George Mason University 1997-98 Catalog Catalog Index
Course Descriptions

Search the 1997-1998 Catalog:

Tuition, Expenses, and Financial Aid


Tuition and Fees

General Guidelines and Student Responsibilities

  1. By registering for classes, students accept responsibility for charges for the entire semester.

  2. Registration shall not be completed unless all outstanding balances due the university are paid in full.

  3. Refer to the Payment Schedule and Tuition Liability charts in the Schedule of Classes for payment due dates and penalties.

  4. Payments are due at the Cash Office on or before due dates, regardless of postmark if mailed.

  5. Failure to receive a reminder bill confirming your charges does not waive the requirement for payment when due. Once priority registration is over, the 4GMU telephone system (option 4) will confirm student tuition/fee charges.

  6. The student is responsible for maintaining a current billing address at the Registrar's Office.

  7. The entire student registration is canceled if payment or payment arrangements are not made in full by the Cancellation Date (see table in the Schedule of Classes). A $25 cancellation fee is assessed.

  8. Non-returning students are responsible for submitting a written withdrawal to the offices of the Registrar, Campus Living, and Student Financial Aid. Penalties may apply.

  9. Student enrolling in Mason off-campus courses are assessed tuition and fees at the same rates as those for on-campus courses.

  10. A few Mason degree programs include academic credits that students must earn at other institutions. Students enrolling for such credits assume all financial responsibility directly with the other institution.


Tuition and Related Fees


Tuition Charges Per Semester
Subject to Change. For current tuition charges, call (703) 993-1000. Choose the Student Accounts option.

Full-time
Per credit hour 		In-state
$2,124.00
$177.00
 Out-of-State
$5,976.00
$498.00
Related Fees
Application Fee
New Student Fee
Health Insurance Fee
for International Students
$30
$75

to be determined


Special Registration Fee
Students not enrolled in a credit-bearing course but pursuing an activity related to their GMU matriculation who wish to retain active status may register for Special Registration (SREG 200, Section 001) for a $45 fee. This special registration allows students to retain their library privileges and Student ID, and to purchase a student parking decal. Students must have active status in order to apply for or receive a degree, take an examination, or participate in cooperative education.


Private Music Instruction Fee
Subject to change. Private music instruction is arranged through the Department of Music on a fee-paying basis as follows:

For a music major or minor:
half-hour lesson (1 credit)
hour lesson (2 or 3 credits)
$164.50
$329.00
For a nonmajor:
half-hour lesson (1 credit)
hour lesson (2 credits)

$182.00
$364.00


International Student Health Insurance
Health insurance is required for all F-1 and J-1 visa holders. Health insurance fees are deducted from all payments received by the university before funds are applied to tuition or other charges. Failure to plan for this payment can result in a shortfall in the student's tuition payment, which could result in cancellation of classes.


Off-Campus Courses
Students enrolling in GMU off-campus courses are assessed tuition and fees at the same rates as those for on-campus courses.


Credits Earned Elsewhere
A few George Mason University degree programs include academic credits that students must earn at other institutions. Students enrolling for academic credits at other institutions assume all financial responsibility for these arrangements.


Tuition Charges/Refunds for Dropped Courses
Students are required to pay full or partial tuition for courses that they drop after the first week of class. See the Tuition Liability chart on page 2 of the Schedule of Classes. In cases where tuition liability is less than the payment on the student's account, a refund of the overpayment may be requested. A Refund Request form, available in Student Accounts and the Schedule of Classes, must be completed and submitted to Student Accounts. Questions should be addressed to (703) 993-2484.


Payment Methods

Payments received by 4:30 p.m. on any business day will be considered as that day's business. Please use 4GMU, Option 4, to confirm receipt of payment and balance due on account. Allow ample time for processing payments.

WHERE:
Phone, (703) 993-4GMU, Optin 4. MasterCard or Visa.

