Financial Information

This policy provides the rates for tuition, fees, room, board and deposits, effective with the beginning of the fall semester 2023 through summer 2024.

We urge you to familiarize yourself with the information in this policy so that you are aware of all charges before registration. Within these pages you will find billing dates, payment and refund policies, and other important information related to your student financial account.

The University makes every effort to hold increases to the lowest figure possible while providing quality programs of good value. Tuition and fees cover only a portion of Samford’s educational and general expenditures. For the remainder of its operating needs, the University relies primarily on investment earnings, and gifts and grants from alumni, individuals, businesses, foundations, and other supporters.

Tuition and fees for the 2023-2024 academic year will be posted in July 2023. Some or all instruction for all or part of the 2023-2024 academic year may be delivered remotely. Tuition and mandatory fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the academic year. Samford reserves the right to change tuition rates, other charges, refund procedures, and other policies. Updated information is always available online.

Samford University is an Equal Opportunity Institution and does not discriminate in its educational and employment policies on the basis of race, color, sex, age, disability, or national or ethnic origin.

Tuition and Fees Payment Policy-All Students

Tuition and Fees Payment Guidelines

Account Statements

Notification that a new statement has been generated is sent to students via the Samford University email, which remains the official means of communication with students; paper statements are not provided. Students are advised to check their Samford email regularly. Students and authorized users may access the financial portal at any time at www.samford.edu/go/financialportal.

Students registering during the early registration period will receive a statement approximately 15 days prior to the payment due date. The statement reflects activity up to the date the statement was generated. Any activity transpiring after the statement generation date can be viewed on the Current Activity section of the financial portal. The Current Activity page provides the current account balance that is due, including any unbilled charges and payments. Payment will be due in accordance with the schedule as seen below. Students who register, make schedule changes, add room and board, etc., after the statement generation date, must consult the financial portal to view their account summary and arrange payment for all charges by the due date for the term, regardless of whether the charge(s) have been billed.

Registration Cancellation

Students with unpaid balances by the published due date are subject to having their registration cancelled until payment is received. A student may be reinstated by paying the balance in full, plus a $100 reinstatement fee.

Statement generation, payment, and registration cancellation dates are noted on the Billing and Refund Schedule tables at:

Student link: www.samford.edu/go/onestop
Parent link: www.samford.edu/parents/ (under Parent Resources, click “Pay a Bill”)
Financial Portal link: www.samford.edu/go/financialportal
International students wire payment option: samford.flywire.com

Holds

Students may not register for the next semester, receive transcripts, or receive a diploma until past due amounts are cleared. Other departments, such as University Health Services, may also have holds in place to restrict next semester registration, transcript requests, or diploma receipt. Students must contact that department to resolve the hold placement. Samford One Stop does not have permission to release the holds placed by another department.

Collections

Past due accounts assigned to a collection agency may be reported to the credit bureaus and students may be responsible for attorney fees, collection fees, and interest. The University may charge interest on all amounts past due.

Payment Method Options for Students and Parents

Students may authorize parents or other designated individuals to access the financial portal and make payments on their behalf. To enable this feature, a student must access the financial portal and set up any individual responsible for payment of his/her student account as an “Authorized User.”

Authorized users will receive an email notification when a new statement is issued. Authorized users should click on the link in the email or enter the link in their browser to access the financial portal and make a payment.

Financial Portal Link: www.samford.edu/go/financialportal

Online Payments with Check

Payment by electronic check using the financial portal is the most efficient and cost-effective payment option. Payment by electronic check may be made by using the financial portal link above.

Online Payments with Credit Card

MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express may be used to make online payments by using the financial portal link above. A 2.85% convenience fee (minimum of $3.00) will be assessed by the third-party web processor for payments made with a credit/debit card. Payment by credit card may be made by using the financial portal link above.

Other Payment Options

The Samford One Stop continues to accept payment by check through the mail, but the University is not responsible for delays of the postal service. Payment by check may be made in person in the Samford One Stop.

International Wire Payments

International Students may make wire payments at samford.flywire.com.

Payment Plans

In an attempt to offer an alternative to additional borrowing, Samford University provides interest-free payment plan options for all students enrolled in fall, spring, or summer terms. Below is a brief description of the options available for the 2023-2024 academic year. Please take time to explore the information below concerning the plans available for the 2023-2024 academic year.

A five-payment option and a four-payment option are available for Fall 2023. For Spring 2024, only the four-payment option is available. A three-payment option is available for the Summer term. These plan options allow a student to make a down payment of 20% for the five-payment option, 25% for the four-payment option, and 30% for the three-payment option. Students will then complete the remainder of the plan by making equal payments throughout the term on a prescribed schedule. Installment and payment amounts may vary if additional charges or payments are posted throughout the semester. Please visit the Samford One Stop website referenced below for up-to-date information.

