Tuition and Financial Aid
General Information
Tuition, board, residence-hall charges and certain fees are due and payable prior to the beginning of each semester. The dates for 2008-2009 are: July 25, 2008 for fall semester and December 12, 2008 for spring semester. Students are not permitted to register for any semester until all financial obligations have been arranged satisfactorily with the University.
A budget payment plan is available and is explained later in this section.
There is a late fee of $50 assessed against all accounts not paid in full by the July and December due dates. In addition, interest at the rate of 1 percent per month (12.7% APR) will be charged on all past-due balances (including tuition deposit). If a student fails to fulfill his or her financial obligations and his or her account is referred to a collection agency, all fees are the responsibility of the student.
Payment Options
Clark offers several payment alternatives to the usual tuition payment each semester. These options may be used individually or in combination with each other to best suit the needs of Clark families.
- Monthly Payment Plan: Clark University, in cooperation with Tuition Management Systems, makes available a flexible, interest-free payment plan. This plan allows a family to make 10 equal monthly payments beginning in June. You determine the amount of the bill to be covered-all or only a portion. The $60 application fee is the only charge. Tuition-payment insurance is automatically included.
- Tuition Inflation Hedge: Under this program, Clark University offers families the option of fixing the tuition rate for four years at the first-year level. To do so, families pay four years of full tuition during the first year, at the current rate, avoiding any increases in tuition for the following three years.
For more information and an application, please contact the University Registrar and Director of Student Accounts at (508) 793-7498.
All past balances will be subject to an interest charge of 12 percent per year.
Refund Policies
General Refund Policy
Students who officially withdraw or take an official leave of absence from the University are required to submit paper work to the Dean of Student's Office. A student who officially withdraws during the first one-tenth of the semester will be charged 10 percent of his or her tuition, room, board and mandatory fees; after the first tenth, but before the end of the first quarter, the student will be charged 50 percent; after the first quarter, but before the end of the second quarter, the student will be charged 75 percent. There is no reduction in charges after the second quarter of the semester. If a student withdraws from school, but continues to avail himself/herself of services, he/she will be charged for those services.
Study-Abroad Refund Policy
Due to the special conditions for payments to overseas programs, a different policy is necessary. Students who are studying abroad should refer to the documentation provided when they are accepted in the program for specific information on the refund policy.
Medical Refund Policy
If a student's doctor recommends that he/she leave the University for medical reasons within the first half of the semester, and later a decision is made that the student must officially withdraw, charges are calculated in accordance with the schedule above under "General Refund Policy" based on the date of the doctor's initial recommendation that the student leave the University. The doctor's letter must be an original on letterhead.
Normal Program and Course Load Variance
A normal full-time academic program is eight course units per year (four course units per semester). Students may elect to vary this pattern by taking three course units during any semester. A course load of three units per semester is considered full-time and is billed accordingly. Juniors and seniors who have received College Board permission may choose to take five course units in a semester at no additional charge. (Any courses approved by College Board beyond 5 units will carry an additional cost.) All students must complete a minimum of seven full-time semesters to meet degree requirements. Students may enroll in two units per summer. While there is no limit to the total number of summer courses students may take, normally only four units may be counted toward graduation.
Seniors in their last semester are expected to take the necessary number of units (up to five) for their degree. Full-time first-year or transfer students in their first semester at Clark University must enroll in a four-unit program. Students re-entering the University or returning from leaves of absence, also must enroll in a four-unit program during their first semester.
Orientation Fee
A fee of $200 is assessed to all new students to cover services and activities provided during orientation. Early orientation is $250 and spring orientation is $100.
Contingency Deposit
All new undergraduates are required to pay a $50 deposit to cover minor charges, such as unreturned library books, which may be incurred during the year. Students are billed each year for whatever charges are incurred. The balance is refunded upon completion of studies.
Housing Deposit
The $400 fee submitted by first-year students to Admissions includes a $100 housing deposit. The deposit is credited towards the yearly housing fee and is nonrefundable.
Application Fee
A fee of $55 must accompany the application for admission to the University. It is not refundable.
Student Activity Fee
A fee of $160.00 per semester, levied and administered by the Student Council, is required of all matriculated undergraduates except those on a program of study abroad. The Student Council allocates funds to student organizations that provide a wide range of cultural, social and recreational activities.
Admission Deposit
For entering students planning to live on campus, a nonrefundable admission deposit of $300 and a housing deposit of $100 are required to indicate acceptance of an offer of undergraduate admission. For students planning to live off campus, only the $300 admission deposit is required. Deposits are credited toward charges for the first semester in attendance at Clark. Deposits are forfeited if the student does not enroll for the specified semester.
