Tuition and Fees

Deposits

All new and readmitted students who have been accepted for admission to Castleton are required to submit a non-refundable deposit of $200 to the Admissions Office prior to May 1st, which payment can be made online. Students admitted after May 1 should submit the deposit within ten days of acceptance. Deposits should be submitted as soon as the decision to attend Castleton has been made.

A $100 non-refundable room deposit is required of all current returning residential students requesting a room in the Residence Halls. The deposit for Fall 2012 for returning students is due April 10, 2012. Deposits can be paid over the phone or mailed to the Student Services Center except where noted otherwise.

Fees for 2013-2014

A Student Initiative Fee of $364 per semester will be assessed to help finance the Castleton Student Initiative projects which include an enlarged and renovated Campus Center, enlarged and renovated gymnasium, and improved athletic fields. A per credit rate of $30 will also be charged to matriculated part time students.

The Student Association Fee of $123 per semester, established by vote of the Student Association, covers the expense of student government, clubs, activities, and publications for the academic year. This fee is assessed at $10 per credit up to 12 credits up to a maximum of $123 per semester for matriculated students.

A late registration fee of $50 is charged to students who have not completed registration for the semester within ten days following the first day of classes.

Newly admitted students will be charged a one time $200 non-refundable registration/orientation/testing fee for fall. Newly admitted spring student will be charged $200.

A graduation fee of $86 is charged to cover costs of diploma and activities. Students receiving two degrees at the same graduation ceremony will be charged an additional $10 to cover the extra diploma cost. Students receiving two degrees at separate ceremonies will be charged the full graduation fee each time. Graduates attending commencement exercises are required to purchase a cap and gown at an approximate cost of $35.

Full-time students should anticipate paying approximately $800 per semester for textbooks. During the first two weeks of class, students are allowed to charge their books and supplies directly to their tuition account if they so choose. Also, some courses require the payment of a fee for supplies, materials or services in addition to tuition and books. These charges are noted in departmental program and/ or course descriptions. The fees are payable in full by students registered in a course at the close of the two week add/drop period. Partial refunds are not made.

Late fees may be assessed on any student account over $200 if not paid by the due date. The following are established rates that will be charged on a monthly basis until the end of the semester:

• balances from $200 to $2,000 will be charged $50 monthly
• balances from $2,001 to $5,000 will be charged $100 monthly
• balances from $5,001 and up will be charged $200 monthly

Drop/Add Fee is assessed after the first two weeks of classes to those students who change their schedule. A $21 fee will be assessed for each class adjustment. If a class is dropped after the first two weeks of classes, there will be no adjustment to the tuition account. If all classes are dropped, please refer to the Leave of Absence Policy. If classes are added, the tuition account will be adjusted accordingly.

All non-matriculated students are charged a $50 registration fee at the time they register for courses.

Financial Aid

Although the primary responsibility for financing students' education rests with their families, the Financial Aid Office at Castleton State College administers a comprehensive financial aid program to help students afford a college education. The financial aid program at Castleton primarily consists of federal funds (grants, scholarships, loans and work-study). The amount of financial aid awarded is dependent upon availability of funds and demonstration of financial need. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance (budget) and the calculated resources of the family (EFC). A student's budget usually includes costs for tuition, fees, room and board, and an allowance for transportation, books, supplies, and personal expenses. In some cases unusual expenses such as medical, may be added. Funds received through the various financial aid programs are supplemental to the resources of the family, the efforts of the student and the assistance received by the student from other sources. The federal aid programs are subject to change due to changes in state and/or federal legislation/regulations.

You may apply for financial aid on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Vermont residents should also complete the Vermont Grant application. You may apply for this grant on-line at www.vsac.org. Non-residents should check with their home state higher education agency for state grant information.

The Financial Aid Office may request additional information. Notification of financial aid eligibility will be emailed to all students advising them to go to the Portal/VSC Web Services to actually review the financial aid awarded. The student should respond to any request for additional information immediately. To view documents needed go to the Portal/VSC Web Services. Failure to do so may result in loss or delay of financial aid.

Financial Aid is awarded to accepted new students and to registered returning students. Returning students must be registered or intend to register for the period of time for which they are requesting aid. Please check the Castleton website for preferred deadlines.

The types of financial aid awarded are:

Federal Grants - these funds do not have to be repaid and are based on need. For 2013-2014 Federal Pell Grants range from $605 to $5645. For additional information please refer to the 2013-2014 Financial Aid Terms and Conditions information available via the Castleton State College Financial Aid web page http://www.castleton.edu/financialaid/index.htm.

