Policies

Adjustment of Tuition for Changing Program of Study: If a student changes her program and the tuition called for is lower than the amount she has already paid, she will be credited the excess only if the change in her program is made by the last day of enrollment verification in each term (i.e. the second Friday of the semester). If the new program calls for higher tuition, the student is responsible for paying the additional charges promptly.

An applicant for admission must pay a $400 non-refundable deposit upon acceptance of the offer of admission to Barnard College.

For students and parents desiring to pay education costs in monthly payments, a semester payment plan is available from Tuition Management Systems (TMS/Nelnet). Information may be obtained directly from TMS/Nelnet at (888) 251-3597 or barnard.afford.com. The College requires you to make your first payment including a signed TMS/Nelnet electronic promissory note to TMS/Nelnet to complete the payment plan enrollment process.

Progressive late payment fees begin at $75. There is no grace period. To avoid a late payment fee, a hold on registration/housing/dining, long lines, & busy telephones, the Bursar Worksheet & payment should be received by BURSAR before the semester payment deadline.

Barnard College is not able to receive funds from students for safekeeping or to cash personal checks or traveler’s checks. To cover immediate expenses, a student should have an automated teller machine (ATM) card or postal money orders. There is a Citibank ATM located on campus in Barnard Hall across from the Security Office. The Columbia University Station of the U.S. Post Office will cash postal money orders upon presentation of a validated Barnard student ID card. Validated ID cards are issued after students register and pay at the beginning of each term.

By registering for classes or completing a housing or meal plan application, a student incurs a legal obligation to pay tuition, fees, room, and board.

To protect your financial investment against the student's serious illness or accident resulting in the withdrawal of the student before a semester is completed, consider the Tuition Refund Plan.  The Tuition Refund Plan is a private insurance program that supplements Barnard's refund policy for complete withdrawals.  Subscribers are assured a refund throughout the term even though Barnard's refund policy may have expired at the time of withdrawal.  An 80% refund applies to covered charges for medical withdrawals.  For more information on this optional program, visit www.collegerefund.com.

Barnard's refund policy for complete withdrawal is as follows:

If a student withdraws prior to the start of the semester and incurs no charges, her nonrefundable tuition deposit is forfeited. If the student has incurred any charges, the deposit is applied to those charges.

If a student withdraws during the semester, her charges will be prorated if she has been enrolled for less than or equal to 60% of the term, and she completes the necessary forms with the Offices of the Dean of Studies (tuition and fees), Residential Life and Housing (complete the Housing Cancellation Form), and Bursar (meal plan cancellation). If a student has been enrolled for more than 60% of the term, she is not eligible for a reduction in charges.  Depending on the date of official cancellation, withdrawal from housing may incur additional penalties; students should consult their housing contract and the Housing office policies.

The refund formula measures the actual number of days enrolled during the semester. It is determined by dividing the number of days enrolled by the number of calendar days in the semester (including weekends and holidays and excluding spring break) and then deducting that calculation from 100%. For example, if there are 106 calendar days in a semester, and a student withdraws on the 50th day of the semester, her charges and financial aid will be prorated to reflect that she’s been enrolled for 52.8% of the semester [i.e. 1 minus (50 divided by 106)].

If a student is participating in a Barnard Study Abroad program for the semester, her Barnard tuition charges will be reduced by the same percentage as Barnard is refunded by the school abroad.

If a student is a recipient of Federal Title IV financial aid, refunds to those programs are required by federal regulation to be the first priority and must be returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, Federal Pell Grant, and Federal SEOG.

A student is not eligible for a refund until all Federal Title IV programs and other scholarships are reimbursed as required and all outstanding balances with the College have been cleared. To request a refund please submit a student refund request form to the Bursar’s office.

The following items are not subject to the refund policy:

• Lab, course, or computer fees
• Orientation fees
• Late fees (late payment, late registration, late enrollment verification, etc.)
• Deferred payment fees
• Returned check fees
• Dormitory fines
• Finance charges