Financial Policies and Practices

Students are permitted to register and attend classes only if payment obligations are fulfilled and their financial aid file is complete. It is the students’ responsibility to verify that their accounts are correct, that payments are made by the deadlines established, and that financial aid documentation has been submitted with all appropriate support.

Financial Aid

St. John’s remains committed to administering a financial aid program that rewards academic merit and recognizes demonstrated financial need. All applicants for admission are considered for merit scholarships automatically and all students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and/or the CSS Profile are considered for need-based financial aid.

General Principles

The primary responsibility for financing a college education lies with the students and their parents. Hence, financial aid is offered only to supplement the funds the family can provide.

A family’s ability to meet college expenses is determined by considering the family’s financial strength carefully with respect to income, assets, debts, and additional children to be educated within the academic year.

In keeping with the principle that students should contribute to their educational expenses, self- help is the first component of a financial aid award. At St. John’s College in Santa Fe, self-help consists of an educational loan and employment. Students who require financial aid are expected to borrow to meet a reasonable part of their need, presently $5,500 for freshmen, $6,500 for sophomores, and $7,500 for juniors and seniors. For students who do not meet the priority filing deadline of February 15, these loan amounts may be increased and/or a second loan may be required. The FAFSA is available on October 1 annually on the studentaid.gov website.

Financial need is defined as the difference between the estimated cost of education and the resources available to the student from parents, the student’s assets, and the student’s contribution from earnings. The total amount of financial aid the college offers a student may not exceed the student’s Cost of Attendance.

A student who is a candidate for financial aid, but is repeating an academic year or any portion thereof, is ineligible for institutional financial aid for the portion of the work repeated. However, a student may appeal this policy to the Financial Aid Appeals committee by submitting an appeal letter to the Financial Aid Office. The Financial Aid Office will notify the student of the committee’s decision to approve or deny the appeal.

Financial aid awards are made in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Higher Education Amendment of 1972, which prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or other legally-protected classification. Financial aid is not renewed automatically. Students must reapply each academic year that they need financial assistance.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), this educational institution adopts the following additional provisions for any students who use the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post- 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This educational institution will not:

  • Prevent the student’s enrollment
  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student
  • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding
  • Deny the student access to any resources (classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

  • Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class
  • Provide a written request to be certified
  • Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies

Application Procedures

Applicants must identify themselves as candidates for financial aid by completing an application for assistance. Those who are U.S. Citizens must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which may be accessed online at studentaid.gov beginning October 1. Applicants who are international students must file the CSS Profile, which may be accessed online at cssprofile.collegeboard.org beginning October 1.

The St. John’s College website, sjc.edu/admissions-and-aid/financial-aid/resources, has forms, tips, links, and instructions to help students complete their financial aid forms.

Military Veterans

How to Apply

Veterans and their dependents are welcome to apply to our undergraduate and graduate programs. There is no application fee. We encourage you to visit campus. Speak directly with your admissions counselor to get started.

Please note that St. John’s undergraduates explore our Great Books curriculum in a shared four-year experience, so transfer credits from other colleges and universities are not accepted from any applicant.

St. John’s adheres to the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admission and complies with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (38 USC 3679(e)).

St. John’s College in Santa Fe is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Additional information about St. John’s, including student outcomes, may be found on the College Navigator profile for Santa Fe.

Once you have been admitted to the college, you will need to send a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility or Tuition Assistance Authorization Form to the Financial Aid Office. A notification of your benefit eligibility will be sent to the Office of the Registrar. See more information on VA benefits.

Education Benefits to Cover the Cost of College for the Military

Education benefits are available for veterans, active military personnel, and their eligible dependents. They often will cover all or part of the cost of St. John’s. These programs have different benefits packages and eligibility requirements, and students may only use one at a time.

Importantly, St. John’s participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program through which additional financial assistance supplements the base educational benefits provided by Chapter 33.

