Financial Information (2015-16)

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Financial Information

Costs

Capital University is a non-profit educational institution. The tuition, fees and other charges paid by students cover approximately 75 percent of the institution’s instructional and operating costs. The balance is provided by generous gifts from alumni and friends, income from university endowment, and support from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Payment Policies

Terms of Payment. All tuition, fees and deposits for each semester are due and payable as provided in this bulletin. University charges may be paid by cash or check. The student is responsible for prompt payment of university charges unless other payment arrangements are requested in writing and approved by the Student Accounts Office prior to the payment due date. Student billing information will be available electronically at the students capital.edu e-mail address, payments also may be made via the Web. For additional information, please refer to the Student Accounts web site. Payments for first semester are due by August 14, 2015 Payments for second semester are due by December 14, 2015.

Students who have been awarded financial aid will receive information from the Financial Aid Office and Student Accounts explaining how the financial aid will be applied toward the student’s account.

Tuition Payment Plans. For persons wishing to budget annual costs on a monthly basis, a 10-month payment program is available through a management service. Information on this plan may be obtained from the Student Accounts Office.

Transcripts and Graduation. Satisfactory settlement of all financial obligations to the university is required before graduation or before academic transcripts are released.

Special Deposits and Fees

1. Each student is required to pay a $100 Residence Hall Room Charge Deposit or to make arrangements with the Office of Residence Life to live off campus. The deposit is credited to the student’s room charge if the student enrolls the following semester, and is refundable only upon written notification received by the Office of Residence Life no later than May 1, 2015. All students living in university residence halls are required to be on the university board program.
2. Any full-time student in the College of Arts and Sciences or in the Conservatory of Music seeking certification in teacher education will be charged a Professional Education Fee (PEF) of $435. All PEF payments are non-refundable.
3. Tuition Waiver Certificate Service Fee. Persons wishing to use a Tuition Waiver Certificate issued to their employer by the School of Nursing or the College of Arts and Sciences must submit the certificate with a $50 per course service fee to the Finance Office. Information on this program may be obtained from the School of Nursing or College of Arts and Sciences.

Withdrawal: Payment Obligations and Refunds. To withdraw from an individual course or to withdraw completely from the university, the student must complete and submit the appropriate form to the Registrar’s Office. No refund will be made without such official written notification.

For a student who officially withdraws from the university during a semester, the amount of tuition refunded is determined by the student’s official withdrawal date as set by the Registrar’s Office. The amount of tuition refunded is calculated as follows:

For students who withdraw from Capital and are on the university room and board plan, you will be charged the full room charge for the semester and your meal plan will be prorated based on the date of checkout and key return with the Office of Residence Life and Housing.

Financial aid awards for students who withdraw also are subject to adjustment.

A student who feels that individual circumstances warrant exception to the above policy may file a written appeal with the director of Student Accounts.

Tuition and Fees Refund Policy. When students register for courses or request an assignment in our residence halls, students are accepting responsibility for charges unless they withdraw in accordance to university policies. The following are Capital University’s refund policies: exceptions to these rules are made only under conditions determined by the University.

• Tuition, Room and Meal Policy
• Standard Academic Year Refunds
• Non-Standard Refunds
• Room and Board Refunds
• Financial Aid and Refunds  

Notice of Withdrawal

In order to be eligible for a refund upon withdrawal and/or the dropping of a course, a student must notify the University Registrar’s Office in writing of his/her intentions or should complete the course drop online via WebAdvisor. Tuition refunds are calculated as of the date of withdrawal or last class attended as verified by the instructor of the course being dropped.

Tuition, Room and Meal Policy

Students who withdrawal from the University or drop individual courses within the first six weeks of the semester are held responsible for tuition and fees based on the student’s official withdrawal and/or drop date as determined by the Registrar’s Office. University housing and board plans will be refunded on a pro-rated basis as determined by the Office of Residence Life and Housing. The official check-out date will determine the pro-rated refund for all housing related charges. Should a student withdraw or drop coursework after the sixth week of the semester, no tuition is refunded. University housing and board plans will continue to be refunded on a weekly pro-rated basis based on your official check out date. Course fees will only be refunded if they are dropped during the two week add/drop period. The same policy applies to emergency leaves.

