Expenses and Financial Aid

Tuition and Mandatory Fees

All fees listed are annual charges, unless otherwise noted.

Tuition: Full-time, Maryland resident	$11,418
Tuition: Full-time, non-resident of Maryland	$26,566
Mandatory Fee: Full-time students (resident and commuter students)	$2,774
Orientation fee: All new students (one time)	$100
Graduation fee	$100

Tuition and all fees:

$19,938

*Billed in four equal installments

(Undergraduate and MAT)

Tuition: Part-time (per credit hour)

$200

Note: This part-time per credit hour tuition applies to a total of 1-11 credits as well as to all credits over 19.

Retired persons 60 years and older may apply for a waiver of part-time tuition charges for credit courses. This is done on a space-available basis during the late registration period. Consult the Office of the Registrar for details.

Room: single occupancy	$8,126
Room: double occupancy	$7,184
Room: triple/quad occupancy	$7,184
Suite: single occupancy	$8,126
Suite: double occupancy	$7,694
Townhouse:	$8,802
Apartment: single occupancy	$8,622
Apartment: double occupancy	$8,492

The meal plan structure is an “anytime dining” model. The Great Room will be open from 7 am – 8:30 pm, Mondays – Fridays and 10 am – 8:30 pm on weekends. The “anytime dining” board plans provide unlimited access. Students can eat as often as they want, whenever they want, when the operation is open. They can come and go as many times as they like throughout the day/night and eat as much or as little as they want. All meal plans include Dining Dollars.

First Year students living in traditional halls and suites are required to choose one of the Anytime Dining Plans described below. Anytime Dining Plans are optional for commuters, residents of the Townhouses and Waring Commons Apartments, faculty and staff:

1. Silver Plan: unlimited access to anytime dining. 12 guest passes per semester and $200 Dining Dollars per semester.  Cost: $2,629 /semester; $5,258/year.
2. Gold Plan: Same privileges as Silver Plan plus 20 guest passes and $300 in Dining Dollars per semester. Cost: $2,737/semester; $5,474/year.
3. Platinum Plan: Same privileges as Silver Plan plus 32 guest passes and $400 in Dining Dollars per semester. Cost: $2,845/semester; $5,690/ year.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors living in the traditional halls and suites are required to choose one of the “anytime dining” plans described above or they may select the 125 Meal Credit plan described below.

Meal Credit Plans: A variety of limited access plans described below are available for commuters, residents of the Townhouses and Waring Commons Apartments, faculty and staff:

1. 125 Meal Credit: 125 meals per semester plus $300 dining dollars per semester. Cost: $1,810 /semester; $3,620/year
2. 75 Meal Credit: 75 meals per semester plus $300 dining dollars per semester. Cost: $1,339/semester; $2,678/year
3. Flex Plan: 10 meals per semester plus $400 dining dollars per semester. Cost: $567/semester; $1,134/year

1st Year Resident Options

Silver – Anytime dining – 12 guest passes per semester – $200 dining dollars per semester
Gold – Anytime dining – 20 guest passes per semester – $300 dining dollars per semester
Platinum – Anytime dining – 32 guest passes per semester – $400 dining dollars per semester

Upperclass Students in Residence Halls/Suites Options

Silver – Anytime dining – 12 guest passes per semester – $200 dining dollars per semester
Gold – Anytime dining – 20 guest passes per semester – $300 dining dollars per semester
Platinum – Anytime dining – 32 guest passes per semester – $400 dining dollars per semester
125 Meal Credit – 125 meals per semester – 0 guest Passes – $300 dining dollars per semester
Options for Commuters, Apartment & Townhouse Residents

Silver – Anytime dining – 12 guest passes per semester – $200 dining dollars per semester
Gold – Anytime dining – 20 guest passes per semester – $300 dining dollars per semester
Platinum – Anytime dining – 32 guest passes per semester – $400 dining dollars per semester
125 Meal Credit – 125 meals per semester – 0 guest Passes – $300 dining dollars per semester
75 Meal Credit – 75 meals per semester – 0 guest Passes – $300 dining dollars per semester
Flex Plan – 10 meals per semester – 0 guest passes – $400 dining dollars per semester
We offer “to-go” breakfast, lunch and dinner programs in the Great Room, as well as a “Grab-n-Go” program from the Lewis Quadrangle Pub.  With the “to-go” program, students can pick up food and take it “to go.”  With the “Grab-n-Go” program, pre-packaged sandwiches and salads are available to “Grab and Go” Mondays-Fridays.  In addition to a sandwich or salad, the student gets a beverage, chips, a piece of fruit, and cookies or a brownie.  For the “Grab-n-Go” breakfasts out of the Pub, the student can choose a bagel, muffin, or pastry, along with a beverage and a piece of fruit, Mondays-Fridays.