The Yellow Ribbon Program provides a dollar-for-dollar match of institutional aid given to eligible veterans. Only veterans eligible for Chapter 33 at the 100% tier (or their designated transferees) may receive this funding. Yellow Ribbon is available once the VA CH33 base is exhausted for the year (August 1–July 31).

St. John’s College values military service and provides Yellow Ribbon funding to every qualified applicant who is accepted and matches VA funding to cover the entire cost of tuition and fees at St. John’s. Learn more about Yellow Ribbon benefits.

For more information on applying for these benefits, visit the VA website. Chapter 33 provides up to 36 months (4 regular school years) of education benefits to eligible service members (Active Duty, Guard and Reserve) and Veterans who have served at least 90 days on active duty since 9/10/2001. Benefits include paid tuition and fees, a stipend for books and a monthly housing allowance. Benefits are tiered based on number of days on active duty and can be transferred to spouse or family member in certain circumstances.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Once you have been admitted to the college, you will need to send a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Tuition Assistance Authorization Form to the Financial Aid Office. Students do not need to submit a COE each term, unless students’ eligibility (chapter, percent of eligibility or months of eligibility) changes. Your School Certifying Official is located in the Financial Aid Office and can assist with any questions you may have.

In addition to the COE or Tuition Assistance Authorization Form, students are encouraged to apply for financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA code for Santa Fe is 002093.

Before enrolling, you must receive approval from an Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within the Military Service.

Before offering, recommending, arranging, signing-up, dispersing, or enrolling Service members for private student loans, St. John’s College will provide Service members access to an institutional financial aid advisor who will make available appropriate loan counseling, including… Disclosing the educational institution’s student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR), the percentage of its students who borrow, and how its CDR compares to the national average. If St. John’s College CDR is greater than the national average CDR, we will disclose that information and provide the student with loan repayment data.

After you are enrolled:

  • Each term the enrollment and tuition information for students receiving Chapter 33 education benefits are reported to the VA.
  • Enrollment certifications can only be submitted for the term in which the student is or was enrolled at St. John’s. The college cannot certify a student or report on the Enrollment Manager database if credits were taken elsewhere.
  • Any changes in enrollment such as add/drops, withdrawals or separations, unsatisfactory progress, disciplinary actions, failing grades, incomplete grades, changes to tuition and fees, etc. are required to be reported to the VA.
  • Changes in enrollment as indicated above may affect the total amount of benefits a student receives, and may result in the student being liable for an over payment and/or be responsible to return the money to the VA. The VA will not pay for repeated courses or for courses which are audited.
  • After Registration attendance certification is reported, the VA will then review and process the claim and disburse the student’s benefits accordingly.
  • As of August 1, 2021, Chapter 33 students must verify enrollment status each month to continue receiving their monthly housing allowance. “Opt in” to text messaging or call 1-888-442-4551 to verify: benefits.va.gov/gibill/isaksonroe/verification_of_enrollment.asp.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), St. John’s College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill© (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. The college will not:

  • Prevent the student’s enrollment;
  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
  • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
  • Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

  • Produce the VA COE by the first day of class;
  • Provide a written request to be certified;
  • Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Deadlines and Notification Dates

Enrolled students who are reapplying for financial aid should do so by February 15 annually. If possible, students should use exact income figures from their IRS tax form or use the Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA to import IRS data directly from the IRS onto their FASFA. Students whose financial aid documents are received in the Financial Aid Office by the deadline requested will be notified of the decision on their application after April 1. Those whose applications for financial aid are received after the deadline will not be denied consideration for assistance, but the availability of funds cannot be guaranteed.

Financial Responsibility and General Requirements

It is students’ responsibility to meet their financial obligations to the college, and maintaining open and prompt communication with college staff are essential. This can range from requests for information to complete a financial aid award, to collecting on a balance due.

The college adheres to provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and requires all students to complete an “Authorization to Release Student Information” form that lists those individuals with whom the college can share student account and financial aid information. Before registration, the college will share financial information with parents or the financial sponsor of newly-admitted or enrolled students. Students must complete the FERPA upon registration, so the college can continue to communicate financial information with the parent or financial sponsor. Once the FERPA is complete, the college may communicate financial information to individuals named on the FERPA.

