Tuition, Fees, Refund Information and Policies

All Tuition & Fee Information

Tuition and Fees Payment Date

The payment date is 21 days prior to the first day of the term, or at the time of registration, whichever is later.

A student shall be considered to have satisfied payment requirements when paid in full; authorized financial aid/loan award; a formal payment agreement or an approved third party arrangement exceeding the account balance is on file in the Cashier’s Office.

Students who are not in compliance with the payment requirement will be dropped for non-payment prior to the start of the term.

Payment plans can be established with manual or automatic payments.  CAUTION:  Payment plans that are set up with automatic payments will be deducted from your bank account on the date you’ve scheduled regardless of whether there is money in the account.

Non-Refundable Fees

All students at the time of registration for credit courses must make a non-refundable payment of the college services and student activity fees, plus lab fees, applicable to the courses for which a student is registered.

Tuition

Tuition charges are based on the number of credits and the student’s residency status at the time of registration. Students who register for more than 17 credits in any semester will be charged an additional flat amount of $100 tuition. The total tuition owed is payable by the payment date deadline specified by the College each semester. All registrations between the announced deadline and the first day of classes shall be accompanied by full payment of all applicable tuition and fees unless an installment payment plan option, financial aid or other deferred payment arrangement option has been approved by the College.

Student accounts that have not been paid by the tuition due date are subject to a $15 late payment fee.

On-line Course Tuition And College Service Fees

Students registering for On-Line (distance learning) courses will be charged tuition and fees based on their residency status.

Special Fees (Non-Refundable)

(1) Proctoring fee of $15.00 for CCC students and $35.00 for non CCC students.

(2) Connecticut Community College Nursing Program (CT-CCNP) Student Assessment and NCLEX-RN Preparation Fee;  $82.00 per student per semesters 1-3; $262.00 per student in semester 4.  The higher fee in the final semester accounts for the cost of the NCLEX-RN Review course provided at the end of the program.

(3) Nursing Media fee of $247.75 per semester represents 25% of total cost of the publisher resources is collected from students when they register for each of the four semesters of the nursing program.  Based on strategic partnership with Pearson Education, Inc. and Follett, Inc., this “installment plan” will allow CCC nursing students to receive materials, including books and digital content at the beginning of the nursing program.

Tuition and fees for Connecticut Community Colleges are established by the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Board of Regents for Higher Education.  These charges are subject to change by the Board of Regents without prior notice.  Students are urged to consult the College’s Website for complete and current tuition and fee information.

New England Regional Student Program (RSP/NEBHE)

Each New England state admits out-of-state New England residents for study at its public, degree-granting colleges, universities and institutions. At Three Rivers Community College, these students pay the same tuition and fees as a Connecticut student, plus a 50% surcharge. See the “Admissions ” section for program eligibility requirements.

Tuition and Fee Waivers

Senior Citizens

Tuition, general fees, and the application fee are completely waived for people 62 years of age and over who wish to register for state-supported (General Fund) courses on a space available basis. Special fees must still be paid. Those requesting the waiver must present verification of date of birth. Senior citizens register at the conclusion of each registration period on a space available basis.

Connecticut Tuition Waiver

This waiver is available for eligible Connecticut veterans. Public Act 03-85 amended the definition of “service in a time of war.” For purposes of identifying eligible veterans, Connecticut has adopted the Federal definition (U.S. Code 38 USC 101, as amended).

War periods include:

• Spanish-American War
• Mexican border period
• World Wars I and II
• Korean conflict
• Vietnam era
• Persian Gulf War (August 2, 1990 until a date prescribed by the President or law)

Periods beginning on the date of any future congressional declaration of war and ending on the date prescribed by the presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of Congress.