It is recommended students be fully registered and have room and board charges (if applicable) in place before enrolling in a plan. Furthermore, all financial aid paperwork and processing should be completed in order to obtain a true net cost to be used with a plan. Changes in tuition, fees, room, and board, as well as financial aid adjustments made after plan enrollment will affect remaining payments. Outstanding or past due balances from prior terms may not be placed on a payment plan and will prevent enrollment until the past due balance is paid in full. Plan participants must enroll during the designated enrollment period. Late enrollments are not permitted. The academic program in which the student is enrolled may prevent enrollment in a plan. See website for details.

Please note that late installment payments may jeopardize a student’s ability to enroll in a payment plan in a subsequent term. Late fees may be charged for late installment payments. For up-to-date information regarding payment plans, please go to www.samford.edu/go/onestop and follow the payment plans link.

The Samford University Portal and associated online student services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for scheduled maintenance and unforeseen circumstances. Maintenance is scheduled in advance with notice to all students.

Should you encounter login problems, please contact the Help Desk at (205) 726-2662.

Payment/Refund Schedules for All Students

Any student with a past due balance will not be eligible to register for the next semester or obtain his/her transcript or diploma. Registration cancellation will be processed for all students with unpaid tuition, mandatory fees, room, and board (billed and unbilled) on the date in the Billing Schedule table below.

Refunds

Refunds are first available within ten (10) business days after financial aid has been credited (disbursed) to the student’s account. Refunds will not be available before that time. Disbursement of aid on a student account is regulated based on the student’s first day of class. The refund availability dates below are the earliest dates that the refunds will be available. These dates are subject to satisfactory completion/submission of all needed information by the student. The dates are subject to change and may be adjusted to comply with federal regulations governing refunds to students. Signing up for direct deposit in the financial portal may expedite the receipt of any refunds.

Other Requirements and Costs

Student Health Insurance

Samford University strongly encourages all students to have health insurance to help minimize the costs associated with their healthcare.  Samford offers a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) with BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, which is administered by our vendor, Academic Health Plans (AHP). Eligible Samford students can explore the plan and enroll by visiting https://samford.myahpcare.com.  

All students in the College of Health Sciences and all international students are required to have health insurance and must provide proof of existing coverage on an annual basis. Failure to provide evidence of insurance may result in the student being automatically enrolled in the SHIP and their student account charged for the coverage. In the future, other programs (especially those that include experiential learning opportunities off-campus) may require proof of insurance. If you have questions, contact your Program Coordinator. 

International Students: Based upon federal regulations and University policy, all F and J visa holders are required to carry insurance that meets certain coverage requirements. Information about specific policy carriers, minimum coverage, and premium costs is available from the Office of Global Engagement at (205) 726-2741.

Miscellaneous Fees

Special fees or fines may apply for recreational activities, supplies, memberships, residence halls, etc. Other costs of interest include books and personal property insurance. Students should contact the organization or department/office responsible for assessing those fees/fines for more information. Additional information can also be found in the Samford University Student Handbook.

Financial Aid Information

Students seeking financial aid should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.studentaid.gov. The priority date is February 15 for the upcoming academic year. Students who file the FAFSA on or before that date will comprise the first group for whom financial aid is packaged and awarded. FAFSAs filed after February 15 will be processed in the order they are received.

Students may obtain information regarding financial aid online at www.samford.edu/go/onestop or by telephone at (205) 726-2905. Students are encouraged to use these resources for information or questions regarding financial aid at Samford University.

Drop and Add Policy for All Students

Class Drops and Adds

Drops, adds, and other changes in a student class schedule that do not involve complete withdrawal from school are subject to the following rules:

1. During drop/add, if a schedule change results in a reduction of the student’s total credits (less than full-time), tuition may be adjusted. Any reduction in a student’s course load may result in an adjustment in the student’s financial aid.
2. After the last day to drop a course(s), dropping a course(s) will not result in a reduction of charges for tuition or fees.
3. There are no refunds of fees unless the course related to the fee is dropped within the drop/add period, or one withdraws as outlined below.

Charges will be adjusted according to these financial policies and the credits taken by the student. Complete withdrawal from the University is covered under the refund and withdrawal policy. (See also Elective Withdrawal  in the Academic Policies and Regulations  section of this catalog.)