The college has set up the MySJC student portal (mysjc.sjc.edu) to allow students to access their accounts. Students are encouraged to share their log-in with parents and other financial supports who may wish to access their account. It is a student’s responsibility to review the online account and notify student account staff should a question arise.

Students’ financial responsibility has implications beyond payment of tuition and fees. Failure to meet financial responsibility can affect participation in, or consideration for, various internship, summer scholarship, or fellowship programs made available to enhance the student experience. All students are required to read and sign the Financial Responsibility Agreement before registration.

Advance Tuition Deposits

Advance Tuition Deposit

The $600 non-refundable advance deposit is required only for the fall semester for ALL continuing students regardless of payment plan or housing status, and is due mid-April in the Finance Office. Students will be notified of the exact deadline each year. It is applied to the student account as a payment for the fall semester. Provided that other financial obligations to the college are met, the advance deposit:

  • Primarily secures a student’s place in the class whether or not they live on or off campus
  • Represents a commitment on the part of the student to enroll in the upcoming fall semester
  • Secures the privilege of being able to participate in the room selection lottery. The student’s bursar account must be current to be considered in the lottery

If the advance deposit is not submitted by the due date, or if there are unpaid fees for the spring semester, the student will be placed on a waiting list. St. John’s College cannot guarantee a place in a class unless the non-refundable advance deposit, as well as any previous fees or charges, are paid. The deposit, less any unpaid fees for the spring semester, is refundable only in the following cases:

  • Withdrawal at the college’s request
  • Lack of available space in a class (this can apply to students placed on the wait list)

Deposits may not be applied to future academic terms and are otherwise not refundable.

A $600 advance deposit is required for all entering freshmen. Incoming freshmen should contact their admissions counselors for details and the payment deadline. January freshmen are also required to pay the $600 advance deposit for their sophomore year by the April deadline, which is refundable until July 1.

Room Reservations, Housing Agreements, & Meal Plans

All undergraduates are required to live on campus. A place is reserved once an advance deposit and a Housing Agreement have been received. A fall housing lottery is held in April for students who have paid their advance deposits by the April 5 deadline. To participate in the lottery, continuing students must also submit a Housing Plans Form to the Residential Life Office by the deadline published in the academic calendar. Once room assignments are made, each student must complete a Housing Agreement and return the agreement to the Residential Life Office by the deadline published in the academic calendar. Failure to complete and return the Housing Agreement by the deadline will forfeit any room assignment. Students with an assigned room and completed Housing Agreement must notify the Residential Life Office in writing (by July 15 for the fall semester and December 15 for the spring semester) if they have decided that they will not be returning for the upcoming semester. Failure to notify the Residential Life Office that they will not need a room by the notification deadline will result in a $250 fee charged to their student account. Students may petition the Associate Director of Residential Life to live off campus but, unless a petition is approved, the student will be required to live on campus or, if still electing to live off campus, will be responsible for the full cost of a room and board plan. For more information on housing, see the “Residential Life and Housing Policies” section of the Handbook.

All first-year students are required to participate in the 19-Meal Plan for their first academic year. Continuing students’ petitions for changes in meal plans must be made with the Associate Director of Residential Life before the seventh calendar day of each semester. After the seventh day, no changes will be made until the next semester. Students who continue from spring to fall will be enrolled in their then existing meal plan, providing for any change in rate. Once a meal plan is changed, the student will be billed for the adjusted number of meals.

Tuition and Fee Payments

It is the college’s policy not to allow students to register unless their financial obligations to the college from any prior semester have been paid in full. Registration for the current semester may continue if the Finance Office has determined that a payment plan is in place that is sufficient to pay all tuition and fees for the current semester.

Semester Fee Statements, Due Dates, and Payments

Students are billed per semester. Fee Statements may be viewed and forwarded accordingly through the MySJC portal. Notice of semester fee statement release dates are sent to the students’ college email account and, in compliance with FERPA, to designated parents/guardians/sponsors.