Standard Academic Year Refunds

For standard courses, (14 to 16 weeks in length) the refund policy is:

• Withdrawal through the 2nd week of the semester 100%
• Withdrawal through the 4th week of the semester 75%
• Withdrawal through the 6th week of the semester 50%
• Withdrawal after the 6th week of the semester 0%

As stated above, the deadline to receive any refund(s) for a course fee (i.e. Private/Group Lessons, Nursing Clinical Fees, Professional Ed Fees …) will be the second week of the semester. No course fees will be refunded after this date.

Medical withdrawals will follow the university’s approved withdrawal policy. Medical appeals will be handled on a case by case basis. The effective date of withdrawal and or drop is determined by the last date attended as verified by the instructor.

Any unpaid charges owed by the student will be deducted from the calculated refund.

Non-standard Refunds

Traditional Undergraduate Summer Sessions

Refunds are based on 10 weeks of class.

In the summer sessions, enrollment dropped on the days listed below will warrant the corresponding refund:

• Withdrawal through the 2nd week of the semester: 100%
• Withdrawal through the 4th week of the semester: 75%
• Withdrawal through the 6th week of the semester: 50%
• Withdrawal after the 6th week of the semester: 0%

Capital University also offers courses that are listed as Mods (courses generally 6-8 weeks in length) and Mod OTH (courses that are 3-5 weeks in length). The Mod OTH courses are often short term courses that are only offered in the summer. An example of this type of course would be in the Summer Science Institute. These refund policies are listed below.

Modified (Mods) - Courses 6-8 weeks in length

• Through 1st week of the course: 100%
• Through 2nd week of the course: 75%
• Through 3rd week of the course: 50%
• After 3rd week of the course: 0%

The deadline for course fees to be refunded is the end of the first week. No refunds for course fees will be issued after this date.

 Modified Other - Course that are 3-5 weeks in length

• Through 2nd day of the course: 100%
• Through 4th day of the course: 75%
• Through 6th day of the course: 50%
• After 6th day of the course: 0%

The deadline for course fees to be refunded is the end of the 2nd day of course. No refunds for course fees will be issued after this date. 

 Summer Science Institute. In the Summer Science Institute, sessions I and II, the tuition refund available is calculated by calendar days.

• Days 1 and 2: 100%
• Days 3 and 4: 75%
• Days 5-8: 50%
• After 8th calendar day 0%

 Room and Board Refunds

Students who withdraw from the University during the semester must move out of university housing within 48 hours following the exit interview. The effective move out date will be determined by the Director of Residence Life and Housing and generally coincides with the date items are removed from the residence halls and when keys are returned. Exceptions must be approved by the Director of Residence Life and Housing. Upon checking out, students must turn in the appropriate paperwork along with the key.

 For students withdrawing on a voluntary basis, housing and board refunds are granted on a pro-rated basis and generally coincide with the date items are removed from the residence hall and when keys are returned. Resident students who withdrawal, take a leave of absence or choose not to attend school without fulfilling their signed housing agreement will be charged a housing cancellation fee of $300. 

Capital University-Office of Student Accounts

Statement of Financial Responsibility

Before registering for classes at Capital University, you must read and accept this agreement acknowledging that you understand and agree to the following terms and conditions of financial responsibility:

1. I have a legally binding obligation to pay Capital University all tuition, room and board (if applicable), and other applicable fees by the due date.
2. I understand that the billing information will be communicated to me through my capital e-mail account; however, I also understand that my payment obligation is binding whether or not I access my electronic billing information (eBill), and whether my account is being paid by me or by another person.
3. If my account is not paid by the due date, I understand that I may be assessed a late payment fee.
4. Failure to attend classes does not constitute an official drop or withdraw. I understand that to drop or withdraw from a class, I must complete and submit all required paperwork in a timely manner. If my account becomes delinquent, I will not be allowed to register for the next semester and, if I am a graduating student, I may not be allowed to participate in Commencement and I will not be issued a transcript or diploma until the account is paid.
5. I understand that I shall be responsible for, and I hereby agree to pay, all collection costs and attorney fees that Capital University may incur to collect any unpaid balance on my student account.
6. I understand that I will be asked to re-certify the Terms and Conditions for the Financial Responsibility Statement when I engage in a change of my registration throughout the semester. 

