Financial Information

Application Fees

Each graduate program carries a non-refundable application fee, payable before the application can be processed. Please refer to your individual graduate program for tuition and fee information.

Interdisciplinary Program Tuition

Courses taken outside of the primary program may have a different hourly tuition rate than the hourly rate of the classes within the primary program.

Payment Policy

Financial arrangements must be made (paid in full, financial aid awarded, or payment plan established) by the following dates:

• Fall: August 1

• Spring: December 1

• Summer: May 1

Students who require additional funds outside of any eligible financial aid and who have not chosen one of the following options will not be eligible to attend class:

Payment options are as follows:

I. Full Pay: Any remaining balance after loans and scholarships are applied is due by the required due date.

II. Monthly Payment Plan: Lipscomb University offers monthly payment plan options allowing students to spread semester expenses over equal monthly payments. The plan may be used to supplement all forms of financial aid. There is a non-refundable enrollment fee of $60 per semester. Sign up as early as March for summer and fall semesters and as early as November for spring semester. Payments are drafted on the 25th of each month. Note: Payment plans will not include prior term charges.

Graduate students beginning a program after the due dates are required to have payment in full, financial aid awarded, or a payment plan established prior to attending class. For future semesters, they should follow the scheduled due dates.

Students should register during pre-registration for all classes they anticipate taking during the semester in order to maximize their opportunity for successful financial arrangements. Full payment for classes added late in the semester will be due at time of registration.

Summary of Potential Transcript Holds

The following holds will prevent release of transcripts or diplomas, or the selection of classes. These holds are strictly enforced.

Employer Reimbursement

Employer reimbursement benefits result from an agreement between the student and his or her employer. Students are required to satisfy financial obligations by due dates regardless of the timing of reimbursement from the employer.

Financial Responsibility

Registration at the University is considered a binding contract. Students are not permitted to register for classes or receive transcripts or a diploma until all financial obligations to the University are satisfied.

Students are responsible for informing the Registrar’s Office of any change in their billing address.

Delinquent Accounts

Past due accounts are subject to interest at 1.5 percent per month (18 percent annually). Failure to meet financial obligations to the University may result in the delinquent account being placed with a collection agency. Students are responsible for reimbursing the University for the fees of any collection agency, which may be based on a percentage at a maximum of 33.3 percent of the debt, and all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred in such collection efforts.

Title IV Stipend Policy

A stipend will be issued for any credit balance on a student account resulting from Title IV funds no later than 14 days after credit occurred. Direct deposit is the preferred method.

Unofficial Withdrawals

Students who do not officially withdraw from the University but receive all grades of “F” at the end of the term will be considered to have withdrawn. The Registrar’s Office will contact the professors in whose classes the students were enrolled to determine if the student earned the grade of “F” and the last date of attendance for that student. The professor will complete a form or respond to the email with the determination of last date of attendance and the earned grade. If the student attended past the 60 percent mark in the semester, it will be deemed that the student earned the grade of “F” and will not be a withdrawal.

Students in module programs who complete one module (example Term I and Term II) but withdraw from the second module will be considered a withdrawal, and the calculations and processes described above will be followed. The Registrar’s Office will determine the last date of attendance in the second module by contacting the student’s professor. Once the date is determined, the information will be entered into the database and passed on to the financial aid office for calculation.

Beyond academic requirements, by accepting financial aid, the student incurs an ethical responsibility to observe the University code of conduct and fulfill his or her contractual financial obligations.

Title IV Refund Policy

Any credit balance on a student account resulting from Title IV funds will be refunded no later than 14
days after credit occurred. Direct deposit is the preferred method for refunds.

Refunds:

1. Tuition
Refunds will be calculated based on the official date of drop or withdrawal as defined below:

• 100 percent refund must drop or withdraw before the end of the equivalent of two weeks of class;
• No refund of tuition after the end of the equivalent of the fourth week of class; and
• Refunds for non-traditional meeting times are based on the schedule above using equivalent weeks of class time rather than calendar weeks. For example, in a three-credit-hour class, 150 minutes of class time equals one week.

