Financing an Education

Tuition and Fees

This Catalog section contains information on financing an education at Point Loma Nazarene University. In addition to tuition rates and fees, it outlines financial aid policies and enumerates the financial aid available to the credential or graduate student. Questions on financing an education at PLNU should be referred to the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services.

TUITION RATES

The following tuition rates apply to graduate programs at various Regional Centers.

REGIONAL CENTER	COST PER UNIT
Arcadia - Education	$500
Bakersfield - Education	$500
Inland Empire - Education	$500
Mission Valley
M.A./M.S. in Biology	$575
M. A. in Education / M.A.T.	$500
M.A. in Religion	$300
M.B.A.	$655
M.Min.	$135
M.S.N.	$625

The following rates apply to all post-baccalaureate credential programs at various Regional Centers.

REGIONAL CENTER	COST PER UNIT
Arcadia	$500
Bakersfield	$500
Inland Empire	$500
Mission Valley	$500

UNIVERSITY Fees
Application fee	$40
Late application fee	N/A
Audit fee, per unit	$150
Student teaching fee, per unit (School of Education)	$75
Teacher Education Assessment fee - non-refundable (School of Education)	$500
BIO 683 Extension fee, per semester	$600
BUS 695 Extension fee, per semester	$600
GNSG 604 Extension fee, per semester	$600
M. Min. Independent/Directed Study Fee	$90
GRE 699 Extension fee, per semester	$300
Thesis Binding Fee (optional)	$35
Graduation fee	$100

Payment Information

Billing Process

A Statement of Account, which contains the class schedule as well as the semester changes and financial aid, is sent to all students prior to the start of each semester. The Statement of Account also serves as the invoice from which payment should be made. In addition, monthly statements are generated electronically on the student portal for students who continue to have an owing balance, and an e-mail reminder is sent to the student (or to another individual specified by the student) directing the student to view the statement on-line.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Payment in Full. Payment of total charges for the enrolled session is due by the date specified on the student's monthly bill.

Multiple Payments. Payment of total charges for a semester or Quad is divided into a maximum of four equal payments, all of which must be paid before the end of the applicable term. Students interested in this option must complete a Monthly Payment Contract, available at the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services at each Regional Center. Debit or credit cards only are accepted.

Financial Aid. Students desiring to use scholarships, grants, and/or loans to pay their charges must complete the FAFSA and the electronic Financial Assistance Application for Credential and Graduate Students, available on the student portal. Students who do not complete the financial aid application process (including application for loans) by the set deadlines will be required to pay their charges under one of the other options above.

REFUND POLICY

Refunds or adjustments of student accounts arising from registration changes are made as of the date the Change of Schedule form is filed at the student’s location. Students may receive a refund for any dropped course provided that: 1) the course is dropped within the parameters of the refund schedule 2) the course is dropped via on-line registration, email, or a signed Change of Schedule form turned into the appropriate Regional Center by the close of the business week for which the student wishes to receive a refund (Friday at 4:30 pm, exempting holidays).

Refund Schedule

16-WEEK SEMESTER:
Class dropped in weeks:	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-16
Refund amount:	100%	75%	50%	25%	none

8-WEEK Quad:
Class dropped in weeks:	1	2	3	4	5-8
Refund amount:	100%	75%	50%	25%	none

5-WEEK Course:
Class is dropped in weeks:	1	2-3	4-5
Refund amount:	100%	50%	none

Five 8-Hour Class Meetings:
Class dropped after class:	1	2-3	4-5
Refund amount:	100%	50%	none

3-WEEK Course:
Class dropped after class:	1-2	3-4	5	6-7	8-12
Refund amount:	100%	75%	50%	25%	none

THESIS/APPLIED PROJECT EXTENSION FEE

Students are expected to complete a thesis or applied project in a timely manner. When additional time for the completion of a thesis or applied project is required by the student, an extension fee is charged to the student's account. The fee allows students to remain in the university system for library resources privileges, access to the computer system, and other support services. The fee is charged each semester until a grade for the thesis or applied project is recorded in the Office of Records. While the fee generates an account charge to students, no additional units are applied to the transcript. Charges for the extension fee are automatic requiring no formal action by students.

If a student withdraws from the academic program prior to completing the thesis or applied project, the course will be graded NC (No Credit) or F. Students who are readmitted into their program will be required to file a petition with the academic department chair or school dean to register for the balance of units in the required thesis or applied project. If a balance exists in the student's account, the payment of regular tuition and fees will be required.

GRADUATION FEE

A non-refundable graduation fee is charged to all graduate students during the final semester during which they are candidates for a degree. The fee supports the costs associated with graduation, especially the activities around graduate commencement convocation. The fee is assessed once, even if the student does not plan to participate in graduation exercises.

HEALTH AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE FEE

Teacher Credential and graduate degree students may obtain insurance but must apply specifically for the insurance during the first four weeks of each semester. The fee for each academic year is determined at the time the catalog is posted on-line. Applications for insurance are available at each Regional Center. The university is not responsible for loss or damage to personal property.

Financial Aid Policies

Financial assistance is intended to recognize and aid students who otherwise would be unable to attend Point Loma Nazarene University. The financial assistance program at PLNU includes a limited number of scholarships, grants, and loans. The university recognizes that the primary responsibility for paying expenses rests with the students, who are expected to contribute in proportion to their resources. Any financial assistance awarded by the university is intended to help bridge the gap between the student's (and, in the case of dependent students, their parents) Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the cost of attending PLNU.

Financial assistance is usually awarded to students based on need. The student's financial need and eligibility for various programs and the family's ability to pay are determined by analyzing the information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Various federal and state regulations, institutional policies, and funding-level limitations may affect the types and amounts of financial assistance that a student may receive. Additionally, changes in information and circumstances may cause financial assistance awards to be reduced, increased, or eliminated subsequent to the initial determination of these awards.