Note: Because the Persian Gulf War is still in progress, veterans currently serving or who have served at least 90 days any time between August 2, 1990 and the date the Persian Gulf War ends are eligible for war service benefits. Connecticut continues to recognize certain smaller conflicts that are not included in the Federal definition:

• Lebanon conflict (7/1/58 to 11/1/58 Combat or combat support role only)
• Peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (9/29/82 to 3/30/84)
• Invasion of Grenada (10/25/83 to 12/15/83)
• Operation Earnest Will (escort of Kuwaiti oil tankers 2/1/87 to 7/23/87)
• Invasion of Panama (12/20/89 to 1/31/90)

To use the Waiver, students must present proof of service plus proof of residency. The latter may include rent receipts, tax bills, voter registration cards, or other documentation showing residence in Connecticut.

The 100% tuition waiver is applicable only to General Fund courses and is available for veterans if they are residents of Connecticut. In addition, any child of a Vietnam-era veteran who has been declared a MIA/POW is eligible, provided that the parent entered the service after January 1, 1960 and was a Connecticut resident upon entry or while serving in the Armed Forces. Veterans from other states who established residency through marriage to a Connecticut resident during the above times may also be eligible

Connecticut National Guard

The tuition of any eligible member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard shall be waived if they wish to register for state-supported (General Fund) courses. To be eligible for such a waiver, a member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard must: (1) be a resident of Connecticut; (2) present certification by the Adjutant General or his designee as a member in good standing of the Guard; and (3) be enrolled or accepted for admission to a community college on a full-time or part-time basis in a degree granting program. The tuition waiver shall be reduced by the amount of any educational reimbursement received from an employer.

Veteran’s Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014

The Veteran’s Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 provides the following students eligibility for in-state tuition.

• A Veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

• A spouse or child using transferred benefits who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

• A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Service member’s  death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

• For more information please visit www.benefits.va.gov.

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school 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 and Employment (CH 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA.  This school will not:

• Prevent the students enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee;
• Require student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny their access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

To qualify for this provision, VA students are required to:

• Provide Chapter 33 Certificate of Eligibility (or its equivalent) by the first day of class
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment

For more information please visit www.benefits.va.gov.

Installment Payment Plan Policy

An installment plan option is available to students in good standing enrolled in General Fund courses for six or more credits during the fall or spring semesters.  The first payment includes all general fees, the $25 installment plan fee and the first third of the tuition. 

A student wishing to utilize the installment payment plan can enroll online via my.commnet.edu or in person at the Cashiers Office.

Payments must be made by the due dates indicated on the agreement to avoid the late payment fee ($15).

Tuition & Fee Schedule

Tuition and fees for Connecticut Community Colleges are established by the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Board of Regents for Higher Education. These charges are subject to change by the Board of Regents without prior notice. Students are urged to consult the College’s website for complete and current tuition and fee information.

Click here to view the current breakdown of tuition & fee expenses.

Refund of Tuition and Fees

Student will receive a full refund of tuition and fees if the College cancels a course.

Traditional Fall/Spring Semester Courses:

• Students who drop courses prior to the term or up until the 7th day of the term having elapsed (i.e. 10% of the term) will be entitled to a 100% refund of tuition and fees.

• Students who drop subsequently to the 7th day of the term but prior to the 21st day of the term having elapsed will be entitled to a 100% refund of tuition and fees less a “late drop” fee assessed at $50 per dropped course.

• Students who withdraw subsequently to the 21st day of the term having elapsed will be charged 100% of all tuition and fees.

Courses Offered in Abbreviated Terms (e.g. summer, winter, late start courses, etc.):

• Students who drop courses prior to the abbreviated term and up until 10% of the abbreviated term having elapsed will be entitled to a 100% refund of tuition and fees.

• Students who drop subsequently to 10% of the abbreviated term having elapsed but prior to 20% of the abbreviated term having elapsed will be entitled to a 100% refund of tuition and fees less a “late drop” fee assessed at $50 per dropped course.

• Students who withdraw subsequently to 20% of the abbreviated term having elapsed will be charged 100% of all tuition and fees. Dates representing the 10% - 20% points of the respective abbreviated terms will vary according to each session/part of term in which the student is registered. Please see the Registrar or Bursar’s office for the exact dates on which the “late drop” fee will be assessed

Reduction in Course Load for Financial Aid Students

Financial Aid students who reduce their course load will incur the same costs as non-financial aid students, but these costs and credits are not included in determining their financial aid amount. Awards are based on the number of credits the student is registered for at the conclusion of the add/drop period. Please contact the Financial Aid office if you have any questions.