2. Housing Fees

• Students who withdraw from the university on or before the end of the second week of classes will receive a full refund of housing fees.
• If a student officially withdraws on or before the end of the fourth week of classes, a 50% refund of housing fees will be credited to the account. To be eligible for the room refund, the student must return the student ID card, remove all belongings from the room, and follow check out procedures. (Please refer to the “Official Withdrawal” section.)
• Students who choose to move off campus after moving in to an assigned room but fail to properly notify the Office of Student Life are not eligible for any refund of housing fees unless the student is forced to leave the assigned room for one of the following approved reasons:

1.   Medical reasons confirmed in writing by a licensed physician;
2.   Death of an immediate family member; or
3.   Extenuating circumstances affecting military personnel.

A prorated refund mount will be determined based on the date the appropriate information is received and accepted by the Director of Housing.

3. Refund of Meal Plan Fees
Only meal plan selections cancelled prior to the end of the second week of classes of any semester will be eligible for a refund.  The student will be responsible for the cost of any meals used during the two week grace period.

Adding and Dropping Courses

1. During the official drop/add period, students will be able to drop or add classes on the web. After that time, a drop/add form must be completed and accepted in the Registrar’s Office in order to be official. The official drop date will be the transaction date indicated from the web or the date the drop/add form is accepted in the Registrar’s Office.

2. The cost of tuition will not be prorated for courses added after the course begins.

3. The last day to add a class is the date of the first class meeting.

4. Any course dropped within the first week of the semester will not appear on the permanent record. Any course dropped after the first week and until the last day to drop classes will be given a grade of “W.” (For MBA and MAcc courses, see Graduate Studies in Business section of this catalog.)

5. Any course dropped at any time without proper notification (completed drop/add form) to the Registrar’s Office will be assigned the grade of “F.”

6. Adding and dropping courses can affect a student’s financial aid. Check with the Financial Aid Office for details.

Date of Official Withdrawal

1. Official withdrawal from the University requires that the student:

   a. Secure a student withdrawal form from the Registrar’s Office.

   b. Supply all necessary information on the student withdrawal form, securing the required signatures.

   c. Secure residence hall clearance in writing from the head resident (boarding students only).

2. The completed student withdrawal form and the student I.D. card must be turned in to the Business Office. The date of official withdrawal from the University will be the date the process is begun in the Registrar’s Office. The form must be signed by the Housing Office, the Financial Aid Office, and the Business Office before the procedure is complete.

3. The official withdrawal notice must be recorded by the Business Office before an adjustment in the student’s financial record can be made.

4. Students withdrawing during a semester, or not attending any semester other than summer session, must reapply.

5. The semester deadline for official withdrawal from the University is the last day of classes prior to the final exam period.

6. Withdrawal from the University can affect a student’s financial aid. Check with the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawal.

Financial Aid

While primary responsibility for financing a graduate education lies with the student, Lipscomb makes every effort to bring that education into the reach of each qualified student. Filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid at studentaid.gov qualifies a student for the Federal Direct Stafford Student Loan Program. A load of six hours in a semester is required to receive a  Direct Stafford student loan.

To be eligible for the Stafford Student Loan Program:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Go to studentaid.gov and set up a FSA ID username and password. Once you have your FSA ID username and password, you will need to fill out the online application.  You may ‘sign’ the online application with your FSA ID.
2. Wait for the Department of Education to process the FAFSA form. Students must be admitted to Lipscomb before we can process FAFSA information.
3. Accept the awarded Direct Federal Stafford loans via the Lipscomb Student Portal. Supporting documentation, including an online MPN and online entrance counseling, are also required and can be completed at studentaid.gov The FAFSA must be filed annually.
4. Loans are disbursed 30 days after the start of the semester or after a student has begun his or her sixth hour, whichever comes later.

The student loan process and FAFSA filing take time, so please complete these documents and submit them at least four weeks prior to the start of the semester in which you are enrolled.

The official form of communication is a student’s Lipscomb email address.