Tuition Deposit
A deposit of $300 is required of all students planning to return to the University for their sophomore, junior or senior years. It is payable by June 1 and is credited toward charges for the fall semester. The deposit of $300 is forfeited if the student does not enroll for the specified semester.
Clark OneCard
An identification card is issued during orientation to all new students without charge and is an official college ID. The Clark OneCard looks like an ordinary University ID, but it's much more than that. The wide magnetic strip on the back of the Clark OneCard acts as a key to a number of services on campus including access to residential and academic buildings, athletic facilities, Dolan Field House, Dana Commons, Goddard Library, meal plans, computer account password and the CashCard Program.
The CashCard Program works like cash and can be used at both on- and off-campus venues. On-campus venues include Clark Dining Hall, Higgins Bistro, Clark Print & Copy Center and Clark Bookstore. Off-campus venues include Domino's Pizza and Fantastic Pizza.
The cardholder should report a lost or stolen card immediately to University Police, the food-services provider on campus, or the OneCard office located at 22 Downing Street, 2nd floor. A fee is charged to replace lost cards.
Keys and Key Security
Room keys, mailbox combinations and residence-hall entry cards are issued to students upon arrival at Clark. Fees are charged for the replacement of keys and cards that are lost during the year, and it is mandatory to return room keys and entry cards before leaving campus at the end of the academic year.
Financial Aid General Information
The Office of Financial Assistance provides guidance to all students who need assistance financing their Clark education.
General Information
Financial aid is allocated on the basis of financial need and academic performance. Special talent in music, art and other areas, as well as leadership ability, are also considered. The Office of Financial Assistance assesses each student's financial circumstances and need through a uniform analysis of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal and state funds, and the PROFILE Form for institutional funds. When required, adjustments are made in accordance with University policies and procedures. The assessment takes into account family income and assets, age of parents, financial commitments to other dependents and members of the family, and other circumstances.
The University expects that a student's resources for education will come first from family and his/her own savings and earnings. The University will make every effort to assist most students in obtaining the difference between the total cost and expected family resources. No student should fail to apply for admission to Clark University because of the inability of his/her family to pay total educational costs.
Student Employment
Student employment opportunities at Clark include on- and off-campus part-time jobs and full-time summer employment, coordinated by the Office of Financial Assistance. At the beginning of each semester, Clark students with federal work-study awards receive a listing of available on-campus jobs and may choose a job best suited to their abilities and interests. It is important to note that an offer of Federal Work Study as part of a student's financial-aid package is not a guarantee of that amount, but rather a limit of potential earnings. Students receive paychecks for actual hours worked, which can be used for personal expenses, books and supplies, or saved for future bill charges. The Office of Financial Assistance also maintains a list of on- and off-campus jobs available to students not receiving federal work-study awards.
Independent Sources of Aid
All applicants for financial aid are urged to pursue independent sources of financial aid. Clark cannot replace outside funds for which a student is eligible but fails to apply. Scholarships are often awarded to graduating seniors by high schools and/or private scholarship agencies in students' local communities. Additional information usually is available in guidance offices or online at www.fastweb.com.
Any assistance received from outside sources other than Clark University must be reported to the Office of Financial Assistance on the Award Acceptance Agreement form or in writing to the Office of Financial Assistance. These awards may affect your Clark financial-aid package.
Clark’s policy for these adjustments is as follows:
For scholarships derived from meritorious sources that are in recognition of a particular achievement of the student, unmet institutional need will be filled first. Any remaining scholarship will reduce loan, then work-study. If there is additional remaining scholarship, it will reduce Clark grant, dollar for dollar.
Private grants/scholarships derived from nonmeritorious sources (state or federal grants or tuition subsidies based on parents' employment) will reduce Clark grant, dollar for dollar.
An important source of federal financial aid is offered in the form of Federal Pell Grants. These grants, which vary in amounts, are available to certain students who demonstrate financial need according to federal methodology.
Federal Stafford Loans are available to all students, regardless of need. Students may borrow up to $2,625 their freshman year, $3,500 sophomore year and $4,500 the junior and senior years of an undergraduate program. Students may borrow up to $20,500 per year of a graduate program. The subsidized version is limited to students who demonstrate financial need according to federal methodology. The interest rate is fixed on the Stafford loan at 6.0%. No payments are due, or accrue interest, until after graduation or until a student is enrolled less than half time. It may be deferred for continued education. The unsubsidized version offers some of the same terms and conditions; however, interest begins to accrue during the in-school period and is set at 6.8%.