Semester fee statements are available online no later than:

  • July 1 for fall
  • November 15 for spring
  • April 10 for summer

Pay in full deadlines:

  • Payment in full for the fall semester is due by August 1
  • Payment in full for the spring semester is due by December 1
  • Payment in full for the summer semester is due by May 1

Payment Plan Options

The Santa Fe Campus offers all students a five-month payment option with payments due by the 1st of each month. Students with incomplete Financial Aid awards may not set up payment plans. Students set up their payment plan using the fee statement provided, with all applicable financial aid applied already. The remaining balance will be eligible to be paid in installments.

There is a one-time $60 set-up fee per semester that Transact, the third-party payment plan provider, assesses and collects.*

  • Fall Semester Payment schedules
    • 5 Pay Option – Enroll before or during the month of July
    • 1st Payment – July 1st
    • 2nd Payment – August 1st
    • 3rd Payment – September 1st
    • 4th Payment – October 1st
    • 5th Payment – November 1st
  • Spring Semester Payment schedules
    • 5 Pay Option – Enroll before or during the month of December
    • 1st Payment – December 1st
    • 2nd Payment – January 1st
    • 3rd Payment – February 1st
    • 4th Payment – March 1st
    • 5th Payment – April 1st
  • Summer Semester Payment schedules
    • 2 Pay Option – Enroll during the month of April
    • 1st Payment – May 1st
    • 2nd Payment – June 1st

Note that payment plans do not roll over from one semester to the next. Students desiring to pay via a monthly payment plan must re-enroll each semester.

Late Payment Fee

A late payment fee is assessed during each semester when a fall, spring, or summer student account is not current. Current accounts either have a zero balance, or up-to-date payment plans:

  • September 1 for the fall semester (Students will not receive their schedule or room key without payment in full or current payment plan at the time of fall registration.)
  • January 1 for the spring (Meal plans will not be activated without payment in full or current payment plan in place on the 1st day of the spring semester. Refunds/credits for missed meals will not be issued.)
  • June 10 for the summer semester

Unless a current payment plan is in place, any student account balance remaining as of the 1st of each month will be assessed a non-refundable late fee equal to $300 or 10% of the outstanding payment amount, whichever is less. As described previously, payment plans may not be established until students have completed and accepted their Financial Aid award. Contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.

After students’ financial aid has been awarded, a balance may still remain. That balance must be paid by the deadline(s) above to avoid the late payment fee. A late payment fee will not be assessed any student who has a current payment plan in place. However, the same policy applies to late payments on payment plans. If students fail to meet the monthly payment deadline of the 1st, a non-refundable late fee equal to $300 or 10% of the outstanding payment amount will be added to the student account. This late fee is in addition to any late fees Transact, the third-party payment provider, assesses directly.

Please note that payment plans that are deemed two months delinquent result in a student’s immediate disenrollment from the payment plan option, and the outstanding balance owed will be due immediately. If the outstanding balance cannot be paid in full, the student may be dismissed from the college for financial reasons.

Collection of Accounts

If a student account becomes past due, either as the result of a withdrawal (voluntary or involuntary), graduation, subsequent fines, etc., the college will make every effort to advise the student in writing. Payment of all outstanding balances is due immediately upon written notice that a balance exists. Should the student fail to make timely payment, the college reserves the right to turn the account over to a third party for collection. By virtue of their enrollment, students authorize the college or its agents and/or contractors to contact them regarding balances owed. Contact may be made by email, written correspondence, and by phone, including cellular or other wireless device, the use of automated telephone dialing equipment or artificial or pre-recorded voice or text messages. Students are responsible for reimbursing the college for the fees of any collection agency, which may be based on a percentage of the delinquent account balance (to a maximum of 25% of the delinquent account balance) and will also be liable for all reasonable attorney’s fees and costs and expenses the college incurred in its collection efforts. The college will supply the collection agency with any and all pertinent information specific to the balance owed, plus any contact information we have on record at the time of, or subsequent to, the collection referral.

