2007-08 Academic Catalog	home FAQs request

Tuition and Financial Information

Tuition, room, meals and fees are listed for the entire year but are due in two installments. Cost increases during the academic year are not anticipated; however, the college reserves the right to make them should unforeseen circumstances make it necessary.

Basic costs 2007-08
Tuition and fees $22,350
Housing (standard dormitory)* $2,600
Meals (14-meal plan)** $3,100
Comprehensive fee $28,050

*Several other housing options are available.
**Other meal plan options are available.

All students residing in campus housing other than the apartment complexes are required to participate in a college meal plan. All first- and second-year students who have not reached the age of 21 and are not living at home are required to reside in college residence halls and participate in a college meal plan. Besides covering tuition, room, meals and student activity events, the comprehensive fee entitles you to free admission to most campus concerts, athletic events, plays, lectures and other campus functions. The student activity fee pays for a year’s subscription to The Concordian newspaper, a Cobber yearbook, and student activities programming.

Financial Arrangements

Advance payments: A nonrefundable $20 application fee must accompany the application for admission by new students, excluding students who are readmitted. After acceptance for admission, all new students pay a $200 advance on tuition and fees. Advance payments are applied to tuition charges. Returning students living on campus make a $200 nonrefundable advance payment for their room when they sign a Residence Hall Accommodations Agreement in the spring of each year. This advance payment is applied to housing charges for the fall semester.

Prepayment: Discounts may be obtained when prepayments are made. The discount is determined by the month in which you make payment and is subject to change.

Payment: Tuition and fees are payable at the beginning of each semester. Payment for first semester is due by the end of September. Payment for second semester is due by the end of January. When financial aid or other adjustments are expected, those adjustments may be deducted from the balance. Please do not delay payments while waiting for adjustments. Interest will be charged on unpaid balances that are outstanding 30 days or more. Students should not expect to be registered for the next semester if fees are not paid in full.

Vacations: Room charges cover all days of the academic year except the Christmas vacation period, which occurs between semesters. The charge for meal plans covers all meals served during the academic year except during the following periods: midsemester recesses and Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter vacations.

Insurance: A group health insurance plan is available for both married students and for single students who are not covered by their parents’ health insurance policy or some other policy. Students as well as staff members may wish to provide their own insurance coverage on all personal property, because the college cannot be responsible for any losses.

Student Bank: The Business Office provides a free banking service to students in which funds may be deposited for safekeeping and withdrawal simply by presenting an ID card and signing a receipt. This is a non-interest bearing account.

Special Fees

Mandatory fees or deposits: Students are required to pay these fees or make these deposits:  

Deposit, comprehensive: $75

Refundable deposits are held until each student leaves or graduates. At that time, they will be applied to any unpaid bills or refunded. If students choose not to return to Concordia, they should notify the Business Office to expedite a refund. Graduates automatically receive refunds within 60 days after graduation. A transcript of record is $2. (no student will be issued a transcript until all bills are paid in full in the Business office.)

Mandatory Fees for Selected Programs for 2007-08:

Only participating students pay these fees: 
2008 Summer school, per course: $2,450 
Private lessons in music, per semester series (includes practice room): $410
Part-time study, per course: $3,485 (see definition, “Part-time student,” Page 18) 
Courses in excess of 4.25 credit load, per 0.25 credit (The excess-load charge does not apply to credits from private lessons in music.): $390 

Course audit:
For currently enrolled students: no charge
For graduates of Concordia College: no charge
For noncollege persons, per course: $50  

Student teaching: $200
Education Methods Fee: $50
Clinical Laboratory Science: $7,159 (Clinical Laboratory Science: Students enrolled in the clinical laboratory science program who, in their final year, attend an approved school of medical technology are charged $7,159 for tuition.)