Financial Aid

Scholarships, Awards, Loans and Grants

General Information*

Capital University offers many kinds of financial aid to help students and their parents defray the expenses of a student’s education. Merit-based awards are determined at the time of admission to Capital and are available for up to eight fall and spring semesters. Students must attend full time (12 credits or more per term) and maintain the minimum grade point average (GPA) for renewal. Scholarships awarded upon enrollment to the University will not be increased in future terms.

Additional need-based aid may be made available for students who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  This form must be completed annually in order to continue receiving need-based federal, state or institutional aid.  We encourage students to complete a FAFSA every year by April 15th in order to have a financial aid award determined.  Need-based aid is awarded for only one year and students must reapply with the submission of a FAFSA. As long as students: (1) are in good academic standing, (2) remain in compliance with the “Student Code of Conduct” as explained in the Student Handbook, (3) maintain Satisfactory of Academic Progress (explained in a later section) and (4) demonstrate financial need, aid will be made available each year.

We strongly encourage families to complete the FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.gov. This online format will reduce the number of potential errors and allow the process to go as quickly as possible. The student and one parent will need a Federal login and password  to sign the form electronically. All instructions for this are available at the FAFSA website and any questions can be directed to the Financial Aid Office at 614-236-6511 or www.capital.edu/finaid/.

All financial aid awards are subject to change or modification if a student changes enrollment status, housing plans or receives additional funding not considered at the time of the original award.  This may include Capital University academic-based awards in the event that a student’s direct costs are met by other resources.

Withdrawal from the University

Students who withdraw from the University during a term will have their aid recalculated based on federal and institutional refund policies. These policies determine the amount of federal aid a student has “earned” based on the number of days they attended class and also establish how much tuition is refunded based on the prescribed schedule.  It is important that students considering a withdrawal should follow the official withdrawal procedure, which includes a meeting with a representative of the Financial Aid Office.

For financial aid information for Adult and Continuing Education, please see that section of the Bulletin.

*Law and MBA students should consult appropriate sections in their bulletins for financial aid information.

Standards of Academic Progress (SAP)

Capital University requires that students maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to receive federal and state funds. In addition, a minimum GPA is in place for students to remain eligible for their Capital aid.  There are several components to this policy and it can be found in its entirety at Capital’s Undergraduate Aid website.

1. Generally, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in order to remain eligible for all types of aid, although some institutional scholarships have higher GPA requirements as noted in each scholarship notification.
2. Students must successfully complete at least 67% of all attempted credits in order to maintain SAP. Transfer credits count as attempted hours and completed hours.
3. Capital aid is available for eight semesters of full time attendance, even if a student withdraws midway through a term. Federal and state aid are available for up to 186 attempted credits, as long as student’s program evaluation confirms that a student is not eligible to graduate, which is the equivalent to 150% of the standard time frame to complete a Bachelor’s degree here at Capital. If you are enrolled in a program that requires 135 credits for graduation, federal and state aid is available for up to 201 attempted credits.

Students will be evaluated for SAP at the end of every spring term. If students fail to meet any one of these criteria, they will immediately lose eligibility for any further aid unless they submit an appeal and have it approved. There is no warning status. Appeals that are approved allow students one additional semester of financial aid as they work to regain SAP. All conditions of the approval will be conveyed to the students in the response notification.

Formal dismissal from the University automatically cancels any eligibility for financial aid. See “Dismissal, Academic” in the “Undergraduate Academic Policies, Regulations and General Information” section of this Bulletin for additional information and information regarding the appeal process for reinstatement.

