<p>I was just notified of a $1,058 balance on my account. This coming after $4,000 for tuition at a public university. Thankfully, my financial aid package covered that cost. However, I just called to find out more about this extra $1,058 current balance and they said it was because I added a class. The cut-off date for registration was 9/3. I registered for all my classes by 9/2. They said it’s because the refund was issued AFTER I registered. </p>
<p>What?! I already paid some $4,000 for tuition. Now they’re charging me per class even though it was added in time? Please tell me there’s some way I can clear this up.</p>
<p>This is going to sound insane, but bear with me; it might help to point out this problem to the university and find out if there is an issue with your registration and how you can clear up the issues you’re having.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids, I believe that’s what they’re saying. I did receive a refund check, which I’ve used for books, etc. </p>
<p>I went back and checked the letter. Aid was disbursed 8/31 – the day classes started – so I was registered before even that. Apparently they’re going by the aid disbursement date (8/31) and not the university’s cut-off date (9/3). I just don’t understand why $4,000 doesn’t cover all of my tuition – regardless of when I registered as long as it was before 9/3.</p>
<p>I am indeed in-state. I think the max is 19 credits, of which I’m currently taking. I actually want to add one more credit for a lab class. Would that be another $1,000 for just one credit?</p>
<p>According to the link you posted your school charges by the credit hour up to 11 hours then a set amount for 12to 16 hours then additional charges for anything over 16 hours. So the more credit hours you take, the more you will be charged. The tuition and fees link from the page you posted says that instate tuition is $352.75 a credit hour. Another link from that page shows that 12-16 hours will be $4233 but any hours over that will be charged additional per credit hour charges. 19 hours will be $5291.</p>
<p>This is very basic math. You are charged tuition and fees. You need to be aware of the costs associated with the classes you sign up to take. Add up all the tuition and fee costs for the total number of credits you are taking; this is A. Add up the total of your financial aid for the fall term; this is B. Subtract B from A. If B > A, you get a refund. If A>B, you owe the school. If you got a refund but A>B, you should wonder what the heck happened. If you had been on top of this, you would have inquired right away … a quick look at the school website, or a call to the financial aid office or bursar’s office, or a stop by either of these offices and you would have been informed that aid was disbursed on Day X. If you added a class on Day Y, you would then know that the refund will have to go toward the class you added after disbursement.</p>
<p>Please use this as a very important lesson. When you sign up for something that costs money, you need to be aware of how much it costs. If you get a refund, you need to know whether or not you should be getting that refund.</p>
<p>Sorry to be so blunt, but I am continually amazed at how many students are completely clueless about the costs they incur related to their education.</p>
<p>Its probably a good idea to take 16 credits per semester, or at least as close to 16 as possible without going over in order to minimize the total cost of tuition at CSU, since 12 credits costs the same as 16. But each credit hour over 16 will cost more than $300 for each credit. I know its too late for this info to help you this semester, but you probably still have a ways to go before your graduate.</p>
<p>Kelsmom, in fairness to the OP, it’s likely that this rather low cutoff of 16 hours didn’t apply at his previous school and sometimes a student just doesn’t know to ask! My kids would probably miss this one too as, except for summer sessions, their schools don’t charge FT students per credit hour until they exceed 19 and 21 hours. D’s school does not specify this anywhere on their website…they list a flat rate for tuition and specify it’s for 12 hours or more.</p>
<p>OP, since you’re a new student there, did you consult with your advisor before adding the extra class?</p>
<p>Believe me, my own son is clueless about this sort of thing. I am no less blunt with him. Young people really need to “own” their expenses if they are paying … or give their parents total access to their accounts (including letting them know if they make any changes to their schedules). </p>
<p>I don’t mean to be mean … but I have spent hours with students who spent $5000 refund checks, added classes (or dropped & had grants removed), and now owe with no way to pay … with students who come to school without any money for books - and they have ignored requests for verification documents … with students who didn’t file a FAFSA but inquire as to why they have no financial aid … with students who can’t figure out how to subtract their aid from their charges to figure out whether or not they owe the school … etc. Somewhere along the line, we need to teach young people how to handle financial matters. College is as good a place as any to start expecting students to pay attention to money matters.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your help. Unfortunately, this situation has escalated to ridiculous levels. </p>
<p>Everyone was right about the charged amount – that 3 credit class did cost $1,058 since it was beyond 16 credits. So I called the office to verify the charge, dropped it two days later (figured I would just take it next semester), and the charge was still there. I called back today to see why the balance was still there and they said that in order to get refunded for the class, I had to drop it the first two weeks of classes. As a new transfer student, I was completely unaware – I wasn’t even notified of the $1,058 balance until after these two weeks via e-mail.</p>
<p>So what it has come down to is they want me to pay for a class I am not enrolled in. If I have to pay, most of my remaining loan money (used for books, campus parking, etc.) is gone and it’s all for NOTHING. The woman I spoke to over the phone put me on hold to talk to her supervisor, came back, and would not budge on forgiving this charge. </p>
<p>What else can I do in this situation? Basically, I’m “five days” past the opportunity to drop without financial penalty. I have yet to go into the office in person, but that is my next step – I just want to be prepared with a new defense.</p>
<p>To be honest I doubt there is anything you can do. The rules for tuition and fees charges and for add/drop dates and refunds will all be on the school’s website and it is really your responsibility to read the information provided there. Most schools have a date by which you must drop a class if you want a refund. It took me about 20 seconds to find the information about the tuition and fees charges that I posted in my previous post (#7) and I know nothing about your school and had never been to their website before.</p>
<p>I think you may have to take this as a very expensive lesson learned - always take the time and trouble to do a little research, and if you are planning to change your schedule at all and don’t know what impact it will have - ask the bursars office or FA department. </p>
<p>Have you asked if it is possible to be reinstated in the class? At least then you will be getting something for your money.</p>
<p>*this situation has escalated to ridiculous levels.
*</p>
<p>Yes, this is a lesson-learned. Always find out the rules before making decisions. This lesson applies to all areas of life. Don’t assume. Too many people make expensive mistakes because they “assumed” and didn’t check.</p>
<p>I agree that you are most likely stuck with the charge. You are responsible for knowing the rules, which are posted for your review. However, most schools do have a process for requesting that charges be removed. It’s usually done through the Registrar’s office. You probably don’t have any standing to have the charge removed, but it’s worth a try. If there is such a process at your school, be humble when you provide your statement as to why you want the charges removed. Explain that you are a transfer student, you were not aware … and admit that you have learned a lesson. In other words, state the facts, do not assign blame to someone other than yourself, and beg for mercy. I know that $1000 is worth a shot for me!</p>