Withdrawals and Refunds

Refunds upon withdrawal: Should you, for whatever reason, withdraw from Concordia during a semester or summer term, a refund of tuition and room and meal plan, if applicable, is calculated. The amount of refund is determined by how much of the term has elapsed. If you are a recipient of student financial assistance, that assistance will be reduced as a result of your withdrawal. Federal legislation determines the amount of refund for recipients of federal Title IV student assistance. It is the purpose of this section to inform you of the financial implications of withdrawal.

If you are not the recipient of federal student financial aid, the college refund policy returns any refund of tuition or room and meals first to the programs from which assistance had been received (i.e. scholarships, Concordia gift assistance). This policy is consistent with the philosophy that financial aid is utilized after the resources of the student and parents. Refunds of tuition are given only through the eighth week of the semester while the room and meal plan refunds are prorated for the entire semester less a penalty for breaking the housing contract.

A different refund policy is required if you are the recipient of federal Title IV student assistance. If you withdraw from school on or before the 60-percent point in the term, then a percentage of Title IV federal financial aid shall be returned by the school and possibly by you. The amount of Title IV aid to be returned is equal to the total Title IV aid disbursed for the term multiplied by the percentage of the term not attended. Any refund amount must then be applied first to the federal aid programs in the following prescribed order:

1. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
2. Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
3. Federal Perkins Loan
4. Federal PLUS Loan
5. Federal Pell Grant
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
7. Other federal Title IV aid programs

Any remaining refund will then be returned to other institutional, state or private student assistance that has been received. Any refund in excess of student aid will be returned to the student only after account balances in the Business Office have been paid. Specific examples of refund calculations are available upon request from the Financial Aid Office.

Refunds for Reduced Load: If you find it necessary to drop a course during the semester, obtain a drop-add form from the Office of the Registrar. The completed form must be submitted by the deadlines on the academic calendar. If your student status changes from overload to full time or from full time to part time, tuition refunds through the seventh week of the semester will be granted effective on the date the drop-add form is returned to the Office of the Registrar. If you have a refund of tuition as a result of reducing your course load and you are receiving gift assistance from Concordia College, federal or state sources, this assistance will be reduced up to the amount of the refund.

Refunds for Private Lessons: Refunds will be granted based on the number of lessons taken. No refunds will be granted after five weeks. If financial aid was given to cover music lessons, it will be removed should the lessons be dropped.

Appeals on refunds: Any questions or problems related to refunds should be directed to the controller, whose office is located in the Business Office.

Terms of Statement: In order to receive any credit balance, complete settlement of your bill must be made.

Financial Aid

No student should ever decide against attending Concordia College on the basis of cost without first conferring with the Financial Aid office. More than $44 million per year in financial aid is made available by the college, gifts to the college, and the state and federal governments. Funds are distributed through scholarships, grants, loans and work opportunities to students who without such help would be unable to attend college. These programs are offered singly or in combination to form a financial aid package.

Eligibility for assistance is based on need and/or on academic promise. Need-based financial aid is applied toward those attendance costs that you and your family cannot provide, while merit-based financial aid recognizes academic potential. Aid is granted for a one-year period only, so application must be made each spring for the coming academic year.

You are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the standards and practices of Concordia. Failure to do so may result in ineligibility for financial aid.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

To apply for all forms of need-based financial aid — scholarships, grants, loans, work-study — you need only complete two forms: a Concordia College Supplemental Financial Aid Application, which is available at the Financial Aid office, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is available from your high school counselor, from the Financial Aid Office  at Concordia and at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available in December and should be completed and sent in as soon as possible after Jan. 1 for the following academic year. However, it is strongly suggested that both student and parental federal income tax returns be completed prior to application. For financial aid available from Concordia (institutional or federal), there is no deadline for application, but priority will be given to those students who apply prior to April 1. Late applicants will be awarded aid on the basis of available funds.

Financial aid is awarded to first-year and transfer students on a rolling basis, which means that as soon as you are accepted for admission and file for financial aid, you will be notified concerning financial aid. Returning upperclass students can expect award notification prior to or during the month of June if application is made prior to April 15. remember that need-based financial aid can only be given on an annual basis — reapplication must be made each year. Because the financial status of a family often changes, it is impossible to award aid for more than one year. Once financial aid has been awarded, you will receive an award letter.

