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 as follows. For the two long 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 any 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, late registration fees, and yearbook fees are examples of charges which must be paid in full and are not eligible for installment payment. There is an additional processing fee for administration of the installment payment plans, $30 for Texas residents and $50 for nonresidents. Failure to make timely installment payments will cause accrual of late charges ($15 per installment) and reinstatement charges ($50).
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 admitted to classes by the instructors until their tuition and fees are paid.
A student enrolling at two State institutions of higher education during the same semester may qualify for reduction of tuition charges at the second institution in which he/she registers. He/she must show an official receipt to be "eligible for reduced tuition," at the second institution. If one institution is a junior college, the student must register there before registering at the senior college in order to be eligible for reduced tuition.
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 pre-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 certified transcript.
Students who pay fees with a returned check may suffer the above sanctions as well as those shown in the following section.
COLLECTIONS FOR NON-PAYMENT
Non-payment by the end of the semester will 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 by 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 it may be one written on his/her behalf by a spouse, guardian, friend, or sponsor.
The University reserves the right to refuse accepting personal checks of any student who previously had a check or checks returned.
Each returned check is subject to a $20 check processing fee. Students have 10 days from the date on which notification 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 we are resigning him/her. If the student discontinues going to class without officially resigning from school, he/she will be subject to the grade of F.) Students 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 $50.00. 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 national credit 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.
EXPLANATION OF FEES
Tuition: Resident students pay thirty-two dollars ($32) per semester credit hour with a minimum tuition of $120 per semester or $60 per summer session during fiscal year 1996-97; and thirty-four dollars ($34) per semester credit hour with a minimum of $120 per semester and $60 per summer session during fiscal year 1997-98. Non-resident students pay two hundred forty-six dollars ($246) per semester credit hour.
Student Service Fee: The student service fee is required at the rate of $14 per semester credit hour (not exceeding $125 per semester, and $62.50 per summer session) and covers services at the University Health Center, the Intramural Program, the Student Life Support Programs, and the Extramural Programs. The fee provides admission to athletic events at Sam Houston State under the auspices of the Department of Athletics.
General Use Fee: The general use fee is required at the rate of $13 per semester credit hour, and it funds the bonded indebtedness incurred for the Lowman Student Center, the University Health Center, the University Mall, the Bowers Stadium, and the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
Student Center Fee: The student center fee is required at the rate of $20 per semester ($10 per summer session) is required and is used to fund the Lowman Student Center programs and activities.
Computer Use Fee: This fee will be charged at a rate of $5 per semester credit hour with a maximum of $50 per semester. It will be used for the training of students, faculty and staff, and for providing support services for operation, maintenance, and replacement of computer hardware and software.
Recreational Sports Fee: Legislative action authorizes a recreational sports fee not to exceed $35 per semester ($17.50 per summer session). It may be used to purchase equipment for and/or to construct, operate, and/or maintain recreational sports facilities and programs.
International Education Fee: This fee of $1 will be charged each semester or summer session and will be used only to assist students participating in international student exchange or study programs.
Late Registration Fee: A late registration fee of $10 is charged to students registering after the official registration periods of the University.
Matriculation Fee: A matriculation fee of $15 is charged if a student resigns before the 1st class day of the semester or summer session.
Special Fees:
Laboratory Fee (per course) $8
Music Fee for Individual Instruction (per course with suffix of "x"):
1 semester credit hour course $30
2 semester credit hours course $60
3 semester credit hours course $75
4 semester credit hours course $75
Audit Fee (per course) $50
Add-Drop Fee (per course) $2
General Property Deposit. Each student is required to make a General Property Deposit of $10 which must remain with the University through his/her career here except as noted below. All charges for property losses, damages, and breakages in libraries or laboratories must be settled promptly. However, any unpaid current charges will be deducted from the deposit before a refund is made.
Refund of General Property Deposit. The General Property Deposit, less charges, will be returned to the student at the end of his/her career as a student. Students should request a refund at the Cashier's Office near the end of their last semester at the university. However, any General Property Deposit which remains without call for refund for a period of four (4) years from the date of last attendance at this university shall be forfeited. The deposit will then become a part of, and operative to, the permanent use and purpose of the University Student Deposit Fund.
RESIDENCY FOR TUITION PURPOSES
The Texas Legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
have established guidelines for determining residence classification. Texas
residency for tuition purposes is generally obtained by working full time in
Texas for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to enrollment in any college
or university, by being a dependent of a Texas resident (individual who is
claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes by the individual's
parent or guardian at the time of registration and for the tax year preceding
the year in which the individual registers), or by being classified as a Texas
Resident for the first five of the six years immediately preceding registration
(not living out of the state more than 12 months immediately prior to
registration).
A nonresident may qualify to pay in-state tuition if: 1) the student or his/her
spouse or parent is a member of the Armed Forces and is stationed in Texas; 2)
the student or his/her spouse or parent is employed by an institution of higher
education in Texas as a teacher or professor; or 3) the student or his/her
spouse or parent has a teaching or research assistantship at the same employing
Texas institution of higher education on at least a half-time basis; 4) the
student holds a competitive scholarship awarded by the university of at least
$1,000 for the academic year or summer.
By state law, the student has the responsibility of registering under the
proper residence classification. If a student has knowledge of an error in
his/her residence classification for tuition purposes, it is the student's
responsibility to notify the Residence Classification Officer immediately.
Inquiries should be directed to the Residence Classification Officer, Office
of
Undergraduate Admissions, Sam Houston State University, P. O. Box 2418,
Huntsville, Texas 77341-2418, or by calling (936) 294-1828.
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