Fees and Expenses
| General Fee | Partial Payment Policy | Technology Tuition Fee |
| Housing Fee | Payment of Fees | Tuition Rates |
| Meal Fee | Refund Policy | Uncollectible Check Policy |
| Other Fees |
Special Note: The fees listed below reflect charges at press time. For up-to-date information on fees at any given time, contact the Office of the Bursar, 610-436-2552.
Fees and expenses are subject to change without notice. Fees shown here are in effect for the academic year 2011-2012 and apply to fall and spring semesters only.
Tuition Rates
Tuition and fees can be paid by check, electronic check (e-check), money order, or cash. The University does not accept credit cards for tuition and fee payment. except through the Web-based QuikPAY system. If the student chooses to pay via credit card, a fee will be assessed for this service. Refer to the Office of the Bursar's Web page for payment instructions.
Undergraduate Tuition for Legal Residents of Pennsylvania
| Full-time students (between 12-18 credits) | $3,120.00 per semester |
| Part-time students (11 credits or less), or per credit for each credit over 18 | $260.00 per credit |
See the Office of the Registrar for residency requirements.
Undergraduate Tuition for Out-of-State Students
| Full-time students (between 12-18 credits) | $7,800.00 per semester |
| Part-time students (11 credits or less), or per credit for each credit over 18 | $650.00 per credit |
General Fee
The general fee, excluding the student recreation center fee, of $774.65 per full-time student (12 credits or more) or $64.55 per credit hour for the part-time student (11 credits or less) is a mandatory charge that covers the services indicated below.
- Sykes Student Union Fee ($70)
Previously called the community center fee, this charge is for the operation and use of Sykes Student Union. - Health Center Fee ($120)
This charge is for the use of the University Health Center. - Student Services, Inc. (SSI) Fee ($164.33)
The SSI fee funds student activities, services, clubs, and sports. - Sykes Student Union Expansion Fee ($60)
This fee supports the recent renovation of Sykes Student Union. - Educational Services Fee ($312.00)
(10% of in-state undergraduate tuition or $312.00 using the 2011-12 tuition schedule) Students pay this fee in lieu of specific department charges. - Parking Improvement Fee ($48.32)
This fee is dedicated to improve the quality and availability of campus parking for students. The fee will provide for new student parking spaces, improved shuttle service, and safety improvements.
Student Recreation Center Fee
The student recreation center fee will support the construction and operation of a new facility being built on campus. Planned for opening in the fall 2012, the building will include a fitness center, track, gym, multiactivity courts, rock-climbing wall, and other amenities.
| Full-time students | $133.00 |
| Part-time students | $11.08 (per credit) |
When the student recreation center is opened, all full-time undergraduate and graduate students will be assessed the full $133 per semester fee. Part-time undergraduate and graduate students will be charged an amount proportionate to the number of credits taken.
Distance Education Access Fee
Students enrolled in any distance education course will be charged an access fee of up to 20% of the tuition in lieu of general fees for that course.
International Student Service Fee
This $75 per semester fee applies to all inbound international students to support compliance with requirements of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Technology Instructional Fee
This mandatory instructional fee will be used to enhance classroom technology. All charges are per semester.
| Legal residents of Pennsylvania: | |
| Full-time undergraduate (12 or more credits) | $174.00 |
| Part-time undergraduate (per credit) | $15.00 |
| Out-of-state students: | |
| Full-time undergraduate (12 or more credits) | $263.00 |
| Part-time undergraduate (per credit) | $23.00 |
Summer will be considered as one semester. Students enrolled in multiple summer sessions will be charged no more than the equivalent of the full-time semester rate.
Housing Fee
North Campus Residence Halls – This fee entitles the student to occupancy of a standard double room in any University owned residence hall with one roommate.
(per student) $2,424.00 per semester
(per student) $2,574.00 per semester
(air conditioned)
South Campus Apartment Complex – This fee entitles the student to occupancy of a four- or five-person apartment that is University owned with the following bedroom occupancy:
Single occupancy bedroom
(per student) $3,064.00 per semester
Double occupancy bedroom
(per student) $2,816.00 per semester
College Arms Apartment Complex – This fee entitles the student to occupancy of various living arrangements that are University owned with bedroom occupancies indicated below. All rates are per student.