Window, Cash Office, Student Union I, Room 103, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Drop Box, outside Cash Office, Student Union I, Room 103

U.S. Mail, George Mason University, Cash Office (MS 2E1), 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444

HOW:
Cash, At window only

Check, Payable to GMU, student ID# written on front. Third-party checks not accepted. Checks must be payable in U.S. dollars.

Credit card (subject to credit approval), MasterCard or Visa. Daytime phone number must be provided. Written authorizations or call (703) 993-4GMU, Option 4.

FAX: Use FAX Payment Authorization form in Schedule of Classes.

WHEN:
See Payment Schedule in the Schedule of Classes for deadlines.


Payment Plan Options

Semester Payment Plan
A semester payment plan is available for students who need to budget a minimum of $500. A payment agreement, located in the Schedule of Classes, must be submitted to the Cash Office with a down payment (1/2 of contract amount plus fee). The contract fee is $25 and is nonrefundable. Failure to pay the outstanding balance by due date on contract will result in a late fee, Financial Suspension, and ineligibility to defer payments in future terms.


Monthly Installment Plan
Full-time students may budget all or part of their fall/spring tuition, room, and board expenses in 10 equal monthly installments. A life benefit insurance plan is included. A minimum budget is required, and an annual fee is charged. For information, call Academic Management Services, (800) 556-6684.


Third-Party Payment Authorizations
Students may receive an individual billing statement. Students must provided the third-party authorization or government training voucher to the Student Accounts Office, fourth floor, Enterprise Hall, by the student's individual due date, which is based upon their registration date. Call (703) 993-2484 for a copy of third-party billing requirements or check the website at http://registrar.gmu.edu/calendars.html.


Financial Penalties

Penalty Fees (for in-state and out-of-state students) Late Fee
Failure to make any payment on or before the due date results in a late fee of up to $50.


Withdrawal Fee
A $25 withdrawal fee will be charged all students who withdraw after the Cancellation Date and before the 33% Tuition Liability period (see chart in the Schedule of Classes).


Nonpayment Cancellation Fee
Students who are cancelled from classes for nonpayment or insufficient payment of tuition are assessed a $25 fee. This fee is not removed upon re-registration.


Returned Check Fee
A $25 returned check fee will be charged for each check returned by the bank unpaid. If the returned check results in an unpaid account, an additional Late Fee will be charged, and Financial Suspension will result.


Financial Suspension

All academic service is withheld for students who are not in good financial standing with the university. This means that no transcripts of record are issued, no diplomas are released, and no registrations are permitted until outstanding obligations, including the reinstatement fee, have been paid in full. Outstanding obligations include, without limitation, fines owed for traffic and parking violations and to libraries of institutions and participating public libraries of the Consortium for Continuing Higher Education in Northern Virginia.


Collection of Accounts

Failure to meet financial obligations to the university may result in the delinquent account being placed with a collection agency, withholding of money from tax returns, and other collection procedures. Students are responsible for costs incurred by the university in collecting their delinquent accounts. Fines owed for traffic and parking violations and to libraries of institutions and participating public libraries of the Consortium for Continuing Higher Education in Northern Virginia similarly affect students' status.


Housing and Dining Services

Release from the Housing and Dining Services Agreement
Refunds are given only after an approved release per the outlined guidelines, available in the Campus Living Services Office, has been obtained.


Housing Refund Policy
Refunds of housing prepayments and room charges are made according to the following schedule:

  1. The $200 prepayment: Each year students are required to remit a prepayment before being allowed to select a room assignment. This fee is due at the time of application for the following academic year and is applied to the spring semester's housing charge. Students applying for spring semester may remit their deposits beginning October 1. This is a nonrefundable fee.
  2. Housing charges are refundable with an approved housing release as follows:
    1. Released during the first week of classes¬full refund less the prepayment;
    2. Released during the second week of classes¬ a refund equal to 66.7 percent of the housing charges and the prepayment is forfeited;
    3. Released during the third week of classes¬a refund equal to 33.3 percent of the housing charges and the prepayment is forfeited;
    4. Beginning the first day of the fourth week of classes, no refunds are given and the prepayment is forfeited.


