4 Expenses

4.1 Student Charges

Total charges for the 2017-2018 academic year (two semesters) are as follows:

These are the annual charges billed by the College. Students and their parents, however, should plan for expenditures associated with books, travel, parking, and other personal items. In addition, the College will bill for unpaid library fines, Worth Health Center fees, and other fees and fines not collected at the source.

Students engaged in independent projects away from the College for which regular academic credit is anticipated are expected to register in advance in the usual way and pay normal tuition. If the student is away from the College for a full semester, no charge for room and board will be made. However, if a student is away for only a part of a semester, the preceding charges may be made on a pro rata basis.

Students who have not satisfied their financial obligations will not be permitted to return to campus, attend any classes, live in campus housing, have a meal plan, register via add/drop (or any other method) for any classes, enroll for the following semester, participate in the room lottery, obtain a transcript, or be permitted to be graduated. Late fees of 1.5 percent per month will accrue on all past-due balances.

The regular College tuition covers the normal program of four courses per term as well as variations of as many as five courses or as few as three courses. Students who elect to carry more than five courses incur a unit charge for the additional course ($6,300) or half-course ($3,150), although they may within the regular tuition vary their programs to average as many as five courses in the two semesters of any academic year. College policy does not permit programs of fewer than three courses for degree candidates in their first eight semesters of enrollment. After the first eight semesters of enrollment, students are eligible to pay the unit charge for each course.

4.1.1 Study Abroad

Students who wish to receive Swarthmore credit for study abroad must, for the semester or year abroad, pay the full Swarthmore charges (excluding the student activities fee). Financial aid is normally applicable to study abroad, with the approval of the Off-Campus Study Office. Students contemplating study abroad should begin working with the Off-Campus Study Office well in advance for academic and administrative planning.

4.2 Payment Policy

Semester bills are sent in July and December. Payment for the first semester is due by July 24, 2017 and for the second semester by January 2, 2018. A 1.5 percent late fee will be assessed monthly on payments received after the due date. Many parents have indicated a preference to pay College charges on a monthly basis rather than in two installments. For this reason, Swarthmore offers a monthly payment plan, which provides for payment in installments without interest charges. 

4.3 Withdrawal Policy

Charges for tuition and fees will be reduced for students who withdraw for reasons approved by the dean before or during a semester. Reductions in charges will be made in the following ways:

4.3.1 Withdrawal from Study Abroad

If a student elects to withdraw from an Off-Campus Study abroad program, or is required by the College to withdraw from the program, either before the program begins, or after the program is underway, the student also assumes financial responsibility for the expenses that the College has either paid out or obligated on behalf of the student. Unrecoverable expenses may include, but are not limited to, the payment of tuition, room and board, and travel allowances. The student must repay any unrecoverable expenses and any travel, meal, and/or lodgings allowances that have been advanced, before he or she will be permitted to re-enroll at the College, receive an official transcript, or be graduated from the College. Financial aid will not be available for the purpose of covering these costs. Once the obligated and unrecoverable amounts have been met by the student, College charges will be reduced in a manner consistent with the charge reduction/withdrawal policy for tuition, room, and board set forth in section 4.3.

4.4 Housing Fines

Any time a student selects a room in the lottery that they do not use, the minimum fine is $100. 

4.4.1 Fall Semester

If a student selects a room in the lottery and

1. Chooses to live off campus and is still enrolled, they will be assessed:
   1. A $500 penalty unless everyone in the space notifies the Office of Student Engagement before June 1 that they will not be occupying the room. If everyone does notify the office, the fine will be $100 each.
   2. A $500 penalty for each person moving off campus when notice is given between June 1 and the 8th week of classes.
   3. No room refund when notice is given after the 8th week.
2. Takes a leave of absence and notifies the Dean’s Office, they will be assessed:
   1. A $100 penalty if notice is given before Aug. 1.
   2. A $500 penalty if notice is given between Aug. 1 and the 8th week of classes.
   3. No room refund after the 8th week.

4.4.2 Spring Semester

If a student selects a room in the December lottery or already has a room from fall semester and

1. Chooses to live off campus and is still enrolled, they will be assessed:
   1. A $250 penalty unless everyone in the unit leaves this space and notifies the Office of Student Engagement before Dec. 1.
   2. A $500 penalty each if notice is given between Dec. 1 and the 8th week of classes.
   3. No room refund if notice is received after the 8th week.
2. Takes a leave of absence and notifies the Dean’s Office, they will be assessed:
   1. No penalty if notice is given before Dec. 1.
   2. A $100 penalty if notice is given between Dec. 1 and Jan. 5.
   3. A $500 penalty if notice is given between Jan. 5 and the 8th week of classes.
   4. No room refund after the 8th week.

4.5 Inquiries

All correspondence regarding payment of student charges should be addressed to Linda Weindel, student accounts manager, or phone 610-328-8396.