Subsidized
Veteran's benefits may be available for service veterans and children of deceased or disabled veterans. Eligibility can be determined by contacting the local Veteran's Administration Office.
Rehabilitation assistance may be available for students who qualify for educational benefits. Information concerning rehabilitation services can be obtained at the State Rehabilitation Office.
Aid Awarded by Clark University
Clark University makes a commitment to entering students during their first year and in each subsequent year at Clark, as long as they continue to demonstrate financial need, continue to meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress, have filed all necessary application materials by the required deadlines and have not exceeded program limitations of financial aid, and as long as federal and state funding to Clark's Office of Financial Assistance continues at the same level. Although any Clark student may apply for aid as an upperclassman, funding is guaranteed only to those students who received aid their first year at Clark and have met the above requirements.
Assistance at Clark is packaged in the form of scholarship, loan, grant and/or employment from the following sources:
- Alumni and Friends Scholarship Program—A portion of the University income is reserved for this purpose, and gifts from alumni, parents and friends provide additional scholarship funds. Eligibility for Clark Scholarships is determined under institutional methodology used in the analysis of the aid application materials.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants—One of three campus-based federal-aid programs available to college students demonstrating exceptional financial need. Continued support of this program is contingent upon annual Congressional allocations.
- Federal Perkins Loans—One of three campus-based federal-aid programs available to college students demonstrating exceptional financial need. Loans made under this program carry a fixed 5 percent interest rate. Payment of principal and accrual of interest is deferred until after graduation or until a student is enrolled less than half time. The loans carry a 10-year repayment schedule with a $40 monthly minimum. Continued support of this program is contingent upon annual Congressional allocations and the repayments of previous recipients.
- Federal Work Study—One of three campus-based, federal, student-aid programs, this work program gives eligible students the opportunity to work during the school year to earn money for personal expenses, travel, books and supplies; and over the summer towards the following school year's educational expenses.
- Presidential and Achievement Scholarships—Awarded to incoming students based on specific academic criteria, all recipients of these scholarships are selected as part of the admissions application process. All scholarships are renewable if a student meets certain academic criteria while at Clark University.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students receiving federal financial assistance of any type (including parent loans) are required to make "satisfactory academic progress" toward their degree. Satisfactory academic progress is defined by regulations of the U.S. Department of Education as "proceeding in a positive manner toward fulfilling degree requirements." This is differentiated from "academic standing," which refers to students whom the institution allows to continue to enroll.
Full-time bachelor's degree candidates must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average and complete five courses the first year; six courses the second; and seven courses each year thereafter. These requirements are prorated for less than full-time students and students attending less than a full academic year. Evaluation of satisfactory academic progress is made at the end of each spring term.
Students who are determined not to be making satisfactory academic progress are allowed one semester of continued assistance under probation status in order to obtain the necessary requirements for maintaining progress. If students are still not making progress after one semester of probation, aid is discontinued. Students are allowed only one semester of probation while at Clark. Appeals to this policy for special and unusual circumstances may be made in writing to the director of financial assistance.
Students are limited to eight undergraduate semesters of institutional (Clark) financial aid, unless otherwise approved by the director. Appeals should be written to the director of financial assistance.
Return of Title IV Funds (federal and some state financial aid)
Title IV fund rules assume that a student earns his or her aid based on the period of time he or she remained enrolled for the term. Unearned aid, other than work-study, must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education up until the 60-percent point in the term. At the 60-percent point in the term, the student is considered to have earned all of his or her aid.
Return of Institutional Financial Aid
Students are allowed to retain institutional financial aid (Clark grants and scholarships, including academic scholarships) at the same rate that the credit-to-tuition (refund) policy is calculated. That is to say, a student leaving or withdrawing in the first tenth of a semester has earned 10 percent of their institutional financial aid, students leaving or withdrawing in the first quarter are allowed to retain 50 percent of their financial aid, students withdrawing during the second quarter may retain 75 percent of their aid, and students leaving or withdrawing after the second quarter may retain 100 percent of their Clark financial aid.
Financial Assistance for International Students
The Admissions and Financial Aid Committee, in keeping with Clark University's commitment to a prevalent international presence on campus, provides financial assistance to a limited number of international students each year. Competition for this assistance is extremely keen and the awards are based on both academic merit and financial need. Since the ability to meet the cost of attendance at Clark University must be taken into consideration, the admissions process is need-aware. Several applicants each year show excellent academic records but do not demonstrate the financial ability necessary to meet the full cost of attendance. It is not unusual for the committee to deny an application on financial grounds even though the applicant is academically qualified. International scholarships are applicable to study while in residence at Clark and generally cannot be used to participate in off-campus study programs.
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