Cost

Tuition and Fixed Fees

The following tuition rates will be charged each semester. These rates apply to courses taken for credit and for audit. TUITION AND ALL FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IF NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH NEW STATE LAWS AND BOARD POLICY.

In-District (Howard County Residents)
$57 per semester hour with a minimum base amount of $150. Qualified Texas Deaf residents shall be exempt from tuition fees beginning with the fall semester of 1995 as documented.

Out-of-District (Texas Residents)
$89 per semester hour with a base amount of $180. In order to establish in-district residency, a student must have been a resident of Texas for twelve consecutive months immediately prior to enrollment, including six months as a resident in Howard County. Moving into the Howard County Junior College District for the specific purpose of enrolling in Howard College or SWCID does not establish legal residence in the district.

Non-Resident (Out of State and International)
Howard College - $138 per semester hour with a base amount of $200
SWCID - $401 per semester hour, no base, based on State law 131.005.

Non-State Funded Course Fee
A charge of $70 per credit hour will be added to the tuition charged for courses that do not qualify for state funding, including but not limited to the following conditions:

1. A student’s third attempt or more at the same course.
2. A student taking a developmental course who has exceeded 27 semester credit hours of developmental course work.
3. Any other circumstances for which state funding is not received.

Building Charge (All Students)
$70 per semester

Student Services Fee (All Students)
$3 per semester hour beginning at 6 hours, up to and including 12 hours.

Senior Citizens
If space is available at the close of regular registration, students age 65 and older may enroll for up to six hours of courses each semester and/or summer term without payment of tuition. All fees will be charged. If space is available at the close of regular registration, students age 65 and older may audit any course(s) at no charge. This exemption will only be honored upon request in person. Registration must be completed on site each registration period. This exemption does not apply to programs with limited enrollment and/or competitive selection.

Cost Reduction

1. Certain fees or other costs may be reduced or waived by the college President or designee for students who are enrolled in classes taken in facilities provided for the purpose of instruction when these locations are located in the college’s service area or have been approved by the Board of Trustees.
2. Certain costs are reduced for concurrently enrolled high school students and for inmates at correctional facilities enrolled in academic courses. The base tuition for high school students enrolled in academic transfer courses is $50 for in-district, $100 for out-of-district, and $140 for non-resident students. Hourly tuition is $38 for in-district, $50 for out-of-district and $72 for non-resident. Fees are waived.
3. The tuition rate for high school students concurrently enrolled in Workforce Education courses is $0. Students may be responsible for certain course or program costs such as insurance, licensure requirements, testing, certification, equipment, etc.

Laboratory Fees

Additional Fees for Certain Courses or Services
Additional fees charged by outside agencies may be passed on to the student.

Student Refund Policy

Students who officially drop a course(s) or withdraw from the college shall have their tuition and mandatory fees refunded according to the following schedule:

Fall and Spring Semesters

Summer Sessions

 Flex Entry and Non-Semester Length Courses**

*The first class day is the official first day of class of the semester. Class days are based on the college calendar.
**Courses with a census date other than the twelfth class day (fourth class day for a six-week summer term) (Includes Cosmetology).

Open Entry Classes (Adult Vocational Classes and Continuing Education Classes)

General Financial Information

Special Courses
The college reserves the right to set appropriate fees and special tuition for any special courses that may be offered after publication of this catalog.

Financial Obligations
Students cannot receive an official transcript from Howard College/SWCID until they have discharged all financial obligations to the college. Registration is not complete until all accounts for the semester are paid and/or proper financial arrangements are made. Unpaid financial obligations may result in dismissal from the college. Students with outstanding financial obligations to the college will not be allowed to re-enroll until these obligations are cleared. Students who have outstanding financial obligations to the college may be allowed to enroll for workforce training and continuing education classes when these classes are required by and/or paid for by an employer or third party. In these cases, transcripts will not be issued to the student; however evidence of completion of the course will be provided to the employer. Unpaid balances may result in referral for collection and the student will be responsible for all collection costs incurred.

Registration
A period will be set aside each term or semester to permit students to register. All tuition and fees will be paid at this time. It is the responsibility of a student on financial aid and/or scholarship(s) to confirm with the Business Office that all tuition and fees are paid.

Late Registration
A late registration charge of $10.00 is required of all students enrolling after the regular announced day or days to register. This fee is also required if a student enrolls, completely withdraws from all classes, and then initiates another class enrollment. This fee is charged even if this situation occurs within the same day. This charge will be incurred by students who register in person or on-line.

Course Change
A fee of $10.00 is charged for each course change. This fee will not be charged to any student who changes their courses through the on-line system.

Admittance to Class
Students will not be allowed to attend classes until all tuition and fees have been paid.

Bookstore Refunds
Bookstore refunds will adhere to the posted policy provided by the bookstore contractor.

Check Identification Requirement
Personal checks written to Howard College/SWCID will have the issuer’s date of birth and/or valid driver’s license number written on the check. If the student prefers not to have the date of birth or driver’s license number written on the check, the student must pay with cash, cashier’s check, money order, or credit/debit card.

Returned Checks
A processing fee will be assessed any person who writes a check to the college that will not clear the bank for any reason other than bank error. The fee will be equal to that charged by the county attorney’s office for returned checks. A hold will be placed on all records until the financial obligation to the college is cleared. The issuer of the check will be notified in writing of the insufficient status. Failure to comply within the specified time limit will result in the check being turned over to the appropriate outside agency for collection and additional fees may be incurred. The college will not accept checks from anyone who has had more than two returned checks.

Installment Payment Plan
Howard College/SWCID offers installment contracts for the payment of tuition/fees for Fall and Spring semesters.