Single apartment – single occupancy:
$4,800.00 per semester
1-bedroom apartment – double bedroom:
$4,000.00 per semester
1-bedroom apartment – triple bedroom:
$3,400.00 per semester
1-bedroom apartment – quad bedroom:
$3,100.00 per semester
2-bedroom apartment – single bedroom:
$4,400.00 per semester
2-bedroom apartment – double bedroom:
$3,700.00 per semester
Students in the North Campus residence halls losing their roommates who do not have another roommate assigned to them will be assigned a roommate, be relocated, or charged a private room fee of $50 per week for every week that they occupy the room alone. These options are available on a limited basis; however, available spaces will be used if demand requires.
Students may also obtain housing through University Student Housing, which operates four housing facilities on campus (Allegheny, Brandywine, and University halls, as well as The Village at WCU). WCU hires, trains, and supervises the residence life staff for each location and handles all student issues. University Student Housing is responsible for occupancy management (leases), as well as facility-related issues. Information about applying for these facilities is available by sending an e-mail to info@wchousing.com, logging on to www.wchousing.com, or calling 610-436-2368.
Meal Fee
All students residing in a North Campus residence hall (including affiliated housing) must be on the University meal plan as a condition of occupancy and must choose one of the four meal plans indicated below. Students with medical problems who cannot meet this requirement may request a meal waiver.
14 meals per week, plus $250 flex:
$1,247.00 per semester
12 meals per week, plus $250 flex:
$,1219.00 per semester
9 meals per week, plus $250 flex:
$1,147.00 per semester
Unlimited meal plan, plus $250 flex:
$1,537.00 per semester
Residents of the College Arms Apartment Complex, South Campus Apartment Complex, The Village, off-campus students, and commuters may purchase, in addition to any meal plan listed above, any of the following two meal plans indicated below. These students also have the option to obtain meals at the transient rate. The plans below are not permitted for students residing in North Campus residence halls.
7 meals per week, plus $250 flex:
$1,084.00 per semester
Flex-only:
$150.00 minimum
Diners can choose any combination for meals. For all meal plans except flex, the meal week runs from Saturday brunch through Friday late night. Unused meals will carry over week to week until the end of each semester. However, there are no refunds for unused meals. Each plan includes a minimum flex amount of $250, with an option to add $25 increments. Unused flex will carry over until graduation; however, there are no refunds for unused flex.
For additional information regarding meal plans and meal zones that apply only to the unlimited meal plan, contact Dining Services at 610-436-2730.
All meal plans may be used in the following locations: Lawrence Dining Hall; the Diner; C-Stores/Grill operations; and the Ram’s Head Food Court. National brands, such as Chick-fil-A, Subway, Einstein’s Bagels, and Freshens will take cash and flex only. Students in North Campus residence halls will have their meal plan cost included in their University bill. Off-campus, commuter, College Arms, and South Campus Apartment/Village students can sign up for a meal plan by applying at the Office of the Bursar at 25 University Avenue. Any meal plan changes must be submitted within the first two weeks in the beginning of each semester. After that deadline, the assistant vice president for student affairs must approve any change requests. The diner is permitted to use four meals in one day and may combine up to two meals per meal zone to convert to the meal/cash allowance. Diners may use five of their meals per semester for a guest.
Payment of Fees
Students should receive fall semester bills by mid to late July and spring semester bills by the first week of December. All initial semester bills will be mailed to the students' home address and sent electronically to the students' official WCU e-mail address.
Mid-semester statements, including those for the Partial Payment Plan, will only be sent electronically to the student’s WCU e-mail address. Students will be required to check their WCU e-mail often for important dates and deadlines. For students who rely on parents/guardians to pay their bills, it is highly recommended that students select parents/guardians as authorized payers through the Web-based QuikPAY system. Doing so will assure that both students and parents/guardians will receive notification e-mails when new bills/statements are available.