Verification

Capital University is responsible for assuring accuracy of data reported on the FAFSA by students and their families. If requested, students must provide additional documentation. This process is called Verification and is required by the Department of Education.

If a student is selected for Verification, which is done based on federal and institutional criteria, the Financial Aid Office will require the student and parent(s) to submit documentation such as federal tax return transcripts from the prior tax year, all W-2s and a Verification Worksheet that will be sent to your home. All documents must be signed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office as directed. Changes identified in originally reported FAFSA data could result in a recalculation of need-based aid eligibility. The correspondence of not submitting required verification materials upon request is that the student will be ineligible to receive any financial aid until the documentation is submitted and reviewed.

Consortium Agreements

When a student contacts the Financial Aid Office indicating he/she will be attending another school as a transient student and is requesting assistance to help pay for classes offered at another school, the Financial Aid Office may enter into a Consortium Agreement with the school the student plans to attend IF the student meets eligibility criteria. Further information is available in the Financial Aid Office. All students must also be sure to meet Residence Requirements as outlined in the Bulletin.and are limited to three consortium agreements during their time at Capital University.

If a student meets Consortium Agreement criteria, the following information must be provided to the Financial Aid Office before processing can begin:

1. Completed and signed Consortium Agreement, and
2. Copy of the student’s registration from the school the student is planning to attend.

Students must make arrangements with the other school to pay billed expenses by their appropriate deadlines and must anticipate that aid will be delivered on a delayed basis due to additional processing required to complete the Consortium Agreement.

Additional information can be found in the Capital University Financial Aid Office.

Federal / State Grants

Federal Pell Grant-A federal need-based grant to qualified students as determined by the FAFSA. Amounts are determined by the United States Department of Education and are subject to change. Students must submit a FAFSA each year to receive consideration.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)-A need-based federal grant awarded to students with Federal Pell Grant eligibility and having the greatest financial need. This is a limited fund and will not be made available to all Pell Grant recipients.

Ohio College Opportunity Grant-This grant is awarded from the State of Ohio based on need determined by the FAFSA. Eligibility based on a student’s Expected Family Contribution and household income. It is funded through the state’s biennial budget and is not assured each year.

Loans

Federal Perkins Loan-This federal loan is administrated by Capital and is for students who demonstrate high need. The loan is interest-free until nine months after the student ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis, at which time the loan is repaid with 5 percent interest. Partial forgiveness of this loan may be possible via teaching in a “teacher shortage area” as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, as well as for full-time nurses. Amounts usually range from $1,000-$2,000. Once identified for this loan, a promissory note must be completed. Visit Capital’s site at Federal-Perkins Loans for additional information.

Federal Direct Loan-Subsidized/Unsubsidized-These federal loans are intended to help students pay the cost of post-secondary education. In order to be eligible for this loan, students must complete a FAFSA and be enrolled at least 1/2 time (6 credits). The amount a student can borrow is based on the number of earned credit hours and the type of loan (subsidized and/or unsubsidized) will be based on financial need. The United States Department of Education funds these loans and assigns borrowers to a servicer for the repayment process. Repayment begins six months after a student ceases to be enrolled at least half time and generally allows for repayment to extend ten years under the standard repayment plan and up to 25 years in certain circumstances. There are also provisions for loan cancellation if a borrower enters a public service profession. Please visit Capital’s site at Federal Direct Loans for additional information about this loan program. 

Federal Direct PLUS Loan-This loan is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and available to parents (of dependent undergraduate students) who have no adverse credit history. Parents may borrow up to the cost of education minus any financial aid received. Repayment usually begins 30 days after the final disbursement, although payments can be deferred while student is enrolled at least half-time. Students whose parents are denied PLUS Loans may request additional a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with verification of a PLUS denial. Details are available on Capital’s web site at Federal Direct Plus Loans or in the Financial Aid Office. 

Nursing Student Loan-Nursing Student Loans have low interest rates (5%) with deferred payment of principal and interest until after graduation or discontinuation of enrollment of at least half-time. Nursing loans are limited to students enrolled in the School of Nursing and repayment will begin if the student leaves the nursing program. Once identified for this loan, a promissory note must be completed before the funds can be credited to the student’s account. Details on completing this step will be sent to the borrower electronically at their Capital email address.