Tuition and Fees – Undergraduate Program (Domestic)

2024-25 Undergraduate Fall – Spring Fee Schedule
Santa Fe Fall Spring Total 24-25
Tuition 19,678 19,678 39,356
Activity Fee 290 290 580
Room (double) 4,108 4,108 8,216
Board (19-meal plan required for all freshmen) 3,855 3,855 7,710
Book Fee 213 213 426
Tuition Insurance 144 144 288
Health Center Fee 284 284 568
Student Deposit (one-time charge) 200   200
Total $28,772 $28,572 $57,344

Tuition and Fees – Undergraduate Program (International)

2024-25 Undergraduate Fall – Spring (International) Fee Schedule
Santa Fe Fall Spring Total 24-25
Tuition 19,678 19,678 39,356
Activity Fee 290 290 580
Room (double) 4,108 4,108 8,216
Board (19-meal plan required for all freshmen) 3,855 3,855 7,710
Book Fee 213 213 426
Tuition Insurance 144 144 288
Health Insurance (International Students) 726 726 1,452
Health Center Fee 284 284 568
Student Deposit (one-time charge) 200   200
Total $29,498 $29,298 $58,796

*Tuition per credit hour is $1,158

Student Security Deposit

The Student Security deposit for undergraduates is billed to every freshman and readmitted student. This deposit is held for the duration of the student’s time on the Santa Fe campus. At the end of the spring semester, if a student has an unpaid balance, the deposit will be used to cover the balance. The following fall semester, the student will be billed for the amount used to replenish the Student Security deposit balance to $200. The Student Security deposit is refunded when a student graduates or leaves the college.

Book Fee

All undergraduate students are assessed $213 per semester for books and class materials. This book fee provides a credit at the Bookstore. The details of this credit are described in the “Getting Started” portion of the pre-registration packet that is sent to all incoming students.

Student Activity Fee

The $290 student activity fee is charged each semester to every undergraduate student. A portion of the fee is allocated to the Student Polity, which determines for which activities the funds are to be used. However, the college’s Chief Financial Officer retains ultimate authority over its disbursement.

Health Center Fee

All undergraduate and graduate students are assessed $284 per semester for medical services available at the Student Health Center, as well as the psychological or psychotherapy services available in the Mental Health Office. This fee also covers insurance co-pays, office visit fees, and deductibles, which the Health Office does not assess with a student’s visit. The fee is mandatory regardless of whether the student lives on campus or off. The fee can only be waived for St. John’s college employees and spouses upon proof that they carry the college’s insurance.

Health Insurance

The health insurance landscape in the United States has drastically changed over the past few years. These changes have had a financial impact on our students and parents, and St. John's College continues to investigate ways to assist you in minimizing that impact. Many students come to school enrolled in an HMO or in other similar health insurance plan that requires the use of network of providers close to home, and when students receive medical care outside of their home network, these types of plans often place added financial burdens on students and their families.

Because of the State of New Mexico’s regulatory restrictions, St. John’s College in Santa Fe is unable to provide a health insurance program for U.S. students. It is the college’s policy that all students have acceptable health insurance. If a student does not have access to health insurance through a parent or other family member, we recommend that they review enrollment options on the New Mexico Insurance Exchange at www.bewellnm.com. Please note that if the Open Enrollment period has ended, they will be able to enroll using the Special Enrollment section of the website. Students can determine if they are eligible for a premium subsidy or even Medicaid by completing the online forms.

If they are an out-of-state student or have coverage under another state's health exchange or Medicaid plan, they will need to check with their insurance company to see if all medical expenses will be covered while living in Santa Fe.

Proof of Insurance

St. John’s College requires proof of active health insurance with coverage in New Mexico to be provided to the Student Health Office via the Student Health Portal at sjcsf.studenthealthportal.com.