Dining Plan Change and Refund Policy
Residents may change dining plans and receive refunds during designated change periods according to the following schedule:

Changes: New residents may change food plans during the designated change period at the beginning of the semester. Current residents may change plans for the spring semester during the designated change period shortly before Thanksgiving.


Eligibility for In-State Tuition

To be eligible for in-state tuition charges, a person must have been domiciled in Virginia for at least one year prior to the semester for which in-state tuition is sought. A person becomes domiciled in Virginia when legally capable of establishing a domicile and when physically present in Virginia with the present intention of remaining in the state indefinitely.

Domiciliary intent is a part of the definition of domicile. The student seeking the benefit of in-state tuition rates bears the burden of demonstrating such intent existed for at least one year.

See the receptionist in Finley Building for a copy of the complete domicile legislation.


Change of Domicile Classification

Out-of-state students who seek reclassification of their domicile status are strongly encouraged to complete a Request for Domicile Reclassification form at least four weeks before tuition payments are due so that a decision can be made before tuition payments must be made. All applications are processed in chronological order as of date they are received.

No requests will be accepted after the first day of classes within the semester for which the reclassification is sought. Out-of-state students with request(s) pending at the time of tuition billing will be billed at the out-of-state rate. Students subsequently determined to be in-state can request reimbursements from the Office of Student Accounts.

The Request for Domicile Reclassification form is available in the Registrar's Office, Krug Hall, Room 102, 993-2441. Questions should be addressed to the Registrar's Office.


Penalties

A student who fraudulently or knowingly provides false information for the purpose of achieving in-state status may be required to pay retroactively the out-of-state tuition differential of the enrolled term(s) intervening between the fraudulent application and its discovery. The student may also be subject to dismissal or other disciplinary action.


Motor Vehicle Registration Fees

Students who park their vehicles on university property must register them with Parking Services and pay a fee for a parking decal. Decals are available for a year, semester, summer, or week. Parking Services is in Student Union I. For decal sales and fine payments, come to Room 201A, Main Lobby, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. For special requests or problems, come to Room 354, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information, call 993-2710.



Financial Aid

Office of Student Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Aid provides a variety of services to help students finance their education. These services include financial counseling, referral and information resources, and financial assistance. Student financial assistance consists of grants and loans. Awards are based on financial need, although there are some alternative financial aid resources available for those who may not qualify for need-based financial aid. Temporarily located on the third floor of Enterprise Hall, the office is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Financial aid counselors are assigned to students alphabetically, based on students' last names and are available daily on a by-appointment basis. For information, call 993-2353.

To apply for financial aid, each year new and currently enrolled students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Priority consideration for all sources of financial aid is given to those students whose financial aid applications are on file with the Office of Student Financial Aid by March 1. To meet this priority filing date, students should file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. Transfer students beginning at Mason in the spring semester must have the school they are departing send a finnancial aid transcript to Mason's Office of Student Financial Aid.

Financial aid for Summer Term is generally limited to those students graduating at the end of the summer or fall terms. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for specifics regarding summer financial aid eligibility. The deadline for the summer aid application is April 1.

All students receiving financial aid must:

  1. be enrolled in a degree or the TEAC certificate program for at least 6 credit hours in any given semester;
  2. be maintaining satisfactory academic progress as defined by the Office of Student Financial Aid, in accordance with federal guidelines (see below); and
  3. be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
All aid recipients are responsible for becoming familiar and complying with applicable federal/state laws, university regulations, the GMU student aid information resources, and the student aid satisfactory academic progress policy, available in the Office of Student Financial Aid.


Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for Financial Aid

Federal legislation governing the administration of the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), the Federal Direct Stafford Loans, and the Federal PLUS Loan programs requires that colleges and universities define and enforce standards of progress for students receiving or applying for financial aid. To comply with this legislation, the Office of Student Financial Aid has established a formal Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.