Note: financial aid students who withdraw from summer courses subsequently to 20% of the abbreviated term having elapsed but prior to the summer financial aid census date may be charged 100% of tuition and fees for those courses with no corresponding/offsetting summer financial aid disbursement.

Refund Exceptions

A 100% refund of tuition and fees is granted to students who enter the armed services before earning degree credit for that semester. In this case, notice and a certified copy of enlistment papers must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

Exceptions to the tuition refund policy due to extenuating or extraordinary circumstances will be considered by submitting a Refund Appeal Form. The form includes instructions for submitting the appeal.

Timeframe to Appeal

Appeals are expected to be submitted within the term for which the appeal is being made.

Appeals Committee

To provide consistency in decision-making, a Refund Appeals Committee from Connecticut State Community College (a subdivision of the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities System Office) will make all appeal decisions in a timely manner upon review of the appeal form and any applicable documentation.

The Committee will respond to the student within 30 calendar days of the receipt of the request. A written response will notify the student of the outcome.

Repayment Policy for all Federal Aid Recipients

Effective October 2000, regulations governing the administration of Federal Title IV Financial Aid Funds (i.e. Perkins Loan, Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and Family Educational Loan Program) have changed. All students receiving this federal student aid who withdraw or stop attending all classes prior to the 60% point of the semester will be required to return and repay a portion of this funding.

In case of early withdrawal, the college is required to recalculate that student’s financial aid eligibility and determine what percentage of federal aid has been earned based on the date of the student’s withdrawal. (This percentage is directly proportional to the number of calendar days attended by the student divided by the number of calendar days in the semester.) Any “unearned” federal aid must be returned as follows:

• Any “unearned” federal aid collected by the college for student tuition and fees: These funds must be returned in total to the Federal Government. The student will then become liable to the college for this amount and will be billed accordingly.
• Any “unearned” federal aid paid directly to the student or on the student’s behalf (bookstore charges, daycare, transportation, etc.): 50% of this debt will be forgiven, but the remaining 50% must be repaid to the Federal Government by the student within 45 days.

Since these Federal Title IV Regulations must be strictly enforced, all participating students are urged to take the following action to prevent potential problems in this area:

• Work closely with the Financial Aid Office to understand their rights and responsibilities under the regulations.
• Work closely with their academic advisor in selecting courses and determining reasonable academic loads for each semester.
• Consider the demands of work and family when deciding how many courses to take.
• Attend classes and maintain satisfactory academic progress as required. Failure to attend classes and to comply with these financial aid regulations will permanently jeopardize future eligibility for federal assistance.

Non-Participation (Academic Engagement)

The community colleges are required to verify the academic engagement of each student in each registered course by demonstrating “academic attendance” or an “academically-related activity” for Title IV purposes. This must be completed prior to the predetermined census date of each traditional semester, as well as during periods of enrollment shorter than the traditional 15-week semester (i.e., summer terms and other abbreviated terms).

Students who are determined to have not academically engaged in a period of enrollment leading up to census shall be assigned a registration status of “Never Participated (NP)” for each affected course. Students with the NP designation will be dropped from the course(s) they have not participated in and will be assessed a Late Drop Fee of $50 for each affected course as outlined in BOR policy 3.7.

Residency Requirement

To be entitled to the in-state tuition rates, established for Connecticut residents, a student must have resided in Connecticut for the past 12 months.

A student may also be eligible for in-state or New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) tuition rates if they meet one or more of the guidelines described on the Declaration of Eligibility for In-State or NEBHE Tuition Rate form. Contact the Admissions Office for a copy of the form and determination of eligibility.

Detailed information about qualifying as an in-state or out-of-state student for tuition purposes, can also be found at  http://www.ct.edu/admission/tuition.