Federal Work Study - part-time employment. Students are paid directly. Eligible new students are initially awarded up to $1,500; returning students are initially awarded up to $2,000.

Federal Direct Student Loans - these funds must be repaid. All Federal Stafford Loans are borrowed from the Department of Education/US.Treasury. These loans are repayable for an extended period of time. Information about Direct Loan levels is available on the Financial Aid web page: http://www.castleton.edu/financialaid/federalloans.htm.

The Perkins Loan program is a separate loan program from the Federal Direct loan program. The funds for this program are limited and distributed based on exceptional need and availability of funds. For 2013-2014 the amount awarded is up to $1,500.

First Year Student Scholarships

1. Castleton Honors Scholarship Program awards renewable scholarships that do not have to be repaid and are based on merit.
2. Recognition Scholarships (Academic Achievement, Citizenship, and National Scholars) are awarded to new students entering in fall 2013. The Academic Achievement scholarship is based on merit, the Citizenship Scholarship is based on merit and financial need, the National Scholars Scholarship is for students whose permanent residence is outside Vermont and within the U.S., and is based on merit. These scholarships are renewable. For complete criteria, please visit our website/Admissions http://www.castleton.edu/financialaid/scholarships/new_students.htm. The above scholarships are awarded by Admissions.

Returning Student Scholarships - these funds do not have to be repaid and are based on merit and/or financial need. Students must complete a Castleton State College Returning Student Scholarship Application. The Castleton Scholarship Committee awards these scholarships.

Initial awards, either estimated or actual, of financial aid are based on information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants who believe that circumstances exist which could change their eligibility for financial assistance should contact the Financial Aid Office.

Detailed information concerning the application process, eligibility, the award process, the types of assistance available, the refund and repayment process, satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes and aid recipient responsibility, is available on the Financial Aid web page : http://www.castleton.edu/financialaid/index.htm or you may contact Student Services /Financial Aid Office. All information regarding a student's application for, or receipt of, financial assistance is confidential. The Financial Aid Office, therefore, will not release financial aid information to anyone outside of Castleton/VSC, except as required by the Department of Education, the various state grant and loan agencies that the student has applied to, or by court order, without the written consent of the student. By signing the FAFSA you give the college specific rights to discuss your application with certain agencies. Students are cautioned to carefully read all documents they sign.

Emergency short-term loans of up to $50 are available from the Alumni Loan Fund. These loans are non-interest bearing; however, a service charge of fifty cents ($.50) is made for each loan. Loans from these funds are usually granted for emergencies that arise. Students are generally asked to repay the loan within thirty (30) days.

Academic Standing for Financial Aid Purposes

To be eligible for financial aid at Castleton State College a student must be in good academic standing and must be making satisfactory progress toward completion of a degree. These standards may change during the student's enrollment period.

Identification Cards

All students are required to have photo identification cards that are issued by the Public Safety Office. The initial card is free. Replacement cards cost $35. Broken cards are replaced for $10. Broken cards should be returned to Public Safety. Arrangements for replacement cards can be made with the Public Safety Office. Identification cards are required for access to the resident halls and by a number of departments offering student services. These include the library, dining hall, and athletic department.

Per Credit Rates

Students registered for fewer than 12 credits are considered part-time students and are charged on a per credit basis. Students registered for more than 18 credits will be charged for each additional credit of overload. All non-matriculated undergraduates are charged on a per credit basis regardless of the number of credits for which they are registered.

Vermont undergraduates pay $388 per credit, nursing $504; non-resident undergraduates pay $960 per credit, nursing $941 per credit.

Refunds for Resignation or Leave of Absence

In the event of withdrawal, dismissal, resignation, leave of absence, or the dropping of classes in a manner that affects student charges, including tuition, course/lab fees, the student activity fee, and room and board charges, any refund will be calculated on a daily prorated basis using the same schedule utilized to determine the amount of Federal Title IV returns, with the following exceptions:

1. If a student withdraws during the first seven calendar days of the semester, the amount of refund of all student charges (tuition, fees, room, and board) will be 100 percent.
2. If a student withdraws after the 60 percent point of the semester, the amount re-funded for charges for tuition, fees and room will be zero.
3. Fees paid to acquire college health insurance are NOT refundable.

