Student Accounts 2012-2013

Payment Plans

SWAU offers three payment plans for fall and spring semesters to help students manage their university expenses. Classes taken during the summer require full payment at the time of registration for each module.

PLAN I — CASH

When the total charges for a semester are paid on registration day, a discount of 3% is given on the cash paid for tuition, room, and board.  (Before this discount is calculated, all scholarships, loans, grants, awards, other discounts, and university aid funds are subtracted.) Students using this plan must bring with them at registration time the full amount of the package plan, plus miscellaneous charges such as music lessons and private room fee. A cash discount is not given on post-baccalaureate student, distance learning, or other discounted programs. This discount does not apply to payments made by credit or debit card.

PLAN II — FIVE-PAYMENT SEMESTER AGREEMENT

This plan is a five-payment contract with the University. The first payment is 60% of semester charges, and financial aid can be applied toward this requirement. The remaining balance will be divided equally over four payments due the 10th of each month, as follows:

Fall Semester

     

July 15 First payment, minimum of 60% of semester charges

August 10 Second payment

September 10 Third payment

October 10 Fourth payment

November 10 Final payment

Spring Semester

December 15 First payment, minimum of 60% of semester charges

January 10 Second payment

February 10 Third payment

March 10 Fourth payment

April 10 Final payment

Students must go to the OpenCUAS Portal in July and December to choose this payment option.

PLAN III — FOUR-PAYMENT SEMESTER AGREEMENT

This plan is a four payment contract with the University. A minimum of 60% will be paid at the time of registration, with financial aid as a part of that payment. The remaining balance will be divided into three payments due on the 10th of each month, as follows:

Fall Semester

     

Registration Day First payment, minimum of 60% of semester charges.

October 10 Second payment

November 10 Third payment

December 10 Final payment

Spring Semester

Registration Day First payment, minimum of 60% of semester charges.

February 10 Second payment

November 10 Third payment

December 10 Final payment

Statements

Itemized statements giving an account of the previous month's expenses are issued each month.  Fixed expenses - tuition, required fees, and room rent - for the quarter are charged at the beginning of each quarter. Variable expenses - including cafeteria, bookstore, and other charges - are billed as they are incurred. All enrolled students receive copies of their statements each month. Students may request that a copy be mailed to a third party, such as a pare

METHODS OF PAYMENT

In addition to cash and checks, Southwestern Adventist University accepts Discover® MasterCard®, American Express, and VISA® credit cards for payment of accounts. These payments may be made in person, by telephone, by mail, or over the Internet.

Checks or money orders should be made payable to Southwestern Adventist University and sent to:

Southwestern Adventist University
Student Financial Services
100 W Hillcrest St
Keene, TX  76059

Payments submitted for any tuition, fees, books, or other charges should be accompanied by the student's full name and ID number. 

Students wishing to have funds electronically transferred to Southwestern Adventist University should provide their bank with the following information:

Send Wire To:

Pinnacle Bank
PO Box 676
Keene, TX 76059
ABA# 111903517

Credit To:

Southwestern Adventist University
Account# 330-00-3004

Students Name and ID# must be on wiring instructions for proper credit.

Past-Due Accounts

Accounts not paid in full by the due date at the end of the semester are considered past due. Regular monthly payments are required to avoid placement with a collections agency.  Warning letters will be sent, and phone contact will be attempted, but the ultimate responsibility is the student’s.  SWAU has no desire to hurt the student’s credit with placement with collections, so contact Duane Valencia at 817-202-6533 to make arrangements.  Please note that payment must be made in full to receive a transcript or a diploma.  For a transcript to clear quickly, use a credit card, debit card, money order or cashier’s check for payment, since a wait of two weeks is required to make sure personal checks have cleared the bank.  In addition, this past due  balance must be paid if the student wishes to enroll again in a subsequent semester. 

Transcript/Diploma Release

Requests for expedited delivery of transcripts will be assessed the following charge: $25 for express mail service; $5 for same day service, and $5 for fax service. A transcript is collateral for any unpaid student account balance. Transcripts and diplomas are not released if a student's account is not paid in full, if student has not completed federal student loan counseling, if government loans are not current in repayment, or if the academic file is incomplete. If a check to pay off a student account balance accompanies a transcript request, the transcript will be held until the check is cleared. Requests accompanied by credit card information, a money order or a bank draft are processed more quickly. 

Refunds

TUITION, ROOM & BOARD INSTITUTIONAL REFUND

Tuition charges for students dropping classes will continue until the drop voucher is filed at the Records Office. Room and board charges will continue until the student’s personal belongings have been removed from the residence hall and clearance has been filed with the residence hall dean.  Refunds to students dropping all, or some, classes will be prorated on a weekly basis as shown in the chart below. Room and board refunds are prorated on a daily basis.

 

Week

Tuition Refund %

Registration Week

100%

Second Week

84%

Third Week

72%

Fourth Week

60%

Fifth Week

48%

Sixth Week

36%

Seventh Week

24%

Eighth Week

12%

Refunds are not made on these items:

 

  • Absences
  • Insurance
  • Music Lessons two weeks after registration day
  • SA Fee
  • Technology Fee
  • Vacations
  • Weekend Leaves

Summer School

Summer school tuition for on-campus courses is 75% of regular tuition.

On-line courses are charged at 80% of regular tuition. Independent study and graduate classes are $725 per credit hour rate.

The Dinosaur field course is $242 per credit hour.

The Honors Study Tour is $242 per credit hour.

The Taiwan summer tuition is $544 per credit hour.

International Students

International Student (F-1) Requirements for SWAU I-20

After academic acceptance is granted, an international student must meet the following requirements to obtain I-20 and I-901 forms necessary for issuance of a student visa for entry into the U.S. and enrollment at SWAU:

  1. Submit a Certificate of Finance form and documentation to prove financial ability to meet the costs of tuition, lodging, food, fees, medical insurance, and personal expenses while studying at SWAU.
  2. Submit $8,900. Of that, $7,900 is applied to the student's account, $200 pays the SEVIS I-901 fee, $100 reserves a dormitory room, and $700 is held in reserve and is returned at graduation or withdrawal if the account is paid in full. (Canadian citizens need only submit $300 for SEVIS and room reservation fees.) If an applicant does not register, all funds will be returned except a $100 processing fee and the $200 SEVIS fee, and $100 dorm deposit.

ESL Students:

Before an I-20 will be issued for an international student who will be taking ESL courses, SWAU requires an initial payment of $6,500 (a $1,000 deposit plus a $5,500 pre-payment). The pre-payment will not cover the entire semester's expenses. The $5,500 pre-payment is applied to your first semester charges at SWAU and the international student deposit is held in reserve until you permanently leave SWAU. When you finish taking classes at SWAU the deposit held in reserve will be applied to your student charges or refunded to you if your account is paid in full. The deposit and pre-payment will be returned to you if you do not enroll, minus the $200 SEVIS fee, $100 processing fee, and the non-refundable dorm deposit of $100.

Appeals Process

A student whose situation has extenuating circumstances which the student believes warrant consideration for an exception from published policy may submit an appeal to the following:

  • Asst. Financial Vice President, Student Finance
  • Student Finance Committee