Charges

Community of Support. Westmont is a non-profit corporation and receives gifts and contributions to help keep costs at a minimum. Student charges do not cover the entire cost of education at Westmont. Donations from individuals, churches, and businesses and support from Westmont’s endowment make up the balance and allow the College to offer many types of financial aid (See Financial Aid section).

Student Charges. The charges listed below and throughout this section apply to the 2005-2006 academic year. Charges and financial policies are subject to change without notice.

Semester Year

Tuition $14,350 $28,700
Health Fee 253 506
Student Activities Fee 132 264
Room 2,836 5,672
Board (21 Meals) 1,780 3,560

Room and Board Charges

The room rental contract allows students to occupy their rooms for the entire semester, except during the Christmas vacation period. Students may stay for any portion (or all) of spring recess, but must register in advance with their Resident Director. Students who occupy a triple room and live with two other roommates for the entire semester will receive a refund of $220 at the end of the semester. All students residing in campus residence halls must be on the board program. The dining commons is open every day during each semester, except during Christmas vacation, spring recess and on Thanksgiving Day.

Only students who have registered and paid the $500 non-refundable deposit can reserve campus housing or request parking permits.

Off-Campus Programs

Off-campus study programs are listed in the Special Programs section of this catalog. Tuition for Westmont approved off-campus programs is the same as tuition on campus (except in a few cases where tuition is higher than Westmont’s tuition, in which case students are charged the higher amount). Other charges for off-campus programs vary by program and are available through the Off-Campus Programs Office or from the hosting institution. Students who participate in these programs through Westmont are considered to be Westmont students. Therefore, they are billed by Westmont and are eligible to receive financial aid through Westmont, including Westmont grants, scholarships and loans and they retain their standing and class priority for returning enrollment and class selection.

Accessory Fees

(This list is for information purposes only and is not intended to be all-inclusive.)
Application Fee $50
Art Course Fee 55
Audit Fee (per unit - assessed on part-time students only) 50
Class Music Instruction (weekly)
Piano (preparatory level), 13 half-hour lessons 195
Credit by Examination Fee (per unit) 50
Late Course Add/Drop, Withdraw, Change Grading Option Fee (per course) 40
Late Financial Check-In Fee 50
Daily Late Financial Check-In Fee 20
Non-matriculated Student Tuition (per unit) 1465
Parking/Semester Unrestricted Fee 145
Physical Education Course Fees (per semester) 75-200
Private Music Instruction
13 45-minute lessons 520
13 one-hour lessons 635
Processing Fee (degree work completed
after graduation date) 20
Science Laboratory Fee (per semester) 110

Non-Refundable Deposit. The $500 non-refundable deposit that is paid at the time students confirm their intent to attend Westmont is retained by the College until the last semester of attendance, when it is credited to their student accounts. The deposit is forfeited if students register for a semester and cancel before the first day of class. In such cases, a new deposit will be required in order to reenroll for a future semester.

Billing Procedures. The College issues two advance bills before the fall semester and one advance bill before the spring semester to those students who have pre-registered. These bills contain charges and financial aid based on the current status of a student’s enrollment and financial aid. Subsequent monthly statements may include additional charges and any changes in financial aid and are mailed on or before the 10th of the month. Students who do not pre-register for the semester will receive an initial bill following registration.

Financial Dates and Deadlines.

Fall Semester/ July 1 Aug. 1 Aug. 15/ Oct. 31/
Spring Semester Dec. 29 Mar. 31

All financial aid X
documents are
received by the
Office of Financial Aid

1st Preliminary X
Bill Mailed

2nd Preliminary X
Bill Mailed

Minimum payment X
is received by the
Business Office

Student Account Master X
Promissory Note for
new students signed by
all parties is received
by the Business Office

Account balance is paid X
in full to qualify to
register for the next
semester

Financial Aid Documents. It is strongly recommended that all financial aid forms and documents be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid by July 1. Pending financial aid will not be accepted as a payment to meet payment deadlines. Westmont cannot accept loan proceeds as payments until students have endorsed the promissory notes or checks.