It is the responsibility of each student to pay/submit the semester bill by the due date. Students who fail to pay or submit their bill by the due date will be assessed a $50 late payment fee. Nonreceipt of a semester bill does not relieve the student of the responsibility of paying/submitting the bill by the due date. Address changes should be made through the Office of the Registrar to allow for sufficient time to reflect an accurate billing address.
Students who are receiving approved financial aid awards that fully cover or exceed the amount of their bills do not have to pay, but they must submit to the Office of the Bursar the appropriate portion of their semester bill to complete registration. Fully covered financial aid students also have the option of activating their account online via myWCU. Failure to return the bill or activate an account online, even if no payment is due, may result in the cancellation of registration/schedule and the assessment of late penalties. Students who cannot pay their bills in full by the due date may apply for partial payment (see “Partial Payment Policy” below).
Failure to meet the payment deadline could result in cancellation of the student’s schedule. In order to have another schedule reinstated, the student would have to pay his or her bill in full as well as a $35 late registration fee.
Students who owe money to the University will have a hold placed on their accounts. If students do not clear the hold by paying the amount owed, it will cancel registration/scheduling for future semesters, prevent the release of transcripts, and prohibit graduation clearance. The University also may, at its discretion, invoke any other penalty appropriate for a particular case in which money is owed to the University.
Partial Payment Policy
The University extends partial payment privileges to all students who are in good financial standing and have not defaulted on a previous payment plan. The nonrefundable fee charged for this service is $35 per semester. There is no payment plan for summer terms. Installment payments received late are subject to a $25 late payment fee. Partial payment statements will only be sent electronically to the student's WCU e-mail address and authorized payer's e-mail address. For more information about the plan offered, contact the Office of the Bursar at 610-436-2552.
Uncollectible Check Policy
A fee of $25 is charged for any paper check or e-check returned to the University for insufficient funds, stopped payment, or closed account. The University may, at its discretion, charge this fee for any check returned to it for any other reason.
The check will be returned to the student upon its replacement. Students who have two or more checks returned against their accounts will no longer be able to make payment by personal check; all future payments must be made by cash or certified check.
Refund Policy
All requests for refunds for dropped or canceled courses, or for withdrawals, must be made in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar. Refunds are not automatic; it is the student's responsibility to initiate a refund request. Appeals concerning the refund policy for tuition and the general fee are made to the Office of the Registrar. Appeals concerning the Housing or Meal Fee are made to the Office of Residence Life. Further appeals, if necessary, may be made to the Appeals Committee.
The refund policy does not affect the time line for W grades as described under "Withdrawing from a Course" (see page 46).
Individual fees will be refunded according to the policies described below.
Tuition and General Fee Refunds - Full refunds for tuition and the general fee are available only through the sixth calendar day that the University is in session. After that, tuition and the general fee are refunded according to the schedule below. These percentages apply to the total tuition bill, not to partial tuition payments. Questions about this, as well as when students will receive their refund, should be directed to the Office of the Bursar.
| Withdraw during | Receive tuition and general fees refund |
| Through 6th calendar day of semester | 100% |
| 2nd week of semester | 80% |
| 3rd week of semester | 60% |
| 4th week of semester | 50% |
| 5th week of semester | 40% |
| 6th week of semester and after | No refund |
No refund will be given if the student: 1) drops a course but retains full-time status, 2) reduces his/her credit load after the end of the drop period but retains part-time status, or 3) owes the University money.
Technology Tuition Fee – only refundable in full if the student drops all courses by the end of the drop period, which is through the sixth calendar day of the semester. This fee will not be refunded partially or in full for any courses dropped after the sixth calendar day.
Housing Fee (University-owned housing) - in full prior to the first day of the semester; after the first day of the semester, prorated refunds are made on an individual basis through the Office of Residence Life and Housing Services. For affiliated student housing, please contact the private management company (University Student Housing) operating the property.
