Fees and Costs

General Information

Statements concerning fees are announcements and are not to be regarded as offers to contract. The University reserves the right to change fees and other charges at any time by published notice before the opening of any semester or session.

Courses taken for audit or courses taken for reduced credit, or no credit, will be counted at their normal credit value in computing the amount of fees to be paid.

It is the student’s responsibility to pay fees and any other financial obligations to the University as they become due. Non-payment of any financial obligation may result in the inability to register for future classes, obtain transcripts or diplomas, discontinue use of campus services and/or administrative withdrawal of the student or legal action (at the University’s option). If an outside agency/legal action becomes necessary, the collection fees will be passed on to the student. Records will be held for failure to meet payment deadlines.

If the University removes a student from a course or courses for any reason, charges will be reduced according to the published schedule. Such removal will not forgive any amounts due to the University, and records and enrollment will be held until all obligations are cleared. (See “Transcript/Diploma/Enrollment Hold ” policy)

It is the student’s responsibility to check their Northwest e-mail account often and have their permanent address on file in the Registrar’s Office and keep the address updated.

The appeal body for most financial matters is the Student Financial Petition Committee. Petitions are available online at www.nwmissouri.edu/studentaccounts/forms.htm.

Residency for Fee Purposes

A student’s residency status for fee purposes is determined at the time of admission according to state policy (Code of State Regulations 6 CSR 10-3.010). Copies of the residency policy and petitions for change of residency status are available at https://www.nwmissouri.edu/admissions/apply/residency.htm or by request from the Office of Admissions. Petitions must be submitted to the Office of Admissions prior to the beginning of the semester for which the change is desired. Students who qualify for Missouri residency maintain that residency as long as they are continuously enrolled.

Graduate Tuition

All graduate students enrolled in the University are required to pay tuition and fees as set by the Board of Regents.

Current rates are available on the Northwest website: www.nwmissouri.edu/studentaccounts/graduate.htm.

Special Programs: Tuition and fees are available at: www.nwmissouri.edu/studentaccounts/specialprograms.htm.

Residents of all halls must have a meal contract. Block plans are sufficient for apartment residents only. Current housing and meal rates are available at: www.nwmissouri.edu/studentaccounts/roomcosts.htm. Private room requests will be honored on a space available basis. Cash meals are also available in the dining facilities.

Senior Citizen Fee Waiver

Standard tuition (incidental and designated fees) for individuals 65 and older are waived. Individuals under this policy must pay any other fees that may be required. Enrollment in a class for this group is contingent on available space.

Installment Payment Plan

Students are encouraged to pay the total balance on or before the due date to avoid finance charges. Students will automatically be enrolled in an installment plan at the time they receive their initial semester bill. Students can view their installment amounts in the Payment Center. Payment due dates for the Fall are the 15th of August, September, October and November. Spring payment due dates are the 15th of January, February, March and April.

• A 1% finance charge will apply to any unpaid, billed balance. Finance charges are assessed on the business day following the due date.
• Financial aid and scholarships will reduce the overall balance on the account and cannot be used towards an installment payment.
• If financial aid and/or scholarships are not authorized to the account by the due date, the account balance is subject to a finance charge. If a scholarship check is made payable to the student and Northwest, student endorsement will be required before it can post to the student’s account.
• Monthly automatic withdrawal available.

Refund Policy for Dropped Courses

Added courses will be charged full price.

General Information

• Refunds are based on FULL payment of all fees assessed.
• Payments made by financial aid, may be refunded back to the program if a student withdraws during the first 60% of a semester.
• Refunds/reductions in charge are based on initial enrollment.
• Refunds are not made if under $1.00 (unless requested at the Student Account Services).
• Refunds for off-schedule classes are prorated in line with the published schedule based on number of class meetings.

Determination of Return of Federal Aid

Title IV funds for withdrawn students will be calculated and returned as follows:

1. Percentage of payment period (first day of class through last day of final examinations) completed is the number of calendar days the student remained enrolled divided by the total number of calendar days in the payment period.
2. Percentage of Title IV funds eligible for disbursement earned is the percentage of the payment period completed through the 60% point and is 100% thereafter.
3. Percentage unearned (to be returned to Title IV programs) is 100% minus the percentage earned.
4. The return of the Title IV funds will be allocated in the following order up to amounts received from each program: Unsubsidized Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, TEACH Grants.
5. The University will return up to the unearned percentage multiplied by the total institutional charges. The student is responsible for any remainder.
6. Amounts to be returned by the student to loan programs may be paid according to the terms of the promissory note. Amounts to be returned by the student to grant programs are reduced by 50%.

Examples of the application of this policy may be obtained by contacting the Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance.

Calculated refund amounts due the students will be automatically credited to any unpaid charges.

Tax Credits

Education tax credits may be available to students or parents. Contact your tax preparer for more information. Information on tax credits can be found through the Student Account Services website (www.nwmissouri.edu/studentaccounts/taxlinks.htm).

Personal Check Requirement

To ensure proper credit, Student Account Services requests that personal checks submitted for payment have the student’s Northwest ID number written on the check. If the student prefers not to have their ID number on the check, they must specifically indicate the ID number is not to be written on the check when submitting the payment. University staff will write student ID numbers on checks when the student has not done so already.

Miscellaneous Assessments

Disability Documentation. Northwest Missouri State University is a moderately selective university. All prospective students must meet established entrance criteria and be accepted through the Admissions Office before submitting disability-related documentation. Documentation should be submitted to the Office for Title IX and Equity, not to the Office of Admissions. Please review the Accessibility and Accommodations page carefully before contacting a staff member.

After acceptance to Northwest, students with disabilities may request appropriate accommodations and submit supportive documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator. The Accommodation Application can be found at https://www.nwmissouri.edu/titleixequity/accessibility/index.htm. After the review has been completed, you will be contacted by an Accessibility staff member who will serve as your primary contact for services during your time at Northwest. If approved, you will be given an accommodation letter outlining your accommodations that you will present to faculty and staff. This letter is recognized campus-wide as verification that you are a qualified student with a disability.

Graduate Assistant Fee Reductions/Work Related Scholarships. If employment is terminated and the student remains enrolled, the fee reduction or scholarship may be prorated for time employed.

Student Health Insurance. International students are required to have an approved health insurance plan and will be charged for the plan through their Northwest account.