Please contact the financial aid office at 615.966.1791 for information concerning renewal requirements, duration requirements, loan funds and other related matters.

Student Loans

Direct Federal Stafford student loans, Direct Federal Graduate PLUS and private student loans are available to apply toward tuition.  The student may contact the Financial Aid Office for application information or go online to www.lipscomb.edu/financialaid. The FAFSA must be filed in order to qualify for the  Direct Federal Stafford loan and Graduate PLUS loan programs.

Previous student loans are eligible for in-school deferment with a minimum of six hours per semester. Enrollment status is verified by the Registrar’s Office.

Veterans Aid/Yellow Ribbon Program

Graduate degree programs at Lipscomb University are approved for the training of veterans and eligible persons under laws administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Through an agreement with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Lipscomb University will guarantee some level of graduate tuition funding, applicable to all Lipscomb University graduate programs, for graduate students who qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Depending on program tuition rates, the graduate tuition funding may or may not cover the total tuition cost of the program.

The Yellow Ribbon Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post- 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree-granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses. For eligibility requirements, go to www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

Public Law 115-407:  Any covered individual will be able to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website - eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1.  The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.

2.  90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

Lipscomb Univerity will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

Any questions concerning eligibility or benefits should be sent to the VA school certifying official located in the lower level of Bennett Campus Center, Suite 140, or visit their website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon.asp.

Satisfactory Academic Progress to Maintain Federal Financial Aid

In order to receive federal financial aid, students must be making satisfactory academic progress. The university is required to apply standards that are both qualitative and quantitative.

Qualitative - Students must be accepted for admission and be eligible to enroll for classes. In addition, students must achieve and maintain a cumulative grade-point average based on each program’s academic requirements.

Quantitative - All students must earn a cumulative minimum of 66.7 percent of all hours attempted. Students cannot receive aid after attempting 150 percent of the hours required for completion of their academic program. For example, in the Master of Science in psychology program, a nine-hour semester course load constitutes full-time status. The 36-hour program would require four full-time semesters to complete. Applying the 150 percent rule above, with respect to financial aid, a student will have six semesters to complete the program and receive aid. Hours accepted for transfer credit will reduce this time frame.

The federal government expects a student to pass at least 66.7 percent of all attempted hours, not earned hours. Attempted hours include all “W, F, NC, U, I or IP” grades and/or dropped courses. Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed by the Financial Aid Office at the end of each term in which a student receives Title IV aid. Students placed on federal financial aid warning or probation status will be notified by email to their Lipscomb email address. Students on warning status must pass 75 percent of their attempted hours in the semester in which they are currently enrolled. If the student does not pass 75 percent, the student will be placed on financial aid fail.

A failed status may be appealed in writing by completing a satisfactory academic progress appeal form (located in the Financial Aid Office). All appeals must include documentation of any unusual circumstance that contributed to the suspension. A plan must be in place to ensure success of the student the following semester that will allow the student to meet future minimum SAP requirements and be signed by a faculty member (or appropriate instructor). Federal financial aid probation or suspension is not the same as Lipscomb University academic probation or suspension. If a student receives a grade change or satisfies an incomplete grade after satisfactory academic progress is confirmed, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office during the appeal process.

Return of Federal Title IV Policy (R2T4)

In the event a student withdraws, drops out or is expelled from the university prior to the end of a semester of enrollment, the Financial Aid Office will determine if the student must return any Title IV funds, even if the funds have already been credited in full to the student’s account. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the Financial Aid Office if he or she is withdrawing for any reason from the university prior to the end of a semester