Awards may be renewed every two consecutive semesters provided students complete the required procedures and remain financially and academically eligible. An award letter is issued to students after they have submitted the appropriate paperwork to the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services. This paperwork includes the FAFSA and the Financial Assistance Application for Credential and Graduate Students for the academic year in which they wish to receive financial aid. The FAFSA can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Financial Assistance Application for Credential and Graduate Students can be obtained at www.pointloma.edu/financialaid, or in the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services at each Regional Center.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP)

In accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, all post-secondary institutions establish a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy. At Point Loma Nazarene University, all students receiving federal and state financial aid are required to make satisfactory progress in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid programs. PLNU’s SAP policy requires students to complete a minimum number of units (the quantitative requirement) and maintain a minimum grade-point average at the end of the academic year (the qualitative requirement). For more complete information on the university’s SAP policies, students may contact the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services office at each Regional Center.

REQUIREMENTS, DEADLINES, AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES

All students requesting financial assistance must do the following:

1. Make formal application for admission, be officially accepted by the Office of Graduate Admissions or Teacher Credential Program, and be enrolled at least half-time;
2. Complete and submit the on-line PLNU Graduate Application for Financial Assistance, available on the student portal; and
3. Complete and file the FAFSA.

Financial awards are made every two consecutive semesters. These awards are disbursed on a semester or quad basis (depending on the program's calendar), provided the student completes the required procedures and remains financially and academically eligible.

More information regarding requirements, deadlines, and application procedures can be obtained in Graduate and Credential Financial Aid Policies and Procedures at: www.pointloma.edu/financialaid.

LIMITATION OR FORFEITURE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Students with special standing, not officially working for degrees or teaching credentials and part-time students registered for less than six semester units in the teaching credential program or graduate students with less than three units, are not eligible for financial assistance. Defaulted loans from prior institutions or from PLNU automatically exclude students from receiving federal aid until students have made satisfactory arrangements with the bank, collection agency, or the U.S. Department of Education. A balance owed as a result of the over-awarding of a federal grant also excludes students from receiving federal aid. In this case, in order to receive aid, students are required either to provide written documentation of an approved and current repayment arrangement or to pay the balance in full.

VETERANS BENEFITS

Point Loma Nazarene University is approved for the training of veterans. Any students receiving veterans' benefits are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress and conduct according to the standards established and enforced by the University, and published in this catalog. The Office of Student Financial Services monitors all veterans' progress on a regular basis and is responsible for reporting all changes in status to the Veterans Administration, which may affect benefits received by students. Failure to make satisfactory academic progress results in the loss of eligibility to receive these benefits. If withdrawal from the university occurs, veterans' benefits will be terminated in accordance with the official date of de-enrollment.

PAYMENT INFORMATION AND REFUND POLICY

Students are responsible for handling all financial matters related to their attendance at the university. Students are charged for all courses for which they are registered unless a Change of Schedule form is filed with the student's Regional Center or the Point Loma campus Office of Records, complete with the proper signatures.

WITHDRAWALS

At the time a student leaves the university, all accounts must be paid in full. Any unpaid balance will accrue interest at ten percent (10%) per annum. In addition, Point Loma Nazarene University may report unpaid accounts to a national credit bureau. Students are responsible for paying all collection costs, including attorney fees and court costs as adjudged reasonable, in the event a suit is instituted. Transcripts will not be released, nor will a student be permitted to participate at commencement exercises, until all accounts at the university have been paid.

Operational costs are sometimes affected by factors over which PLNU has no control. Therefore, the charges and financial-aid policies quoted in this catalog are subject to change without notice. (NOTE: Students should see also the information on withdrawal under the section entitled Academic Policies and Procedures in this catalog.)

Financial Aid Programs

Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP)

The Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) enables students to borrow from eligible lenders at a low interest rate to help meet educational expenses at a participating college or university. Under the FFELP, the funds for a loan are borrowed from a private lender (a bank, credit union, or other lender that participates in the Program). Applicants must complete the FAFSA and the on-line PLNU Graduate Application for Financial Assistance, available on the student portal.

FFELP Stafford Loans are either subsidized or unsubsidized. Students can receive a subsidized and an unsubsidized loan for the same enrollment period. A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need, and borrowers will not be charged interest before they begin repayment or during authorized periods of deferment. The federal government subsidizes the interest on this loan from the time of disbursement until six months after the student graduates, withdraws, or drops below half-time status. An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. Borrowers will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If students allow the interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized (the interest will be added to the principal amount of the loan) and the student will pay interest on a higher amount.

Before Stafford loan funds are released, a Stafford Loan Entrance Interview is required. This is a mandatory federal requirement to advise student borrowers of their rights and responsibilities in receiving a student loan. Entrance interviews can be completed on-line at www.edfund.org/edtest or can be completed while electronically signing a Master Promissory Note for the loan.

When a student graduates, withdraws from the university, takes an approved leave of absence, or drops below half-time status, a Stafford Loan Exit Interview is required. This is a mandatory federal requirement for all students who have received a Stafford loan. Exit interviews may be completed on-line at www.edfund.org/edtest. Schedules and more information can be obtained in the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services.

Beginning July 1, 2006, all new Stafford loans disbursed thereafter have a fixed interest rate of 6.8%. The Stafford Loan is not a credit-based loan. Payment on principal and interest begins six months after graduation, withdrawal, or if the student is enrolled less than half-time.

School of Education and School of Theology

Students who have not completed their coursework within the one-year or two-year period, depending on the course, must re-enroll for the incomplete class and will be charged the current rate of the semester in which they register.