Payment Schedule. Students are required to pay at least one-third of the amount they owe for a semester (i.e., semester charges less financial aid) no later than Tuesday of the second week preceding the semester. All charges must be paid in full by October 31 for the fall semester and by March 31 for the spring semester in order for students to register for the next semester. The College assesses finance charges monthly on account balances as of the end of the month at a rate equal to the amount allowed by law.

All unpaid student account balances will constitute a student loan for which students and parents are responsible according to the terms and conditions of the Student Account Master Promissory Note. Students may not obtain grade reports, transcripts, diplomas, or participate in commencement exercises as long as they owe money or loan payments to Westmont.

International Student Payment. Students who require an I-20 form to obtain a student visa must make a $9,500 deposit ($500 of which is non-refundable) by August 1 of each year. They must pay the annual balance due (annual student charges less $9,000 deposit and financial aid) in four equal installments. These installments are due on September 30, October 31, January 31, and February 28. Additional charges (e.g. lab fees, long distance telephone and pharmacy charges) are due as they are billed.

Financial Check-in and Completion of Enrollment. Westmont does not consider students officially enrolled each semester until they have completed the Financial Check-in. Financial Check-in is complete when all of the following have occurred:

1. At least the minimum payment has been received by the Business Office

2. All financial aid forms and documents have been completed and received by the Office of Financial Aid

3. A Student Account Promissory Note has been completed, signed by all parties and is on file in the Business Office

Westmont may cancel the registration of students who do not complete the Financial Check-in by the first day of each semester. This includes students whose checks to satisfy Financial Check-in are returned for insufficient funds. These students will be dropped from their classes so that students on waiting lists may fill their places. Only registered students will be allowed to occupy College housing.

Students who complete Financial Check-in after the first day of the semester and pay their late Financial Check-in fees, may register or re-register through the 5th day of the semester. After this time, they may register or add classes by petition only, and, if the College grants their petitions, they must pay a late registration fee or a late course add fee. However, if Westmont reaches its County-imposed limit on enrollment, registration will close at that time, and the College will not be able to enroll any more students.

Late Financial Check-in Fees. In order for the College to manage enrollment in accordance with this County-imposed enrollment limit, it is imperative that students reaffirm their intention to attend Westmont each semester by completing Financial Check-in no later than Tuesday of the second week preceding the semester. A $50 late fee will be charged if Financial Check-in has not been completed by this day. Furthermore, beginning with the first day of the semester, an additional late fee of $20 per day will be charged for each additional day that Financial Check-in is not completed. Students who are not able to meet all of the Financial Check-in requirements and whish to avoid the daily late fee must appeal to the Student Accounts office in advance. Appeals of the daily fee will not be considered for days preceding the appeal. Students should actively communicate with the Student Accounts staff in the Business Office if they have any problem meeting financial deadlines.

Appeals. Students may ask to have their student account issues reviewed by a supervisor in the Business Office. In the event students feel their individual circumstances warrant an exception to the published policy and merit further consideration, may appeal to the Vice President for Finance.

Withdrawing from School/Refunds. Westmont makes refunds under certain conditions. Students never receive refunds of their deposits. Refunds for tuition, fees, board, and housing depend on the time the student officially exits. Students must submit an exit form to the Registrar’s Office before exiting in order to receive a refund of any student charges. The exit date is set as the day the student notifies the Student Records Office that the student is leaving school.

A schedule of refunds for first-semester students is available at the Business Office, but will be no less than the schedule of refunds for continuing students which follows. A variation of the refund policy may apply for students who are federal financial aid recipients.

Tuition

Time of Exit Refund

Prior to first day of the semester: 100%

End of week: 1 90%

2 80%

3 70%

4 60%

5 50%

6 40%

After the sixth week: 0%

Fees

Time of Exit Refund

Prior to first day of the semester 100%

After first day of the semester 0%

Board

Time of Exit

End of Week Refund End of Week Refund

1 90% 8 47%

2 87% 9 40%

3 80% 10 33%

4 73% 11 27%

5 67% 12 20%

6 60% 13 13%

7 53% 14 7%

Room

A $150 cancellation fee is charged to cancel campus housing once it is reserved. In addition, students will only be refunded the percentage indicated for board refunds if the room is cancelled after August 1 for fall semester (December 15 for spring semester).