If students have questions about health care options, they can contact Tim Cummons, our insurance representative, at 410-583-5452 or Toll-Free 800-346-4075 ext. 1452 or tcummons(at)rcmd.com.

For more information, contact the Student Health Office at phone 505-984-6418, fax 505-984-6918, or email santafe.studenthealth(at)sjc.edu.

International Students

All international students are automatically enrolled in a St. John’s College health insurance plan. The College’s insurance representative, Mr. Tim Cummons with RCMD Insurance, can provide information about the insurance plan and the premium costs. He can be reached at (410) 583-5452 or tcummons(at)rcmd.com. This plan cannot be replaced with any other insurance coverage.

Tuition Insurance

The college’s withdrawal policy provides for a partial refund of tuition through the first three weeks of the semester, regardless of the reason for withdrawal. On or after the 22nd day of the fall or spring semester, and on or after the 15th day of the summer semester, no refunds are made.

In addition to the refund schedule referenced in the “Refund Policy” section of the Handbook, the college offers an insurance plan, the Tuition Refund Plan, through A.W.G. Dewar, which covers up to 60% of tuition and activity fees for medical or mental health withdrawals at any time during the semester.

For the academic year 2024-25, the plan costs $288 per year for undergraduate students and $144 is billed automatically by semester. No additional application is required, but students may waive the coverage. Should they wish to do so, they should go to the MySJC website, log in to their student account, and go to the link to waive tuition insurance coverage. The deadline for waiving the coverage is the first day of class for the fall semester and the first day of class for the spring semester. Tuition insurance must be waived for each semester; a waiver for the Fall semester must be renewed (if desired) for Spring semester. Failure to waive the coverage by the deadline will result in a charge to the student’s account. For more information, contact A.W.G. Dewar directly at tuitionprotection.com/sjcsantafe or call 617-774-1555.

Miscellaneous Charges and Fines

Graduation Fee

Graduating seniors and final term graduate students are assessed a $110 graduation fee for their cap, gown, hood, diploma, and commencement activities. Diplomas are ordered approximately 45 to 60 days before the commencement date. If a failure to meet final academic requirements in the senior’s last semester leads to a delay in degree conferral, the student must absorb the cost of printing an updated diploma. The graduation fee applies whether or not a student plans to attend commencement.

Parking Fee

Undergraduate and graduate students who wish to park their car or motorcycle on campus are required to register their vehicle with Public Safety and are assessed a $85 fee per semester for fall and spring and a $57 fee for summer. The fee is paid in the Finance Office and the student is issued a parking decal that is displayed on the front windshield. For more information, please see the “Vehicle Registration and Parking Permits” section of the Handbook.

Parking Citations

Students’ accounts are billed for parking citations and fines are due within 30 days of receipt. Please see the “Vehicle Registration and Parking Policies & Procedures” section of the Handbook for details.

Library Fines

Student accounts are billed for replacement and processing costs if materials are not returned or renewed as required. Overdue notices are sent to borrowers through campus mail or email. Review the library information listed in the “Library” section for details.

Housing Fines

Students’ accounts are billed for housing and residential damage fines. The Residential Life Office assesses these fines. The student is notified of the infraction, and is required to pay the fine within 30 days of assessment.

Payment Methods

The college accepts money orders, and checks made payable to St. John’s College. The student’s name and ID number must be included on all correspondence. Checks should be mailed to:

St. John’s College
Attn: Student Accounts
PO Box 913226
Denver, CO 80291-3226

Payment by Credit Card: Credit card payments are processed online through our partner, Transact, at MySJC. Please note: Credit card payments will be subject to a processing fee.

Monthly Payment Plan: Students who wish to make payments in installments may enroll in a monthly payment plan. For detailed information and fees, go to MySJC.

Electronic Check Payments (bank transfers within the U.S) are available with a minimal processing fee on MySJC.

International Payments

St. John’s College has teamed with Flywire to make it easier for international students to make payments, including tuition, fees, deposits, etc. Flywire serves hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States, and provides a safe, efficient and quick payment method. Visit flywire.com for detailed information.