NOTE: Ceasing to attend classes does not constitute the dropping of classes or withdrawal from Castleton. In order to be eligible for a refund/repayment pursuant to the above schedule, a student MUST notify the office of the academic dean of his/her withdrawal.

Repayment of Financial Aid

Students receiving financial assistance from the Federal Pell Grant program, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, the Federal Perkins Loan program, or the Federal Direct or Federal Family Education Loan Program (subsidized, unsubsidized and PLUS parent loans), who change their enrollment status in such a way as to cause a reduction in their college charges or non-college expenses (room, board, books, supplies, personal expenses, travel, etc.) will be required to repay all, or a calculated portion, of the assistance received. 

A copy of the Withdrawal and Return of Financial Aid Policy is available on the Financial Aid web page: http://www.castleton.edu/financialaid/withdrawal/andreturn1112.htm

Room and Board

Residential students are required to pay the room charge of $2,721 per semester, as well as the board charge for the meal plan selected. Commuting students who wish to eat in the dining hall may pay for the meals individually or purchase a commuter meal plan in Huden Dining Hall.

Student teachers: A resident student living away from campus during student teaching is entitled to a refund for board for each week of student teaching. Written application for the refund must be made to the Student Services Center before the start of the student teaching experience. To assure prompt receipt of college communications, including commencement information, students must inform the Student Services Center of any mailing address being used on an interim basis while student teaching.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

In accordance with Federal regulations, these guidelines apply to all students requesting Title IV Federal Financial Aid regardless of whether the student has previously received Title IV aid. These regulations require that recipients of federal financial aid maintain a satisfactory rate of progress toward completion of a degree (pace) and must be in good standing based on a cumulative GPA.

Students will be reviewed at the end of each payment period typically the end of the summer, fall and spring semesters. All semesters of enrollment, including summer, must be considered in the determination of SAP, even periods in which the student did not receive Federal Financial Aid.

SAP requirements:

1. Pace: Students must successfully complete 67% of their attempted credit hours within the VSC as recorded and documented by the Registrar's Office. Dropped courses will not be included. Courses withdrawn from after the end of the add/drop period will be counted toward attempted courses. Successful completion of credit hours means earning grades of A, B, C, D or P. Unsuccessful completion of credit hours means receiving grades of F, NP or W. Remedial courses, those that start with 00, are not used in the SAP calculation. Transfer credits that are accepted toward a student's degree program must count as both attempted and completed.

    Examples: How to calculate if you are meeting the minimum required pace of completion requirement for SAP:

1. If you attempt/enroll in a total of 30 credits during the fall and spring semesters, you must successfully complete at least 20 credits. (30 x 67% =20).
2. If you attempt/enroll in 12 credits for one semester (fall or spring), you must successfully complete at least 8 credits. (12 x 67% = 8).

2. GPA Requirement (effective as of the June 2013 "Academic Jeopardy" review)
Undergraduate Students:
*For less than 30 GPA credits/credits earned (whichever is higher) students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 1.75
*If a student has just 30 GPA credits/credits earned (whichever is higher) the minimum cumulative GPA is 1.75 AND must have a term GPA of 2.00 or higher on the immediately previous full-time semester (12 or more GPA credits)
*For more than 30 GPA credits/credits earned (whichever is higher) students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00.

Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

3. Maximum Time Frame. The maximum time frame for undergraduate students to complete their academic program may not exceed 150% of the published length of the program, measured in credit hours. Students who are eligible to graduate but have not, are no longer eligible for Federal Pell Grants. Graduate students are expected to complete their degree within 5 academic years from the date of enrollment. Students who have reached the maximum time frame will not be eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Change in degree program

All credits earned at Castleton plus transfer credits will normally be counted when the student changes degree programs. Each case will be evaluated on its own merit. Students may not extend their period of enrollment by changing their major after accumulating 90 credits.

Grades and Credits

Courses with grades of "W" (withdrawn), "I" (incomplete), and "F" (failed) are counted as courses attempted but not earned AND count toward the maximum time frame. The Financial Aid Office will not automatically adjust a student's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status when grades are changed or finally reported, but rather only upon request from the student. For any grade change (especially regarding a prior grade of "I" (incomplete) that has now been assigned a traditional letter grade, a student is responsible for notifying the Financial Aid Office of such a change and request a review of their SAP evaluation.