Withdrawal Refund Policy for All Students

Student Withdrawal

The University is required to contract for a substantial amount of goods and services in advance. Most of these expenses are fixed and are not subject to change on short notice. Under certain circumstances, refunds are available to students who officially withdraw from the University. A student desiring to withdraw from the University must obtain an official withdrawal form from the Office of the Registrar. The form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar when it is completed.

This policy applies to all terms including fall and spring semesters, fall and spring A/B terms, and summer terms. If a student withdraws from all courses in a term, a portion of or all financial aid may be returned by the University to the original provider(s) of the funding. In such cases where the return of funds creates a balance due to Samford, the student will be required to reimburse the University for those returned funds and any associated fees. (See also Elective Withdrawal  in the Academic Policies and Regulations  section of this catalog.)

Withdrawal Refund Policy for Fall Semester

In case of a complete withdrawal or suspension from Samford, the following will dictate refunds:

Withdrawal Refund Policy for Spring Semester

In case of a complete withdrawal or suspension from Samford, the following will dictate refunds:
(Dates for Spring 2024 are under review and subject to change.)

Withdrawal Refund Policy for Summer Terms

In case of a complete withdrawal or suspension from Samford, the following will dictate refunds:
(Dates for Summer 2024 are under review and subject to change.)

Military Call to Active Duty

Students will be allowed to withdraw without penalty from the University and receive a 100 percent tuition remission (less any financial aid which the student may have received for the semester) upon presenting an original copy of their orders to the Office of the Registrar.

Alternatively, incomplete (INC) grades with no tuition reimbursement may be more appropriate when the withdrawal is near the end of the semester and INCs are agreed to by the instructor(s) and the student and approved by the dean of the school or college. In the latter case, the student will be allowed to complete the coursework according to a written agreement submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Incomplete grades and withdrawals may affect financial aid eligibility. Students should contact their Samford One Stop advisor if they are recipients of Title IV aid.

Return of Title IV Funds

Federal financial aid funds are awarded with the expectation that students will complete the entire period of enrollment. Students “earn” a percentage of the funds that are disbursed to them with each day of class attendance. When a student, who has received federal financial aid (Title IV funds), leaves school before the end of the semester or period of enrollment, federal law requires the University to calculate the percentage and amount of “unearned” financial aid funds that must be returned to the federal government. This calculation may have the effect of requiring the student to repay funds that have already been disbursed to the student.

Once a student has completed more than 60 percent of the enrollment period, students are considered to have earned all funding received. The University will not reduce the amount owed simply because of the loss of eligibility of financial aid. Thus, withdrawal prior to completion of 60 percent of the semester may result in the student repaying portions of financial aid returned to original sources, in addition to any institutional costs owed to the University. Students are urged to consider these financial implications prior to making the decision to withdraw from school.

Refund Appeal

Students who believe that they have individual circumstances warranting an exception to published refund policies may appeal. To appeal, the student or parent should contact:

University Registrar
Office of the Registrar
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, Alabama 35229

Brief Definition of Terms Used in Financial Policies

In all of the following situations, students must complete the proper forms in the Office of the Registrar. Arbitrarily discontinuing class attendance does not substitute for official notification of course dropping or withdrawal.

Drops and Adds

Adding a Course: A course can be added anytime on or before the date listed on the Academic Calendar as “Last Day to Drop or Add a Course(s).” Payment for the course is due the day the course is added.

Dropping a Course: This term applies to the complete removal of a course from a student’s permanent record. This can only be done if the student notifies the Office of the Registrar on or before the date listed on the Academic Calendar as “Last Day to Drop or Add a Course(s).”

If a student notifies the Office of the Registrar after this date, the course will be considered a withdrawal, will remain on the student’s permanent record with a grade of W or WF (see below), and no financial reimbursement will be given. (See Course Withdrawal  in Academic Policies and Regulations.)

Withdrawals

Course Withdrawal: Course Withdrawal is also often referred to as Partial Withdrawal. In order to be considered as withdrawn from a course, a student must complete an official Course Withdrawal form in the Office of the Registrar on or before the date listed on the Academic Calendar as “Last Day to Withdraw from a Course(s) without Academic Penalty.” If these requirements are met, the student will receive an automatic grade of W. If the student withdraws after the date listed on the Academic Calendar, the student will receive an automatic grade of WF. (See Course Withdrawal  in Academic Policies and Regulations.)

There is no financial reimbursement for a course withdrawal.

School or University Withdrawal: This term refers to officially leaving Samford University and discontinuing attending all classes. Financial reimbursement will be based on the university’s refund policies for withdrawal. (See Withdrawal Policy in this section and Elective Withdrawal  - School Withdrawal in Academic Policies and Regulations.)

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