Financial Aid Revisions

The financial aid package is awarded on the basis of financial and academic information contained in the application. Aid received from any source that was not originally considered in your aid package may affect the amount you receive. You are required to notify the Financial Aid Office of all such aid received from any source. Because your financial aid package is based on information from the previous tax year, changes in the financial status of your family may also affect your financial aid. Therefore, Concordia must retain the right to revise your aid package if other resources become available. Likewise, Concordia will increase your aid package if circumstances merit the increase and if funds are still available.

Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships, prizes and awards are given to recognize outstanding achievements and provide assistance based on financial need. Grants provide financial assistance. Grant funds are outright gifts and need not be repaid. The amount awarded is based upon need determined by the federal need- analysis formula. The college holds this information in confidence.

Concordia grants: Concordia grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and/or merit.

Concordia scholarships: Concordia scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, financial need and/or merit.

Concordia endowed and restricted scholarships: Concordia receives funds from a large number of foundations, corporations and private donors to be awarded as scholarships to students on the basis of financial need and/or selection criteria established by the individual donors.

Merit-based scholarships: A complete list of merit-based scholarships is published annually by the Concordia Admissions Office.

Minnesota State Grant Program: All Minnesota residents will be evaluated for eligibility for a Minnesota Grant if they complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and have the results sent to Concordia. The grant is awarded based on financial need. You may only receive aid from the Minnesota Grant program for the equivalent of eight semesters of undergraduate study, and you must be registered for at least 3.75 course credits each semester to receive the maximum Minnesota grant for which you are eligible. The FAFSA deadline for the State Grant is 30 days after the start of the semester.

Federal Pell Grant program: The Federal Pell Grant is a program designed to provide undergraduate students with a “foundation” of financial aid to help defray the costs of a postsecondary education. Application is made through completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The amount awarded is determined on the basis of financial need and the direct educational expenses of the student. Once you apply for the Federal Pell Grant, you will receive a Student Aid Report. It is anticipated the maximum Pell Grant for 2007-08 will be $4,310.

Academic Competitiveness Grants (AcG): Awarded to Pell Grant recipients in their first and second year who have completed an academically rigorous high school program.

National Smart Grants: Awarded to Pell Grant recipients in their third and fourth year who are majoring in certain eligible programs with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: This federal grant is intended to assist those students with exceptional financial need who, without the grant, would be unable to continue their undergraduate education. Grants under this program range from $100 to $4,000 per year.

Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarships: These awards, providing for tuition, fees, textbooks, supplies and a monthly stipend, may be awarded to students who meet established criteria. Click here for more information on ROTC.

Loans

Five types of loans for college costs at Concordia are available:

1. Federal Perkins Loan: This loan, which lends money at a 5 percent interest rate, is offered on the basis of financial need. Loan maximums are $4,000 annually with an aggregate of $20,000 for undergraduate study. The loans are interest-free while the student remains enrolled in college. Repayment begins nine months after enrollment ceases with a minimum repayment of $40 per month and may be extended up to 10 years for larger aggregate loan amounts. In addition to having a low interest rate, a Perkins Loan also has cancellation provisions for certain types of teaching, military, law enforcement, Peace Corps and volunteer service.

2. Federal Stafford Loan Program: This program provides loans at a fixed interest rate of 6.8 percent. Students demonstrating need, according to federal guidelines, may borrow through any lending institution that is willing to extend the loan. Under this program, the federal government will pay the interest until you begin repayment, which starts six months after enrollment ceases. Students who do not demonstrate financial need may obtain an unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan and will be required to make interest payments while enrolled in college. The maximum amount for this loan is $3,500 per year for first-year students, $4,500 for second- year students and $5,500 for each year thereafter, with an undergraduate maximum of $23,000.

3. Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students: The Federal PLUS program was established to help parents borrow money to defray the cost of education for their dependent children. Regardless of income, parents who are creditworthy may borrow up to the cost of education minus any financial aid the student is receiving. The interest rate is fixed at 8.5 percent. Applications and further information are available from lending institutions and the Financial Aid Office.

4. Student Educational Loan Fund: SELF is a state program controlled by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. All students attending a Minnesota school are potentially eligible provided they have a creditworthy co-signer who is a U.S. citizen. You may borrow up to $7,500 per year for the first and second years and $7,500 per year thereafter for a maximum of $37,500 for undergraduate study. The interest charged is normally at a rate lower than most commercial loans. The interest is payable on a quarterly basis while in school. Principal and interest payments begin after leaving school.

5. Alternative loans: Many commercial lenders offer alternative student loans. Generally, these loans require a co-signer and have higher interest rates. Application forms are available from your Stafford Loan lender or the Financial Aid Office. Borrowers are urged to use the same lender for Stafford Loans and alternative loans and to carefully evaluate the interest rate and fees before processing an alternative loan.

Work

Student part-time employment: Better-than-average employment opportunities in part-time work exist both on and off campus for Concordia College students. The cities of Moorhead and Fargo form a retail-wholesale trade center for a large area. Concordia College students have a good reputation with business firms in the two cities. A substantial number of students hold part-time jobs. The college’s Career Center and the student-operated Job Shop coordinate requests for student workers and students seeking employment. Approximately 1,300 students — freshmen to seniors — are employed on campus each year. Concordia Auxiliary Services employs the largest number of students in part-time jobs, ranging from dishwashing to student manager positions. Hours for all part-time jobs are arranged around class blocks. Other on- campus jobs include departmental and administrative clerical help, library assistance, language laboratory monitoring, grounds work and residence hall assistance. For students receiving financial aid, part-time employment may be considered as part of their financial aid package. A work award in the financial aid package provides the opportunity to work, not the guarantee of a job.

Federal work-study program: Students with financial need who require a job to help pay for college expenses are potentially eligible for employment by the college under federally supported work-study programs. To work under this program at Concordia College, you must be enrolled and be in good standing, or be accepted for enrollment as at least a half-time student.

Refunds in Financial Aid Resulting from Withdrawal from School

The Business Office determines the refund amount for tuition, fees, room, and meal plan in the event that you withdraw from school during the semester. Please refer to the information under Withdrawals and Refunds in the Financial Information pages of the catalog. cautionary    note Because the status of federal and state student assistance programs is ever-changing, we run the risk that published information may become outdated. Should this occur, we will publish all applicable changes using the numerous media available on this campus.

Glossary of Terms

Concordia College Supplemental Financial Aid Application: a supplemental application required by the college, available in the Financial Aid Office or on the Financial Aid Web site at www.ConcordiaCollege.edu/dept/finaid/.

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid — financial statement that is used in applying for need-based financial aid.

Grant: a monetary gift awarded on the basis of need and/or merit.

Job Shop: a student-operated office whose main purpose is to help students secure on- or off-campus employment.

Lender: your local bank, savings and loan, credit union, or other financial institution participating in the Federal Stafford Loan and Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students programs.

Need: the difference between the cost of attendance and the family’s calculated ability to meet that cost.

Package: the financial aid, determined by the Financial Aid Office, that you receive.

Rolling basis: an arrangement in which once you are accepted and apply for financial aid, you are notified immediately of the financial aid decision.

Scholarship: a monetary gift usually awarded according to donor’s specifications, such as financial need, achievement or field of study.

Student Aid Report (SAR): the report the student receives from the USDE indicating financial information on file regarding the student; it is used in the corrections process.

Verification: a requirement of the federal government to verify accuracy of the financial data in the aid application.

Work-study: on- or off-campus part-time employment that students can participate in while in school. Earnings are paid by the employer and through federal and state funds as applicable.