Resources for Books and Living Expenses

Delivery of Loan Proceeds

All students should make arrangements to have sufficient personal funds to cover non-billed costs such as books and living expenses each term until excess loan funds can be made available.

The federal government requires the institution to deliver loan proceeds to students’ accounts, or directly to the borrower when appropriate, in a timely manner upon receipt of electronically transmitted loan funds. The regulation also applies to Federal Perkins Loans. Generally, loans are disbursed to the student’s account one week before each semester, as long as the financial aid file is complete.

Capital will attempt to deliver all loan proceeds as soon as possible within federal guidelines. All students who are receiving funds in excess of institutional charges must request receipt of these funds by completing a Refund Request Form (available through the Student Accounts Office). This form cannot be completed any sooner than the first official day of each term.

Alternative Loan Programs-Many lending institutions have tailored educational loans for students. These programs usually carry higher interest payments and are based on a co-signer’s credit. In most cases, repayments can be deferred until graduation or termination from school. Details are available at  Alternative Loans or in the Financial Aid Office. This process can take approximately 30 days so students will need to plan accordingly. 

Tuition Management Program

Many families find it more convenient to spread educational expenses over equal monthly payments rather than in two larger payments billed at the beginning of each semester. For several years, Capital University has offered students and their families the option of the Tuition Management System (TMS) in which payments may be spread over as many as 10 months. A small annual fee is charged; however, there are no interest charges. TMS is flexible in that as cost and financial aid are finalized, families may contact TMS to increase or decrease their payment amount or withdraw. Monthly payments are made directly to TMS, either by check or automatic deduction from a checking account. Additional information is available from Capital’s Finance Office by calling 614-236-6123 or at http://www.afford.com/.

Employment Opportunities

Federal Work Study-This federally funded program provides employment opportunities for students with the “greatest need.” Students work for the university and normally earn $500-$2,000 during the academic year. Earnings are paid directly to the student through direct deposit twice per month, based on hours worked. Federal Work Study earnings are not directly credited to a student’s tuition account. Visit Capital’s site for detailed job information on all positions available at Capital’s Federal Work Study link. 

Student Assistants-Academic departments and Residence Life employ students by the semester or for the entire academic year.

Additional Job Opportunities-The Career Development Office provides a Job Internship web site: Crusader Careers, which includes part-time, full-time, internship and summer job opportunities.

Capital Scholarships/Awards/Grants*

Alumni Grants-$1,000 grants are awarded to new full-time freshmen who are relatives of Capital alumni who have graduated from Capital. Awards are renewable based upon academic performance for up to eight fall and spring semesters (four years).

Army and Air Force ROTC College Scholarships-This program is designed to offer assistance to outstanding young men and women who enroll in Army or Air Force ROTC programs. The ROTC scholarship provides assistance for tuition, laboratory and associated fees, an allowance for textbooks, and includes a tax-free stipend of $250-$400 each month. For students receiving a full ROTC scholarship, Capital will provide free room and board for students who have residence contracts. For those junior and senior ROTC students who do not qualify for these scholarships, a stipend of $250-$400 per month is available. For further information contact ROTC at 614-236-7114 or ROTC. 

Battelle Memorial Institute Foundation Leadership Scholarships-These full room and board scholarships are awarded annually to entering freshmen from Franklin and contiguous counties, who demonstrate potential for leadership, creativity and motivation. Selection is competitive and scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years at the standard room and board rates. Contact Capital’s Admission Office for a separate application.

Brockman Fellowship-This full-tuition award is given to exemplary mathematics or computer science majors who are entering freshmen. Recipients are selected through the statewide Math Olympiad held each spring and through the Collegiate Fellowship competition. This award may not be combined with any other Capital University merit or recognition award.

Capital Scholars Program-These awards are made to entering minority students on the basis of scholastic achievement and competition. The award is renewable for eight fall and spring semesters of full-time undergraduate study with a minimum GPA of 2.50 as long as students continue to live on campus.

