checks cannot be accepted.

Payment is expected at time of regisration for students registering during add/drop period. SUNY Cortland does not delete registrations for nonpayment or non-confirmation of attendance if the student processes an initial registration during the add/drop period. Failure to attend classes will not release students from liability for any course registrations. Stop payment orders do not constitute official withdrawals and will not release students from liability.

Students are responsible for notifying the Registrar’s Office or Graduate Studies Office as soon as possible if they have registered for the upcoming term but cannot attend.

Fees and assessments are due as indicated on billing statements. Other accrued debts owed to the College, or to any agency thereof, must be paid prior to registration. The College reserves the right to cancel current registrations for prior unpaid obligations. The College also reserves the right to withhold all information regarding the records of students, including transcripts, and prohibit future registration or granting of degrees for students in arrears in the payment of fees or other charges.

State law requires this agency to engage in collection activity on delinquent accounts. Accounts remaining unpaid at the end of the semester must be referred to outside collection agencies, the state attorney general or the state Department of Taxation and Finance. Late fees, interest and collection charges may be added to accounts considered more than 30 days past due pursuant to New York state, SUNY and Division of Budget Requirements.

Returned Check Policy

All financial instruments, including checks and Web checks (ACH checks), that are returned unpaid will incur a $20 returned item charge. All checks returned unpaid by the bank will be redeposited once. If the check is returned a second time, payment must be made by money order, certified check, cash or credit card. A $20 returned item charge will be incurred for the second rejected submission. Rejected credit card payments also will incur returned item charges. The College reserves the right to insist on payment in certified funds for students with three or more returned checks or ACH items.

Monthly Payment Plan Option

To assist students and parents/guardians in meeting financial obligations while attending the State University of New York College at Cortland, an installment plan is available. This five-payment option may be selected on the semester billing statement or online. The cost is $45 per semester and must be paid with the first payment. The participation fee is not refundable. To avoid late fees, subsequent payments must be received by the 15th of each month (September-December for the fall semester and February-May for the spring semester). If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is due the next immediate business day. The College cannot offer a payment plan for winter or summer terms due to their short duration.

Payments not received on or before the 15th of the month are subject to assessment of a late rebilling fee. Payment plan enrollment is for the current semester only. Students who fail to enroll during the first month of the plan (August for fall semester or January for spring semester) must make up any payment amount missed. All payment plans end the last month of the semester and must be paid in full. The College reserves the right to deny future participation to students who fail to remain current on time-payment plans. Students in arrears on monthly payment plans will be placed on hold and denied registration and other privileges.

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Refunds

Students who withdraw from SUNY Cortland before the semester begins or after a semester is under way may be entitled to receive refunds of some of the paid charges, deposits and fees. Those who are denied permission to register at the College will be entitled to a full refund of tuition, room and board charges paid for that term. Students will receive a full refund of tuition and fees when a course is canceled by the College.

Tuition Deposit

For students who are admitted into terms that begin between June 1 and Nov. 30, the admission deposit is refundable if requested on or before May 1. For students who are admitted into terms that begin between Dec. 1 and May 31, the admission deposit is refundable if requested on or before Nov. 1. If a student is notified of acceptance after April 1 for the fall semester or Oct. 1 for the spring semester, the deposit is refundable if both of the following conditions are met: The refund must be requested within 30 days after notification of acceptance is sent to the student, and the refund must be requested before the first day of classes in the term for which the deposit was paid. No deposits will be refunded after the beginning of a semester.

Students who have forwarded deposits based on conditional acceptance by the College, but are found inadmissable, are eligible for refund of the admission deposit. Students who withdraw to enter full-time, active military service are eligible for refund of the admission deposit.

Room Deposit

To receive a refund of the room deposit, current students must provide written notification of withdrawal from the College to the Residence Life and Housing Office by May 1 prior to the fall semester and by Nov. 1 prior to the spring semester. If individuals submit their deposit after April 1 or Oct. 1, a refund will be granted if the written request is received within 30 days of the payment of the deposit and before the first day of occupancy. All new entering students will follow the same guidelines as for the tuition deposit.

Tuition and Fees

Reduction of tuition liability is made according to SUNY Board of Trustees Policies. Students incur liability based on the length of the academic term and the date of official withdrawal. To qualify for liability adjustments and possible refund of paid amounts, students must follow the College’s official withdrawal policy, fill out and properly submit official withdrawal from course or withdrawal from college form(s), which may be obtained at the Registrar’s Office.

Unofficial withdrawals and judicial terminations/suspensions do not qualify for any reduction of tuition or fee liability. Stop payment orders on checks or credit card payments do not constitute official withdrawal.

Fee liability will only be adjusted up through the end of the 100 percent refund period for tuition.

Tuition liability calculations are separate and distinct from aid eligibility calculations. Financial aid packages will be affected by applicable Federal Title IV Regulations for students who withdraw before the 60 percent completion point of the semester. Those receiving federal financial aid in the forms of guaranteed student loans, Pell, SEOG and Perkins loans may end up losing part or all of any aid awarded and/or paid. Students who are awarded 100 percent reduction of tuition and fee liability may not be eligible for any financial aid for that term. Any aid that has already been disbursed to the student may have to be immediately repaid to the College.

There will be no tuition or fee liability for a student who withdraws to enter full-time active duty in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard of the United States. A student who is a member of a National Guard or Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Air Force Reserve Unit is entitled to reduced liability only if, in the judgement of the designated school official, the student is unable to attend classes due to hardship beyond the student’s control and the student has made bona fide efforts to permit continued attendance. Documentation of membership and official orders must be provided to the College prior to liability reduction.