International wires may also be initiated via the payment portal on MySJC under the regular "Make a payment/enroll in payment plan" link.

St. John’s College has partnered with PayMyTuition for international tuition payments. With
PayMyTuition, you can pay your tuition payments from any bank, in any country, in any currency for better than bank exchange rates. Access the PayMyTuition link from the landing page of MySJC.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid

In accordance with federal regulations, St. John’s College is required to have a policy and procedure to measure students’ academic progress to maintain eligibility for federal financial aid, and progress is reviewed at the end of each academic year. The three components of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy are explained below.

  • Qualitative Standard: To make satisfactory academic progress, undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0, and graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. These standards apply to both full- and part-time students
  • Quantitative Standard: All students must complete at least two-thirds of credits attempted. All credit hours attempted are counted whether or not financial aid was received. This calculation includes all hours in which a student is registered at the time of withdrawal. If a student registers for a class in which they were enrolled previously for more than three weeks, the class will be considered repeated work and the student will not be eligible for institutional financial assistance. The Dean may grant exceptions to this policy in the case of involuntary withdrawal because of illness or other mitigating circumstances
  • Maximum Time Frame: Federal regulations require that an institution set a maximum time frame in which students must complete their educational objectives. St. John’s has set six years as the maximum time in which students who receive federal funds must earn their degree. Years in which a student is not enrolled at St. John’s College will not count in the six-year limit

Students may request an exception when they fail to meet the satisfactory progress standards by submitting a petition/appeal to the Financial Aid Office. These must contain the following:

  • A personal statement that explains the extenuating circumstances that prevented Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • Documentation: For example, if a student had an illness that prevented them from attending classes the student must provide a statement from their physician or photocopies of medical bills during the semester in question.

Possible Outcomes of Petitions/Appeals:

Petition/Appeal decisions have three possible outcomes: Probation; an academic plan, or denial of the request for exception.

  • Probation: Allows a student to continue to receive aid while attempting to meet the cumulative academic progress standards
  • Academic Plan: Students approved to receive funding for repeated work. These students will be monitored on a semester by semester basis. Failure to meet the terms of an academic plan will result in the loss of financial aid eligibility for all future terms until the student meets the standard of academic progress overall
  • Denial: A petition may be denied, in which case the student is ineligible for financial aid funds. The student may appeal again after the next semester, although a different outcome is not guaranteed. The student may also regain eligibility by meeting the cumulative standards of academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Veterans

The grade average of “C” or better for Undergraduate students and “B” or better for Graduate students are considered satisfactory to remain eligible for benefits under the GI Bill®. If a student believes they may benefit from the educational monetary benefits the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs offers, the information and direction offered at benefits.va.gov/gibill and benefits.va.gov/gibill/apply.asp are significant; the sites describe which programs are available and provide instructions on the way to apply.

“GI Bill®” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits the VA offers is available at the official U.S. government website, at benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Refund Policy

Official Withdrawal

Students who are considering withdrawing from the college should weigh the decision carefully. Friends, tutors, or members of the administrative staff should be consulted before making a final decision. At the time of withdrawal, adjustments are made to tuition, fees and financial aid, which may result in additional amounts due. Once financial aid adjustments, if necessary, are made, the Student Accounts Office will determine adjustments to tuition and fees and an estimate of any refund or amount due can be provided. Note that a student on a monthly payment plan who withdraws may still owe a balance to the college.

Undergraduate students who are considering withdrawal before the end of the semester must initiate the withdrawal process by notifying the Registrar or the Assistant Dean of their intention to withdraw, and they will be given a form entitled “Official Notice of Withdrawal” at that time. The date of withdrawal entered on the form is used to calculate the return of Title IV Funds (federal financial aid), grants, scholarships, etc. Following that calculation, a final account statement is prepared that shows any balances due the college or refunds due the student. Refund payments are processed within two weeks. If a balance is due the college, full payment is due at the time of withdrawal.