For a detailed explanation of the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, visit the Financial Aid homepage on the World Wide Web (http://apollo.gmu.edu/finaid), or call the Direct On-Line Aid Resource System (DOLARS) at 993-4GMU.

The university administers federal, state, and other aid programs as outlined below:


Federal Programs


Federal Perkins Loan Program
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Direct Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (FPLUS)

For more detailed information about these federal programs, refer to the Student Guide for Federal Financial Aid (available in the Office of Student Financial Aid), visit the Financial Aid homepage on the World Wide Web (http://apollo.gmu.edu/finaid), or call the Direct On-Line Aid Resource System (DOLARS) at 993-4GMU.


State Programs for Undergraduate Virginia Residents

Eligibility for all state programs is based on the results received from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). State grant funds are limited, so adherence to the March 1st priority filing date is critical.


Virginia Commonwealth Award
This program is open to undergraduate students who have demonstrated financial need, are enrolled at least half-time, and are domiciliary residents of Virginia.


Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP)
This program is a component of the Virginia Commonwealth Award Program that is open to first-time freshmen who demonstrated academic achievement in high school. VGAP awards may be renewable for up to four years.


Virginia College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP) Grant
This program uses a combination of federal and state funds to provide additional assistance to students who are enrolled at least half-time, are Virginia residents, and who demonstrate significant financial need.


Virginia Transfer Grant Program
The Virginia Transfer Grant Program awards grants to other race students who are enrolled in a traditionally white or black four-year Virginia public college or university. Applicants must meet minimum merit criteria and qualify for entry as a first-time transfer student.


Graduate Student Assistance

Graduate Assistantships, Fellowships, and Scholarships
Graduate funding exclusive of the federal financial aid programs identified earlier is administrated by the individual graduate departments. Students interested in pursuing graduate assistantships, fellowships, or scholarships should contact their graduate department.


Emergency Loan Programs

Mary E. Ferguson Emergency Loan Program
Currently enrolled students may borrow funds for legitimate emergencies excluding tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Emergency loans must be repaid within 30 days; overdue payment results in a late charge of $5 for each 30 days past due. Failure to repay the loan within 30 days, without requesting an extension for a reasonable justification, will result in financial suspension. Students financially suspended for nonpayment of an emergency loan are ineligible for any future emergency loans. Application is made through the Office of Student Financial Aid.


Doug Beaman Emergency Loan Program
The George Mason Alumni Association has established an emergency loan fund through which students may borrow up to $100; repayment is due within 30 days. The program is available to all students, with priority to children of alumni. Application is made through the Office of Student Financial Aid.


Lisa Kenaga Memorial Student Emergency Loan Fund
The Office of Student Financial Aid has established an emergency loan fund through which currently enrolled students may borrow funds for legitimate emergencies excluding tuition and fees. Emergency loans must be repaid within 30 days with a $10 processing fee; overdue payment results in a late charge of $5 for each 30 days past due. Failure to repay the loan within 30 days, without requesting an extension for a reasonable justification, will result in financial suspension. Students financially suspended for nonpayment of an emergency loan are ineligible for future emergency loans. Application is made through the Office of Student Financial Aid.


ROTC Scholarships

Three-year and two-year ROTC scholarships are available to freshman and sophomore students in all majors on a competitive basis. Scholarship applications from current students are due in March. To apply, a student must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, be a U.S. citizen when contracting, and be under age 25 when graduating, unless an active duty veteran.

Scholarship awards are for either $5,000; $8,000; or a maximum of $12,000 toward tuition, fees, and books per year. In addition, a stipend of $150/month is provided during the school year ($1,500 max.); all tax free.

Scholarship applications from current students are due in March for the following fall semester, if awarded. A student does not have to be enrolled in ROTC to apply, and there is no service obligation when applying. Other eligibility criteria do apply and students must maintain some academic standards if on a scholarship. Contact the ROTC director for more information, (703) 993-2706.

High school students may apply for four-year scholarships, but they must apply by December 1 of their senior year for a scholarship that would begin fall semester of the freshman year.

Return to Catalog Index