Repeat Courses

All attempted credits for repeat courses are counted in the calculations for Satisfactory Academic Progress. The total attempted credits increase with each repeat, but earned credits can only be counted once for each successfully completed course. Therefore, repeating courses may negatively affect the ability to meet the SAP standard and complete 67% of attempted credits.

Courses graded solely on a Pass/Fail basis that are accepted toward the academic program are included when measuring academic progress.

Leave of Absence

A student who takes a leave of absence after the add/drop period of the semester receives a grade of "W" for all courses withdrawn from which may cause the student to not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress PACE requirement. This can be considered as part of the student appeal.

Transfer Students

Non-VSC Transfer credits, accepted toward the student's academic program or degree, count as both attempted and earned credits and are counted when measuring PACE but do not impact the grade point average.

VSC earned credits count as both attempted and earned credits and count toward grade point average.

Graduation Eligibility

Once a student has met all graduation requirements for their program and are eligible to graduate, they are no longer eligible for federal Pell Grants.

Special Circumstances

Students with documented disabilities may be allotted additional time for completion of courses.

Monitoring Periods, Warnings and Suspensions

Students will have their academic progress evaluated at the end of each semester (typically summer, fall and spring) regardless of whether the student received financial aid.

Students not making Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will receive communication via email to their Castleton email account and in some situations letters will be sent to the mailing address on record.

Financial Aid WARNING: The first time a student falls below the GPA or Pace standard for SAP, the student will be placed in a financial aid "WARNING" status for one semester. Compliance with SAP standards MUST be regained in the following semester.

Students placed on Financial Aid "WARNING" at the end of the semester in which they did not meet the standard(s) will be eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid funding for the following semester. Students given this status are not required to appeal for possible reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility.

Students placed in the Financial Aid "WARNING" status will be sent a notification advising them of their status, the impact of their future financial aid eligibility and the importance of seeking guidance/advising/counseling from appropriate staff.

Students who do not meet SAP standards after this period of Financial Aid "WARNING" will be denied eligibility for future semesters until they meet SAP standards or submit a SAP Appeal that is approved.

It is possible for a student to be subject to more than one period of financial aid warning throughout the course of their academic career.

Financial Aid SUSPENSION: If the student does not meet SAP after being in a "WARNING" status for one semester, the student is no longer eligible for Federal Financial Aid and will be placed in a Financial Aid "SUSPENSION" status. Students on Financial Aid "SUSPENSION" for failing to make satisfactory progress are not eligible to receive further Federal Financial Aid including grants, work-study and federal student loans.

Students academically dismissed and subsequently reinstated will be placed in Financial Aid "SUSPENSION" status.

Students on Financial Aid "SUSPENSION" may submit a SAP APPEAL. If the appeal is approved the student will be placed on Financial Aid "PROBATION" and will be eligible for financial aid for the subsequent semester. Compliance with SAP standards MUST be regained in the following semester.

NOTE: Financial Aid "SUSPENSION" does not prevent students from attending the college. In some cases, students may be able to continue at their own expense so they can improve their performance and regain Federal Financial Aid eligibility.

Appeal for Probationary Semester Progress

A Castleton Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form will be sent to each student in a Financial Aid Suspension status. The form will explain how SAP has failed to be met and the steps the student needs to take to appeal the loss of Federal Financial Aid. To appeal, students will have to complete the form and submit it along with all supporting documentation to the Director of Financial Aid. As part of the appeal, the student must include information regarding why they failed to make SAP, and what has changed in their situation that would allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation, which will be at the end of the following semester. Along with the appeal form, the student must also submit an academic plan for the subsequent 3 semesters. An appeal must be based on significant mitigating circumstances that seriously impacted academic performance. Examples of mitigating circumstances are serious illness, severe injury, death of a family member, employment change, family catastrophe or personal tragedy. Appeal approval will be based on the likelihood that the student will meet SAP at the next review. Please note that merely filing an appeal does NOT guarantee continued eligibility for Federal Financial Aid. Appeals based on circumstances that were under the control of the student are rarely approved. Students should make every effort to improve their SAP standing as they will be limited to two SAP appeals.

If a student's appeal is approved by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee, the student will be considered for Federal Financial Aid and will be placed in a Financial Aid "PROBATION" status for one semester. At the end of that semester SAP will be reviewed again. The student may re-establish eligibility to be considered for Federal Financial Aid for a subsequent semester by meeting SAP standards or by meeting the specific academic plan submitted with the appeal as determined by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee. Students successfully following an academic plan who are not meeting SAP will remain on probation. Students on an academic plan are expected to complete each course registered in and to obtain at least a 2.0 GPA in each course and cannot withdraw from a course after the add/drop period.