Dining (“Flex”) Dollars

Dining Dollars (also known as Flex) are included in the plans to allow students to eat and drink at the smaller retail dining venues (The Daily Grind, “Grab-n-Go”, and The Pub), in addition to the servery of the Great Room.  Dining Dollars can only be used for food and beverages.  There is no refund or carryover of unused Dining Dollars at the end of a semester (“Use it or lose it”).

Special academic fees are assessed to both full-time and part-time students when appropriate as follows:

• Applied music: class instruction (one hour per week) $90
• Applied music: individual instruction (one hour per week) $250
• Scuba diving fee for beginning class: $175
• Scuba diving fee for advanced class: $150
• Lab fee for Educational Studies courses with field placements $10
• Study abroad fee: $250 (Fees for exchange programs and summer programs vary. Contact the Business Office for specific program fees.)
• Theater lab fee TFMS 171: $50
• Theater lab fee TFMS 374: $20
• Theater lab fee TFMS 375: $50
• Theater lab fee TFMS 376: $50
• Theater lab fee TFMS 228: $25
• Theater lab fee TFMS 328: $25
• Art academic fee ART 105: $35
• Art academic fee ART 204: $75
• Art academic fee ART 212: $95
• Art academic fee ART 214: $95
• Art academic fee ART 206: $95
• Art academic fee ART 208: $100
• Art academic fee ART 233: $95
• Art academic fee ART 304: $75
• Art academic fee ART 306: $95
• Art academic fee ART 308: $100
• Art academic fee ART 309: $95
• Art academic fee ART 312: $95
• Art academic fee ART 314: $95
• Art academic fee ART 333: $95
• Art academic fee ART 338: $125
• Art academic fee ART 339: $65
• Art academic fee ART 367: $95
• Art academic fee ART 369: $65
• Art academic fee ART 347: $95
• Art academic fee ART 390: $80

All fees listed are charged to all students, per occurrence, as appropriate.

• Application fee: new-student applications (undergrad and master’s) $50
• Advance payment: residence hall student (new) $500
• Advance payment: residence hall student (returning) $200
• Advance payment: commuting student (new) $500
• Advance payment: MAT student (new) $250
• Late-payment fee: (under $1000) $50
• Late-payment fee: ($1000 and over) $100
• Bad-check handling fee: (under $1000) $25
• Bad-check handling fee: ($1000 and over) $50
• Motor vehicle registration: (academic year) $100
• Motor vehicle registration: (Continuing Education, per semester) $10
• Parking citation/vehicle violation: $10 to $50
• Identification card replacement: $25
• Residence Hall, Townhouse, apartment and suite key replacement: $36/key
• Mailbox key replacement: $10
• Course-change fee (per change): $25
• Unauthorized meal entry: $40

All tuition and fees are due in full at the time stipulated on the statement of account. The only exceptions are students who are receiving scholarships, loans, or other financial aid. These students may defer that portion of their semester charges covered by financial aid when payment will be remitted directly to the College by the paying agency. PLUS loans, issued in both the parents’ and the College’s name and remitted directly to the College by the lending institution, can be used in deferring payment as long as they are immediately returned to the College upon request for endorsement. Financial aid documentation must be completed prior to any payment deadline in order to be eligible for deferment. Complete documentation includes the formal acceptance of aid by the student. Students accept or decline their financial aid through the student Portal at https://seahawks.smcm.edu/ics. The amount to be deferred may be no greater than the sum of the scholarships, loans and aid. If any aid used to defer payment is rejected after the due date, late charges may be applied in accordance with the College late payment policy. College work-study programs cannot be used in deferring payment, since wages are based on actual hours worked.

Note: Financial aid will not be credited to the student’s account prior to 10 days before the first day of classes. Financial aid listed on the statement of account prior to that time is for informational purposes only. The College will allow the deduction of the amount of aid indicated on the statement with the understanding that the student will be held responsible for the amount of any reduction or elimination of aid.

Students who are in a federal, state, or county vocational rehabilitation program may defer that portion of their tuition and fees being funded by these programs, as long as payment is made directly to the College and proof of participation is provided.