In the event that a refund is granted to a student in National Guard or Reserve status, documentation of membership, orders and reasons for such actions shall be in writing and retained by the College (Student Accounts Office). Reduction of liability for military duty could adversely affect a student’s current or future financial aid package.

No money shall be refunded unless application for refund is made within one year after the end of term for which the tuition requested to be refunded was paid to State University of New York. Students requesting medical leave of absence should contact the Student Accounts Office for refund information.

A student who is given permission to cancel his/her registration shall be liable for payment of tuition in accordance with the following schedule:

Note: The first day of classes as scheduled by the campus shall be deemed to be the first day that any classes are offered, as scheduled by the campus’ Academic Calendar Committee. The first day of the semester, quarter or other term, and the first week of classes for purposes of this section shall be deemed to have ended when seven calendar days, including the first day of scheduled classes, have elapsed. Refunds will be made by check and mailed to the last known permanent address that the College has for the person seeking the refund. Room, tuition and board refunds require two to four weeks for processing.

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College Fee

Once the semester begins, the College fee is nonrefundable, unless class is canceled by the College.

Program Service or Course Activity Fees

The Program Service Fee is refundable only if the student withdraws before the end of the first week of classes. After that date, the Program Service Fee is nonrefundable. Special activity fees, such as lab fees, art materials, etc., are not refundable after the tuition ceases to be 100 percent refundable.

Any courses with components taught at the Outdoor Education Center at Raquette Lake have fees attached specifically for that experience. During the official add/drop period, Outdoor Education Center fees are fully refundable. Students will incur 50 percent liability for the fee for any withdrawal after the end of the official add/drop period, but at least 15 days prior to the session at Raquette Lake. No refunds of Outdoor Education Center fees are given for any withdrawal that occurs within the 14-day period immediately preceding the Raquette Lake experience.

Room

Room refunds are based upon the date personal belongings are removed from the room and check-out procedures have been followed. In addition to forfeiture of the $150 room deposit, students who occupy a room for three weeks or less will receive a prorated refund based on the weekly charge for the number of weeks (or partial weeks) housed. Students who occupy a room after the Saturday following the third full week of occupancy in the residence halls will be liable for the entire semester’s room rent. Terminations of the housing license due to judicial sanctioning do not receive a refund of room charges. Voluntary termination of the housing license will result in assessment of $150 termination fee.

Board

Dining plan options may be changed only by written request filed at the ASC Office in Neubig Hall prior to the close of business on the Friday of the first full week of classes.

The New York State Sales Tax Code governs the terms for tax-exempt dining plan refunds. The code stipulates that qualified refunds for tax-exempt plans will be based on time criteria and not plan utilization (see College Handbook). ASC will grant prorated refunds for nondisciplinary withdrawals, limited to the first 10 weeks of the semester. No refunds will be granted for disciplinary withdrawals. Exceptions and special situations will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the ASC executive director. All eligible refunds will be reduced by a rate that fairly represents noncontrollable business overhead expenses. Refunds for the declining balance portion of the meal plan are prorated for the time remaining in the current dining schedule; the refund will reflect the prorated balance or the actual balance, whichever is lower.

Refunds are coordinated with the SUNY Cortland Student Accounts Office. The dining plan refund will be applied to any balance or debt owed to the College or ASC.

Refund/Repayment of Financial Aid Funds

Students who withdraw from the College before completing 60 percent of the semester for which they received financial aid may be required to return or repay part or all of the aid received, depending upon the date of withdrawal.

Up through the 60 percent point of the semester a prorated schedule, as set by the federal government, is used to determine the amount of Title IV aid a student has earned for the payment period. This percentage is determined by dividing the total number of days completed by the student for the term by the total number of calendar days in the payment period, start to end of semester, excluding scheduled breaks of five days or more and days that the student was on approved leave of absence. The total amount of Title IV aid earned is then determined by multiplying this percentage by the total amount of Title IV aid disbursed plus the Title IV aid that could have been disbursed for the payment period (semester).

Anything in excess of this amount must be returned to the federal programs in the following order up to the total net amount disbursed by each source: Unsubsidized student loans, subsidized student loans, Perkins Loans, parent PLUS loans, Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) and other Title IV programs. Students are responsible for returning to SUNY Cortland any part of unearned aid that was disbursed to them.

Students should consult with the Financial Advisement Office prior to withdrawal to determine the financial impact. It is imperative that students adhere to the College’s official withdrawal procedure to ensure the proper refund calculation.

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Charts

Note: One-half of the above full-year tuition, room, board and all fees is due and payable to the College prior to the beginning of each semester. A monthly payment plan is available. The admission deposit of $50, which is required of all new students, and the room deposit of $150, will be applied to first-semester billings. A separate budget is available for commuter students.

*Based on 2009-2010 full-time/resident and nonresident. Subject to revision.

Effective Fall 2009 Semester: Tuition and fees are subject to change without prior notice, resulting from SUNY Board of Trustees or New York state legislative actions.

*Total includes the $15 Alumni Fee, which is voluntary and may be waived online.

Effective Fall 2009 Semester: Tuition and fees are subject to change without prior notice, resulting from SUNY Board of Trustees or New York state legislative actions.

*Total includes the $15 Alumni Fee, which is voluntary and may be waived online.

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