Meal Fee - in full prior to the first day of the semester; after the first day of the semester, prorated refunds are made on an individual basis through the Office of Residence Life for resident students, and through the Office of the Bursar for commuter students.
Other Fees
Application Fee. $45 is charged to all prospective students for the processing of their applications to the University. The fee is nonrefundable and is not credited to the student's account.
Study Abroad Application Fee. This $100 fee applies to students completing an online application to study or participate in an internship abroad. It will support resources for predeparture advising, health, and safety assurances.
Acceptance Fee. All newly accepted and readmitted students pay $200 as proof of intention to enroll at the University. This is a nonrefundable fee, which will be credited to the student’s account upon enrollment.
Housing Deposit. All new and returning students who wish to live in University-owned housing (residence halls, College Arms Apartment Complex, and the South Campus Apartment Complex) are charged $200. The deposit is credited against the student’s housing fee and is nonrefundable if a student cancels housing, withdraws, transfers, is released from his/her occupancy agreement, or cancels his/her acceptance.
Late Payment Fee. Students who fail to pay or submit their semester bills by their due date will be assessed a $50 late payment fee. Nonreceipt of a bill does not relieve students of the responsibility of paying or submitting their bill by the due date. For those paying by mail, please allow sufficient time for payment to reach the University by the due date. Financial aid students who fail to confirm their attendance by the due date, even if no payment is due, will also be liable for this fee.
Late Registration Fee. All students who schedule during the late registration period are charged a $35 nonrefundable late registration fee.
Credit by Examination Fee. A charge is made to all students who register for a Credit by Examination through the Office of the Registrar. Each examination scheduled costs $89.
Portfolio Assessment Fee. Equal to 50 percent of the per credit hour rate, this fee is charged to have a faculty member assess a student's prior knowledge in a particular course.
Course Audit Fee. Students who audit courses pay the same fees as students taking the courses for a letter grade.
Damage Fee. Students are charged for damage or loss of University property. This fee varies, depending on the extent of the damage.
Identification Card Fees (RAMeCARD). The RAMeCARD will serve as a ticket to the offerings at Lawrence Food Court, Campus Corner, Convenience Stores, and Sykes Ram’s Head Food Court. The University charges a $12 fee to issue an identification card to each full- or part-time student. If this card is lost, stolen, or damaged, the student will be charged $15 for a replacement card. Damaged ID cards can be exchanged for a $10 fee. This fee is payable at the Student Services, Inc. (SSI) service center located on the ground level of Sykes Student Union.
Parking Fees. The University charges a nonrefundable parking fee to students who are eligible to purchase a permit to use University parking lots. The current parking fee is $30 per year. Parking permits are available at the Department of Public Safety or on the Web at www.wcupa.edu/parking. Parking fines are assessed at $20 up to $40 depending on the violation.
Music Instrument Rental Fees. Each student renting a musical instrument for a semester is charged $20 per instrument. Each student using a pipe organ for practice for one period each weekday is charged $36 per semester.
Recording Fee. A $75 per hour recording fee will be charged for noninstructional recording, mixing, and editing services provided by the College of Visual and Performing Arts, such as promotional CDs, fund-raising projects, or recordings by nonacademic groups, e.g., barbershop quartets. No charge will be made for faculty/student recitals, ensemble performances, final theory/composition projects, or demonstration tapes for graduate school applications.
Lost Key Replacement. Students who lose the key to their University-owned residence hall room, College Arms Apartment Complex rooms, or South Campus Apartment bedroom are charged a nonrefundable fee of $30 to replace the lock.
Transcript Fee. The fee for transcripts is $7 per copy. Transcript request forms are available in the Office of the Registrar.
Commencement Fee. The University charges $82 to all students enrolled in a degree program who will have fulfilled their degree requirements by the end of the semester. This fee is paid after the student completes a Graduation Application Form in the Office of the Registrar and is approved for graduation.
Fees for Health and Physical Education Majors. Students in the B.S. degree programs in health and physical education must purchase uniforms at the University Bookstore. All students must be in proper uniform for activity classes.