Students whose tuition and fees are being paid by their (or their parents’) employer may defer that portion of their tuition and fees which is being paid by an employer, provided the employer has made prior arrangements to be billed directly by the College.

If the total balance of tuition and fees is not paid within the deadlines specified on the bills, a $50 or $100 late-payment fee will be charged, based on the balance due. In addition, the institution reserves the right to cancel class registration, room reservation, and other assignments if full payment or financial aid arrangements are not made prior to the published deadline. The College normally will not permit a student to register nor will the College release transcripts or diplomas as long as the student has an outstanding debt to the institution. All payments for tuition and fees should be made payable to St. Mary’s College of Maryland and forwarded to:

Cashier
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
18952 E. Fisher Road
St. Mary’s City, MD 20686-3001

For new students, the College accepts VISA, MasterCard, or Discover credit cards for application fees, housing and tuition deposits. For all other payments and for all payments made by returning students, the College accepts online payments using MasterCard, Discover, or ACH (electronic check) through the Portal at https://seahawks.smcm.edu/ics. There is a convenience fee for use of a credit card, but there is no fee for payment by ACH. The College does not accept VISA for payments other than those itemized above.

Housing Contracts are binding for the entire academic year. Since cancellation of housing directly affects eligibility for a refund, see the Refunds and Student Affairs sections of the catalog for specific deadlines. Advance payments for all new students are non-refundable and are credited to their first-semester billing. Failure to matriculate will result in forfeiture of the advance payment. New students wishing to live on campus should forward the residence hall advance payment to the Business Office upon notification of their admission to the College, but no later than May 1. Housing is not guaranteed for new students who deposit after May 1.

New students who do not wish to live in on-campus housing are required to pay the commuting student advance payment upon notification of their admission to the College. This fee must be paid prior to the established deadline for the following semester. Failure to pay by the deadline may result in loss of class placement. Returning resident students must sign and complete the Housing Contract and pay the $200 housing deposit by February 24, 2016 for the fall 2016 semester. The housing deposit is credited to the student’s first semester billing.

Deferment of the housing deposit is not acceptable, even for those students on full scholarships. Returning students wishing to be released from the Housing Contract with no financial penalties must submit a written release request by May 1. Please contact the Office of Residence Life for additional information.

Housing deposits for students going on a leave of absence:

1. If a returning student pays a housing deposit and subsequently is granted a leave of absence before the Housing Contract release deadline (May 1 for the fall semester), the deposit will be credited to the student’s account unless the student wants the deposit held until such time as the leave of absence is terminated. There are no financial penalties for students that are granted a leave of absence by November 1 for the spring semester.
2. A student who requests a leave of absence after the Housing Contract release deadline (May 1 or November 1) forfeits the deposit and may be assessed an additional late fee (please refer to the student handbook for Housing Contract release dates and information).
3. A student who does not return at the conclusion of the leave of absence will forfeit the deposit.

 

 

Degree-seeking undergraduates or Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program students (either part- or full-time) who withdraw from the College or take a leave of absence will receive tuition refunds as follows:

• Before classes officially begin, 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees will be refunded. As of the first day of classes, mandatory fees are non-refundable.
• Eighty percent of tuition will be refunded only prior to the end of the second week after the official beginning of classes.
• Sixty percent of tuition will be refunded only during the third week after the official beginning of classes.
• Forty percent of tuition will be refunded only during the fourth week after the official beginning of classes.
• Twenty percent of tuition will be refunded only during the fifth week after the official beginning of classes.
• After the fifth week of classes, no tuition or fees shall be refunded.

Tuition refunds will be made for all degree-seeking undergraduate and MAT students, whether changing from full-time to part-time status, or as a part-time student dropping one or more classes while remaining enrolled, according to the following conditions:

• Before classes officially begin, 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees are refundable to the student. As of the first day of classes, mandatory fees are non-refundable.
• Before the end of the second week following the official beginning of classes, 80 percent of the tuition payment can be refunded.
• Starting on Monday of the third week following the official beginning of classes, 0 percent of the tuition payment can be refunded.

For students taking a leave of absence or withdrawing from the College, the room refund schedule is as follows:

• One hundred percent, less the penalty fee as noted on the Housing Contract before classes officially begin.
• Eighty percent prior to the end of the second week after the official beginning of classes.
• Sixty percent during the third week after the official beginning of classes.
• Forty percent during the fourth week after the official beginning of classes.
• Twenty percent during the fifth week after the official beginning of classes.
• No refund after the fifth week following the official beginning of classes. Room refunds must be requested in writing to the Office of Residence Life, as part of being released from the Housing Contract.