If an appeal for Federal Financial Aid is denied, the decision is final for that semester. The student may re-establish eligibility to be considered for Federal Financial Aid for a subsequent semester by taking action that brings him or her into compliance with the GPA and PACE components of Castleton's SAP standards.

The student will be sent an email and/or letter advising them of the outcome of the appeal.

Reinstatement of Federal Aid Eligibility

A student whose financial aid eligibility has been terminated for failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and who is subsequently found to be meeting the SAP standards and who meets all other eligibility requirements shall be eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Senior Citizens

Non-matriculated Vermont citizens age 65 or older are eligible to register for courses at a 100% reduction in tuition. They must, however, pay any relevant registration and lab fees.

Student Statements

Student account statements will be paperless and may be viewed anytime online. An email will be sent to your college issued email address periodically as a reminder to view your bill. Other options available online include: making a payment, setting up authorized users (parents, e.g.) receiving refunds electronically.

Transcripts

Students or former students may obtain a copy of their transcript by filling our the online order from available through the Student Services tab on the Castleton website.

Tuition

Below is a schedule of basic charges for full-time students. Full-time students are those who register for twelve (12) to eighteen (18) credits per semester. Vermont residents are students who meet the criteria of the Vermont Residency policy. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the charges, fee descriptions, payment and refund policies that are detailed below.

The following schedule lists full-time tuition and basic charges in effect for the 2013-14 academic year. Tuition, fees, room and board charges are subject to change without notice due to reconsideration by the Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees.

*Based on double occupancy, if space permits, single rooms are available for an additional charge of $697 per semester.

**This amount reflects the charge for a full meal plan (Gold Plan). There is also a 12 meal plan, $1,779 and an 8 meal plan, $1,710 per semester. Participation in a board plan is required of all resident students.

***Health and accident insurance is mandatory for all matriculated full-time students not otherwise covered under a comparable plan. The charge for coverage for the entire 2013-14 year is $2,133. For students attending only the Spring 2014 semester the charge is $1,403. Students may be exempted from paying the insurance fee by submitting a selection form electronically through web services certifying that they are covered by a family insurance plan. Deadlines for form submittal are, for the Fall 2013, September 30, and for the Spring 2014 only semester, February 15. Insurance brochures are available online from the Student Services Center website.

Vermont Residency

To qualify as a Vermont Resident for purposes of tuition, a student must meet criteria established by the Board of Trustees. The policy of the Board is as follows:

1. The applicant shall be domiciled in Vermont, said domicile having been continuous for one year immediately prior to the date of application for a change in residency  status. Changes in residency status shall become effective for the semester following the date of application.
2. Domicile shall mean a person's true, fixed and permanent home, to which he intends to return when absent. A residence established for the purpose of attending an educational institution or qualifying for resident status for tuition purposes shall not of itself constitute domicile. Domicile shall not be determined by
   the applicant's marital status.
3. The applicant must demonstrate such attachment to the community as would be typical of a permanent resident of his age and education.
4. Receipt of significant financial support from the applicant's family will create a rebuttal presumption that the applicant's domicile is with his family.
5. An applicant becoming a student at an institution of higher learning in Vermont within one year of first moving to the state shall have created a rebuttable presumption of residence in Vermont for the purpose of attending an educational institution.
6. A student who is eligible for tuition purposes to enroll as a resident student in another state shall not be enrolled as a ''Vermont Resident''.
7. The director of admissions shall classify a student enrolling at Castleton State College as a resident or non-resident for admission and tuition purposes. The decision by the director of admissions shall be based upon information furnished by the student and other relevant information. He/she is authorized to require such written documents, affidavits, verifications or other evidence as is deemed necessary.
8. The burden of proof shall in all cases rest upon the student claiming to be a Vermont resident and shall be met upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence.
9. A student with resident status will lose that status if he/she, at any time, fails to meet the above requirements. In this event, resident tuition and other charges shall continue in effect only until the end of the academic year.
10. The decision of the director of admissions on the classification of a student as a resident or non-resident may be appealed in writing to the dean of administration.

A student who wishes to declare a change in his residence of record must apply to the dean of administration. Appeal of residency decisions by the dean of administration may be made in writing to the Office of the Chancellor, Vermont State Colleges. The decision of the Office of the Chancellor shall be final.