TUITION AND FEES

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID

The Student Financial Aid Office at Sam Houston State University is available to assist students in achieving educational goals even when their personal or family finances are limited. While the student and/or his or her immediate family are primarily responsible for financing an education, the University recognizes its role in making a maximum effort to acquire additional funds for qualified students through a variety of aid programs. Specific financial aid programs the University administers are listed below.

GRANTS

Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Student Property Deposit Scholarship (grant)
Texas Public Educational Grant
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership
Toward EXcellence, Access and Success Grant (TEXAS grant)

EMPLOYMENT

Federal College Work-Study Program
Texas College Work-Study Program

LOANS

College Access Loan
Emergency Tuition and Fees Loan
Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Stafford Student Loan
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
Short-term Loan for Books
Short-term Loan for Dining
Short-term Loan for Housing

Information on programs, eligibility requirements, student budgets, deadlines and the method of aid processing is available online. A student may also request the information by inquiring in person in the Estill Building, 2nd floor, or by writing to the Office of Student Financial Aid, Sam Houston State University, Box 2328, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2328; (936) 294-1774.

SCHOLARSHIPS (The Student Financial Aid Office does not award, disburse, or process scholarship application forms. Students are to contact the department that sponsors the particular scholarship.)

Departmental Scholarships
Designated Scholarships
Elliott T. Bowers Honors Scholarship
Legislative Scholarships
Transfer Scholarships
University Scholars

A more comprehensive list and details concerning criteria and deadlines are available online. Students interested in a specific departmental scholarship may request further information from the chair of that department.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

REGISTRATION EXPENSES

ALL TUITION AND FEES ARE CORRECT AS OF THE DATE OF PRINTING BUT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ACTION OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE OR BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

The University receives Instructional Funds from the State in the following manner. For the fall and spring semesters, the total number of semester hours for which students have registered, as of the twelfth class day, is the number of hours on which the funds are based. For each summer session, funds are based on total registered hours as of the fourth class day of each session. Students who have not completed their registration by the above dates may not receive credit for work for the semester/session.

The Texas Legislature has authorized collection of tuition and fees during a fall or spring semester by one of two methods: payment in full or one-half payment of the tuition and fees at registration and separate one-quarter payments due prior to the sixth and eleventh class weeks. Parking permits and late registration fees are examples of charges which must be paid in full and are not eligible for installment payment. There is an additional processing fee of $30 for administration of the installment payment plan. Failure to make timely installment payments will cause accrual of late charges ($15 per installment).

Any financial aid, tuition waivers, grants or deferments will be used to reduce the amount owed by the student, with the remaining balance eligible for the installment payment plan. During a summer session, the tuition and fees are collectible in full. The Texas Legislature has reserved the right to discontinue the installment payment plan.

Students will not be allowed to attend classes until their tuition and fees, excluding that portion of the registration fee that may be temporarily deferred, but payable later in scheduled payments as part of an installment payment agreement, are paid.

PAYMENTS

Payments made for registration purposes may be made by cash, cashier’s check, personal check, money order, or VISA or MasterCard credit card. All checks and money orders are accepted subject to final payment.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Students are expected to meet financial obligations to the University within the designated time allowed. Registration fees are payable at registration, except for that portion of the registration fee that may be temporarily deferred, but payable later in scheduled payments as part of an installment payment agreement. Students are not entitled to enter classes or laboratories until their appropriate fees and deposits have been paid. Other charges are due at registration or within ten days after a bill is rendered by the University, or according to special payment instructions that may be printed on the bill or agreement.

Failure to pay the amount owed in full, including appropriate penalty and late fee charges, prior to registration for a future semester or prior to the last class day for the current semester or summer session can result in any or all of the following sanctions: 1) withholding of future registration privileges; 2) withholding award of degree; and 3) withholding of an official transcript. Students who pay fees with a returned check may suffer the above sanctions as well as those detailed in the following section.

COLLECTIONS FOR NONPAYMENT

Nonpayment by the end of the semester may result in transfer of the student’s account to a contracted collection agency and assessment of a collection fee of at least 25 percent of the outstanding balance. The University may also choose to litigate an account on advice of University legal counsel. Should an account be litigated, the student will be responsible for all litigation expenses including attorney’s fees and court costs. Accounts that are referred to a contracted collection agency may also be reported to credit bureaus.

RETURNED CHECK POLICY

A returned check is defined as one returned to the University rightfully unpaid due to no fault of the bank or the University. The check may be written by the student or the check may be written on the student’s behalf by a spouse, guardian, friend or sponsor.

The University reserves the right to refuse personal checks of any student who previously has had checks returned.
Each returned check is subject to a $25 check processing fee. Students have 10 days from the date on which notice is sent from the Business Office in which to pay the returned check and the returned check processing fee or inform the Business Office of their intent. Thereafter, the student may be resigned from the University. (The student should not assume that he/she will be resigned. If the student discontinues going to class without officially resigning from school, he/she will be subject to the grade of F.) Students who have been resigned are eligible for reinstatement upon redemption of such check or checks, plus the returned check processing fee and the payment of a reinstatement charge of $50. A student who fails to make payment prior to the first day of final exams will not receive credit for the work done that semester and will not be allowed to register for future semesters until the delinquent amount is paid. In addition, the checks may be referred to the District Attorney of Walker County for prosecution and collection. Past due accounts are referred to a credit reporting company.

Students will be given the opportunity to be heard regarding any special circumstances. Such circumstances will be given full and fair consideration, and exceptions to the returned check policy may be granted by the Director of the Business Office or a delegated employee, based on the evidence presented.