• The plan is offered through Nelnet Business Solutions and must be executed on-line.
• One-half of the tuition and fees must be paid before the start of the semester with two equal payments remaining.
• An enrollment fee of $25.00 will be charged per agreement period (semester).
• A student who fails to make full payment of tuition and fees, including any incidental fees, by the due date may be prohibited from registering for future classes until full payment is made.
• A student who fails to make payment before the end of the semester will not be issued a transcript or grade report until full payment is made.
• If the account is submitted for collection, the cost of collection will be the student’s responsibility.

Residence Hall Cost

Howard College

Listed below are the current charges and installment amounts. Room and Board charges are subject to change without notice.

Refundable room deposit
$100.00 is due at time of application for all students. Students will not be assigned a room until the Dean of Students Office has received the deposit and the housing application.

Room/Board Charges for Howard College

Laundry Fee
A $25 laundry fee will be charged to all students living in on-campus housing.

Private Room Charge
Private rooms are an additional $650 per semester and are subject to availability. This fee must be paid in full when the resident accepts the private room assignment and cannot be prorated. The Quads in Turner Hall are not available for single occupancy.

Installment Plan
(Includes $25 Laundry Fee)

Financial Aid/Scholarship Recipients
Room/Board payments due at Registration. Financial aid and/or scholarship funds can be applied.

No-Financial Aid/Scholarship Recipients
Room/Board payments due upon moving into Residence Halls or at Registration, whichever comes first.

Withdrawal
The residence hall cost includes room rent and meals. No refunds will be made for the room rent portion of the cost. The meal portion of the cost will be refunded based on the amount paid to date and on the remaining days left in the semester. Refund of the reservation deposit will be awarded under the following conditions:

1. The reservation is canceled before July 15 for the fall semester, December 15 for the spring semester, and May 1 for the mini and summer semesters.
2. The resident involuntarily withdraws from the college for reasons of health or circumstances beyond his/her control.
3. The resident officially checks out of the residence hall with the Residence Hall Supervisors.

Any damage or shortage at the time the resident vacates the residence hall will be deducted from the deposit. To obtain the deposit, the student must contact the Dean of Students Office.

SWCID
Listed below are the current charges and installment amounts for SWCID. Room and Board charges are subject to change without notice.

Refundable Room Deposit
$100.00 is due at time of application for all students. Students will not be assigned a room until the Dean of Student Affairs Office has received the deposit and the housing application.

Room and Board Cost - SWCID

Laundry Fee
A $25 laundry fee will be charged to all students living in on-campus housing.

The housing cost includes telephone, TV, computer, and cable service hookups. For those students wishing to have a private room, if available, an additional $650.00 will be assessed. The board plan is a 7-day program for meals as follows: Monday through Friday – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Saturday and Sunday – Brunch and Dinner. Cost of board is subject to change due to fluctuating food costs.

For those students wishing to pay board in installments, approval must be received from the Business Office or the Dean of Student Affairs. Board may be paid in as many as three installments.

Installment Plan
(Includes $25 Laundry Fee)

Meal tickets will not be issued until financial arrangements have been made with the Business Office or the Dean of Student Affairs. Payment is due in full at Registration.

SWCID Annex Apartments
Family apartments are available for married couples (with or without children), single parents with children, students with special/unique needs, or college employees in some special circumstances . Room cost is $525.00 each month/$2,100.00 for the semester to live in a SWCID apartment. The college will assume responsibility for payment of utilities except for long distance telephone service and any supplemental cable other than basic services the college already provides in the other dorm rooms.

Occupants may choose or not choose to participate in the meal plan. It makes no difference whether one or both of the persons that make up the married couple are SWCID students, the rent cost will remain the same.

Students, who would otherwise not qualify, may be placed in the apartments due to lack of space availability in the residence halls. Students will be charged the current dorm rate in this situation, regardless of the number of students sharing the apartment. Students in this situation will be required to participate in the meal plan. When space is available, they may be relocated to the residence halls.

Foundation Park
Four manufactured homes are available for individual students based on certain criteria, married couples (with or without children), and/or single parents with children. Individual students are required to complete an application/selection process and receive approval to live in these homes. Each manufactured home can hold up to 6 students (2 students per bed room). Room cost for each approved individual student is $650 per semester. Room cost for married couples (with or without children) and single parents with children is $875 per month/$3,500 for the semester. The college will assume responsibility for payment of utilities except for long distance telephone service and any supplemental cable other than basic services the college already provides in the residence halls and annex apartments. The meal plan is required for individual students living in the manufactured homes but is optional for married couples and parents with children.

Students, who would otherwise not qualify, may be placed in the manufactured homes due to lack of space availability in the residence halls. When space is available, they may be relocated to the residence halls.

Withdrawal
The residence hall cost includes room rent and meals. No refunds will be made for the room rent portion of the cost: $650 for the rooms in the residence halls. The meal portion of the cost will be refunded based on the amount paid to date and on the remaining days left in the semester. Refund of the reservation deposit ($100) will be awarded under the following conditions:

• The reservation is canceled before July 15 for the fall semester and December 15 for the spring semester.
• The resident involuntarily withdraws from the college for reasons of health or circumstances beyond his/her control.
• The resident officially checks out of the residence hall with the approval of the Residence Hall supervisors.

Any damage or shortage at the time the resident vacates the residence hall will be deducted from the deposit. To obtain the deposit, the student must contact the Dean of Students Office.

Under federal law, students attending Howard College/SWCID who receive Title IV (Pell, SEOG, Direct Loan) and completely withdraw before the 60 percent point (in time) in the period of enrollment will be required to return any unearned funds. Unearned Title IV funds is the percentage of term not attended times the Title IV aid. In some instances, the student may owe both the federal government and the school. Students owing either the federal government or the school will be ineligible for any further federal aid until funds are repaid.