1. Students who officially withdraw prior to completing 60 percent of the semester will have their financial aid prorated and any unearned funds returned. Students may owe funds to the Department of Education and/or Lipscomb University.
   1. Return of Title IV aid will be completed upon notification of a student’s withdrawal from the university.
   2. The Registrar’s Office notifies the Financial Aid Office when a student has withdrawn from the university and the last date of attendance is entered into the university database.
2. The official last date of attendance for students who withdraw will be determined by the students’ instructor in conjunction with the Registrar’s Office.
   1. A student who officially withdraws will complete a form with the Registrar’s Office which must be signed by various university offices including the Financial Aid Office.
   2. The Registrar’s Office initiates the withdrawal form and procedure for pre-registered non-returning students.
3. Upon official notification of a withdrawal by the Registrar’s Office in which classes are removed and a “W” is placed on the student’s record, the Financial Aid Office will calculate in accordance with federal guidelines the amount of aid that must be returned or disbursed to the student. The Financial Aid Office uses University software to calculate the earned and unearned funds per student.
   1. The Financial Aid Office will return any unearned portion of the grant and/or loan funds to the Department of Education. (This may cause a balance owed to the University which becomes the student’s responsibility.)
   2. The student is informed by email of the required returns and the amount, if applicable, that is owed to the university.
   3. The University Business Office will send a statement of charges and billing information to the student after the withdrawal and removal of Title IV aid is complete.
   4. For federal Stafford loans, a letter with exit counseling instructions is sent to the withdrawn student and any future scheduled disbursements for the aid year are cancelled.

Federal regulations stipulate how the return of Title IV Funds is calculated for a student who has received financial assistance from any of the federal Title IV programs. The return must be allocated in the following order and returned to the appropriate program(s):

1. Unsubsidized federal Stafford loan
2. Subsidized federal Stafford loan
3. Federal Perkins loan
4. Federal PLUS loan
5. Federal Pell grant
6. Federal SEOG
7. Other Title IV aid programs

Student Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

Education after high school costs you time, money and effort. It is a big investment, and as a student and a consumer, you should carefully evaluate the education or training you are considering. To help you make a good choice, you should have information on a school’s academic program, facilities, dropout rates, full cost of attendance, stipend policy, financial aid programs and any other information you think will help you to make a decision.

Student Rights

You have the right to ask a school:

1. What financial assistance is available, including information on all federal, state and institutional financial aid programs.

2. What the deadlines are for submitting applications for each of the financial aid programs available.

3. What is its cost of attendance, and what are its policies on stipends to students who drop out.

4. What criteria it uses to select financial aid recipients.

5. How it determines your financial need. This process includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books and supplies, and personal and miscellaneous expenses are considered in your budget.

6. What resources (such as parental contribution, other financial aid, your assets, etc.) are considered in the calculation of your need.

7. How much of your financial need, as determined by the institution, has been met.

8. To explain the various programs in your student aid package. If you believe you have been treated unfairly, you may request reconsideration of the award which was made to you.

9. What portion of the financial aid you receive must be repaid, and what portion is grant aid. If the aid is a loan, you have the right to know what the interest rate is, the total amount that must be repaid, the payback procedures, the length of time you have to repay the loan, and when repayment is to begin.

10. How the school determines whether you are making satisfactory progress and what happens if you are not.

Student Responsibilities

It is your responsibility to:

1. Review and consider all information about a school’s program before you enroll.

2. Pay special attention to your application for student financial aid, complete it accurately and submit it on time to the right place. Errors can delay your receiving financial aid. Intentional misreporting of information on application forms for federal financial aid is a violation of law and is considered a criminal offense subject to penalties under the U.S. Criminal Code.

3. Submit all additional documentation, verification, corrections and/or new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which you submitted your application.

4. Read and understand all forms you are asked to sign and keep copies of them.

5. Accept responsibility for all agreements you sign.

6. If you have a loan, notify the lender of changes in your name, address or school status.

7. Perform in a satisfactory manner the work that is agreed upon in accepting a federal work-study award.

8. Know and comply with the deadlines for application or reapplication for aid.

9. Know and comply with your school’s stipend procedures.

10. All students who have received a loan must report at the time of withdrawal, transfer or graduation to the Financial Aid Office for an exit interview.

For further information on scholarships or financial aid, call or write: Financial Aid Office, Lipscomb University, One University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204-3951. In the Nashville area, call 615.966.1791, or from outside the area, toll-free at 1.800.333.4358, ext. 1791, or visit www.lipscomb.edu.