Children of Pastors Grant-An entering dependent student whose custodial parent is an active, rostered Lutheran clergy person is eligible for this one-half tuition grant. Eligibility will continue for eight fall and spring semesters as long as the student maintains full-time enrollment status, earns a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 and the parent remains an active, rostered Lutheran clergy person.

Collegiate Fellow Program-Full-tuition scholarships are awarded annually to entering students. These scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years as long as students maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA and continue to live on campus. Selection is competitive and is based on an on-campus interview and an essay. Students are invited by the university to compete for these scholarships.

Discover Capital Grant-The Discover Capital grant is awarded annually to freshmen and transfer students who are admitted to the university and are legal residents of a state other than Ohio. This $1,000 award is renewable with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and are made to students for a maximum of eight fall and spring semesters.

Lutheran Heritage Awards-These scholarships are awarded to freshmen and transfer students who are members of a Lutheran congregation. This $1,000 award is renewable with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and for a maximum of eight fall and spring semesters.

Music Composition Award-Awarded to full-time Conservatory majors for competence in music composition as demonstrated in the audition.

Music Grants-These awards are available to full-time Conservatory majors on the basis of performance level with their primary instrument. Music grants are awarded for exceptional performance with the primary instrument or on the basis of needed instruments/vocal areas within the Conservatory. The recipient is required to continue with the primary instrument. Music grants are awarded for a maximum of eight fall and spring semesters and are renewed based on a student’s performance within the Conservatory.

Music Scholarships-These awards are available to full-time Conservatory majors on the basis of academic record and musical performance with the primary instrument. Music Scholarships are renewable and are awarded for a maximum of eight fall and spring semesters, provided the student maintains a 2.0 GPA and satisfactory progress in the Conservatory program.

Partners-in-Education Grants-These grants are for students attending Capital on a full-time basis and who are members of a participating Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregation. Capital will match congregation contributions of up to $500 per year. Students must contact their church each year to determine if they will receive a scholarship.

Phi Theta Kappa Grant (half tuition)-Grant awarded to transfer students seeking their first undergraduate degree who are current members of Phi Theta Kappa. Students must be a full-time undergraduate traditional student who has completed a minimum of 15 semester or 22 quarter hours of transferable college credit that was completed after graduating from high school. Students should identify themselves as a Phi Theta Kappa member on the admission application or should notify the Admission Office.

Presidential Scholarships-These awards are made to entering students based on their scholastic accomplishments. These awards are made to students for a maximum of eight semesters fall and spring semesters. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be maintained for renewal each year.

Sibling Discount-Tuition awards made to students whose family has more than one full-time dependent undergraduate child attending Capital at the same time.

The Rev. Rufus S. Tarrant Grants-These special Capital-sponsored awards are made to eligible minority students based on high school record and ACT/SAT results. These grants use the same renewal criteria as Presidential Scholarships.

Transfer Fellowship-Competitive scholarship (by invitation only) awarded to selected transfer students seeking their first undergraduate degree who have earned a minimum of 15 semester or 22 quarter hours of transferable college course work after graduating from high school. Applicants who apply to Capital by May 1 and have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average from all colleges are invited for this on-campus interview and essay. This tuition-based award is renewable if you are enrolled as a full-time student, your cumulative GPA is 3.00 or higher and you live in campus housing. Awards are made for a maximum of eight fall and spring semesters (four years).
 

Endowed Scholarships

A number of endowed scholarships currently are available. Students are not required to apply for specific scholarships, but are selected based on the specifications established by the donors and student’s eligibility. Interested upper-class students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually by April 15, while entering freshmen are considered based on their admission credentials and the FAFSA. The following foundations, churches, individuals and families have established scholarships or have been recognized by others who have established the scholarships in tribute to them. These endowed scholarships may replace other institutional aid from Capital University.

Additional Awards/Prizes/Scholarships

The following awards/prizes/scholarships are presented to students who have achieved outstanding academic records and/or special recognition while in attendance at Capital University. (Not a complete list.)