After a student notifies the Registrar of the intention to withdraw, the student must obtain signatures from the representatives of certain selected offices on the Official Notice of Withdrawal form. A student may rescind the intention to withdraw by not returning the Official Notice of Withdrawal form to the Registrar and informing the Registrar of their intent not to withdraw. If a student wishes to reverse a decision to withdraw after submitting the Official Notice of Withdrawal form, they must provide written notification. If a student who rescinds an intention to withdraw does not complete the semester, the official date of withdrawal will be the later of the date the withdrawal form was obtained or the last date of class attendance.

Unofficial Withdrawal

If a student does not notify the Registrar of the intention to withdraw, the date of withdrawal used to calculate the return of Title IV Funds, grants, scholarships, and an institutional refund or balance due will be the midpoint of the semester. A date earlier or later than the midpoint may be used if the college has documentation of the last date of class attendance. If a student withdraws because of circumstances beyond their control, the college will determine the date of withdrawal.

Institutional Refunds

The college’s withdrawal policy provides for a partial refund of tuition through the first three (3) weeks of the fall and spring terms, and the first two (2) weeks of the summer term, for withdrawal unrelated to academic or disciplinary reasons.

Institutional Refund Schedule (Days Enrolled)
Fall/Spring Summer Refund Amount Amount Charged
1-21 1-14 80% 20%
22 and after 15 and after No Refund 100%

The student’s withdrawal date is established as outlined in the initial section of the “Refund Policy”. The next step in determining the institutional refund is to count the number of calendar days from the first day of classes to the date of withdrawal (weekends are included, but scheduled breaks of at least five days are excluded). The schedule above is used to determine the percentage of fees (tuition, activity fee, room and board) that will be refunded. Certain fees are nonrefundable. These include Tuition Insurance, and Book, Parking, and Admission Fees.

The same schedule will be used to calculate the cancellation of non-federal financial aid: the “refund amount” percentage provides the percentage of aid to be cancelled and the “amount charged” percentage corresponds to the revised aid the student will receive. For example, a student who withdraws within the first seven days of the fall or spring semester would receive 10% of the non-federal aid that had been awarded. Conversely, 90% of the non-federal aid would be cancelled.

A student who is expelled or asked to withdraw for academic or disciplinary reasons will receive no refund of tuition or room and board. A student who is required to leave housing for academic or disciplinary reasons will receive no refund of tuition and board.

Return of Title IV Funds

If a student who has received Title IV Funds (federal financial aid) leaves the institution before completing 60% of the semester, a calculation must be performed to determine the amount of unearned aid that must go back to the Title IV programs. No return of Title IV funds is required after 60% (approximately 9 weeks of a 16-week semester). The withdrawal date will be established as described in the Refund Policy.

The percentage of Title IV aid that the student earned (i.e., the amount of federal aid the student is permitted to keep) is the same as the percentage of the semester completed. This percentage is computed by dividing the total number of calendar days in the semester (including weekends, but excluding scheduled breaks of more than five days) by the number of calendar days the student completed. For example, a student enrolled for 14 of 112 days would have earned 12.5% of the Title IV aid for the semester. In this example, 87.5% of the Title IV aid would be unearned. The institution is responsible for returning to the federal aid programs the lesser of the amount of unearned Title IV aid or institutional charges that the student incurred multiplied by the unearned aid percentage.

Federal regulations specify the order in which unearned funds are to be returned to aid programs, as follows:

  • Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
  • Subsidized Stafford Loans
  • Federal Plus Loans
  • Federal Pell Grants
  • Federal SEOG

Federal Work-Study funds are not involved in this determination, and the student may keep this money.

Return of Tuition Assistance

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.

To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, Saint John’s College will return any unearned TA funds on a prorate basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. These funds are returned to the military Service branch.

Instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the educational institution will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

16–week Course Withdrawal (Military Tuition Assistance Only)
Before or during first week of classes 100% return
During weeks 2-3 80% return
During weeks 4-5 60% return
During weeks 6-8 50% return
During week 9 40% return (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 10-16 0% return