Note: Depending upon the date of notification, student-initiated room cancellations may result in a liability for some portion of housing costs in addition to loss of the advance payment. This information is contained in the Housing Contract.

All board refunds will be based on weekly meal plan use. This includes students who withdraw or take a leave of absence during the semester.

A student with a credit balance on his/her statement of account, resulting from federal aid monies to the College, will automatically receive a refund check, not to exceed the net aid amount, unless the student has authorized the credit balance. A student receiving other financial aid and showing a credit balance on his/her statement of account may request a refund no earlier than the first day of classes.

To be eligible for most federal, state and institutional aid programs, students must be U.S. citizens or must meet eligible non-citizen criteria, be admitted to and pursuing an eligible degree program and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis.

First-year and Transfer Students

To be considered for most forms of aid, students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15.  By filing the FAFSA, applicants are applying for grants, loans and work-study. New accepted students receive notification of financial aid in April.

Returning Degree Students

Applicants submit the completed FAFSA or Renewal Application between January 1 and March 1. Awards are based on academic performance and/or financial need. Returning students receive notification of their financial aid in June.

All students receiving St. Mary’s College and/or federal financial aid: Upon receiving their aid package from St. Mary’s, applicants make a decision to accept or reject each form of aid offered (loan, grant, scholarship and work), once eligibility has been confirmed. Applicants indicate their decision by accessing their financial aid awards at https://seahawks.smcm.edu/ics.

Financial aid recipients must do the following:

1. Maintain good academic standing and make satisfactory progress as required. Detailed information may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid.
2. Report changes in names, addresses and dependency status to the Office of Financial Aid. Changes in name and address also must be reported to the Office of the Registrar.
3. Report to the Office of Financial Aid the receipt of any financial assistance (scholarship, grants and so forth) received from other groups or organizations.
4. Consult with the Office of Financial Aid prior to making any changes in enrollment status (change from full-time to part-time or withdrawal from the College).
5. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or the Renewal Application) before the priority deadline of March 1. Maryland residents who file after the March 1 deadline may not be considered for Maryland state assistance. Note: St. Mary’s reserves the right to adjust aid awards at any time when there are changes in enrollment or residency status, income discrepancies, or financial changes.

Grants are gifts of money awarded to students with financial need. Grants need not be repaid. St. Mary’s College offers the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Grant (SEOG) and numerous College grants for students with demonstrated financial need.

Merit scholarships at St. Mary’s are awarded to entering full-time first-year and transfer students who show exceptional promise. Scholarships are awarded competitively to academically talented students. Scholarships, unless otherwise noted, are automatically renewed for up to four years of full-time study at St. Mary’s as long as the student remains in good standing as a full-time student and completes at least 12 credit hours each semester. The Office of Financial Aid, associate dean of academic services, and the Scholarship Review Committee monitors academic progress of scholarship recipients. The total amount of scholarships received from St. Mary’s may not exceed the cost of in-state tuition. Tuition waivers are scholarships and count toward this limit.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program

St. Mary’s College of Maryland participates exclusively in the Direct Loan Program. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education.

With Direct Loans, you can:

• Borrow directly from the federal government
• Have online access to your Direct Loan account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Choose from several repayment plans that are designed to meet the needs of almost any borrower
• Switch repayment plans if your needs change

Please go to http://studentaid.ed.govto learn more about the Federal Direct Loan Program.

Part-time employment is another way many students meet their educational costs. The Office of Financial Aid administers the federal work-study program. Work-Study aid is based on need and job placement is administered through the Office of Financial Aid. Students are employed in many capacities throughout the College. Income from part-time employment is paid directly to the student during each two-week pay period in which the student worked. St. Mary’s College of Maryland is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and a supporter of affirmative action initiatives.

Limited financial assistance is available to eligible students for SMCM approved academic year, semester, summer, and faculty-led study tours.  Students should begin this process by contacting the Office of International Education or by visiting Financial Aid for Study Abroad. For more information regarding aid availability, contact the Office of Financial Aid or the Office of International Education.

Individuals who wish to apply for Veterans Benefits should contact the Office of the Registrar, Glendening Hall. Telephone 240-895-4336.