Costs and Financial Policies

Students are billed each semester for tuition, fees and other expenses such as housing, meal plans and book vouchers. It is Vaughn’s policy that students must clear their tuition account prior to registering for subsequent semesters.

Financial arrangements constitute setting up a deferred no interest payment plan with consistent payments, which are defined and agreed to by the office of student accounts, and the student filing for financial aid, if applicable.

Under no circumstances will students be permitted to register if they have tuition due for more than one semester. Appeals of this policy may be made to the vice president of enrollment services for a final determination.

A fee of $25 will be charged for all checks that are not honored. Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the College.

Acceptance Deposit

A nonrefundable acceptance deposit of $200 ($600 US for international students) is required within one month after the applicant is notified of acceptance or by May 1 for traditional freshmen applying for the fall semester.

The acceptance deposit reserves the student’s place in class and is credited in full toward tuition, provided that the applicant begins classes within one year of the originally scheduled enrollment date. Requests for waiver of the one-year limit should be submitted to the director of admissions.

Tuition

Students are charged varying rates of tuition based on the program in which they enroll, when they enrolled, and the number of credits being pursued. A flat-fee tuition is charged to academic students who are taking 12 to 18 credits. Students who register for more than 18 credits will incur overload charges. A flat-fee tuition is charged to aviation training students who are taking 12 to 21 units. A per credit/unit charge is applied to students taking 11 or less credits. Exact charges for 2024-2025 are listed on below.

Room and Board

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the per-semester cost for a room in Vaughn’s residence hall is $6,819 for a single in a two-person suite; $5,550 for a double in a four-person suite; $4,876 for a room in a triple suite; or $4,620 for a room in a quadruple suite. A $250 housing deposit ($125 per semester) is required. Most residents live in either a two-person or four-person suite with a semi-private bath. The residence hall has laundry, study and kitchen facilities in a common area within the building. Residence hall rooms are supplied with a bed, dresser, closet, desk and, chair and wastebasket for each student. Each room is also equipped with a phone, cable TV hookup and computer port.

Meal plan options include $1,800, $1,400, $1000 or $600 per semester.

Housing Cancellations and Refunds

Students who are assigned housing and who fail to move in will forfeit their deposits and remain responsible for any housing charges due. Students who move into the residence and who then leave or cancel their assignments at any point during the academic term will forfeit all deposits and be charged for the full-semester housing costs.

Students who cancel housing by notifying the office of residence life student affairs in writing prior to July 1 for the fall semester, or by January 1 for the spring semester, will be refunded the $250 housing deposit less any assessed damages. After these dates, the deposit will not be refunded.

The housing deposit will be held by the College as a damage deposit. At the end of the student’s residence, the room will be inspected to determine the amount, if any, of the deposit that will be refunded to the student upon moving out. In the event damages to the room and/or common area exceed the $250 deposit, the student will be responsible for paying the additional damage amount. Failure to receive a specific type of housing is not a justifiable reason to be refunded the $250 deposit or to decline or move out of the residence.

If a student is removed from the residence hall for judicial reasons, he or she forfeits the right to a refund of the housing charges and housing deposit, and remains liable for the full amount.

Residents who were enrolled for the fall semester and have been released from their agreement for the spring semester due to withdrawal from the College must vacate their rooms, check out with a staff member and return room keys within 24 hours after their last final exam for the fall semester; their liability for further charges will be assessed at that time.

Fees

Application/Reentry Fee

A nonrefundable application fee of $40 is required with the application for admission. A reentry fee of $40 is due by all students reentering the College after withdrawal (more than one semester of absence) and is nonrefundable.

Basic Air Traffic Control Capstone Review and Screening Fee

A onetime nonrefundable $500 fee is required for the capstone review and screening course, ATC300. This course is a cumulative review of the basic skills covered in the program and is completed either in the last semester after all pre-requisites are complete, or after graduation. Successfully passing the screening exam with a minimum score of 80 is required for a passing grade to be issued. The one-time fee allows students to retake the course at no additional charge as a refresher.

Maintenance of Matriculation Fee

Students who plan to take a leave of absence for a semester are encouraged to maintain matriculation by paying a $150 maintenance of matriculation fee. Maintenance of matriculation forms are sent to students following the add/drop period. Maintaining matriculation affords students the opportunity to stay within the curriculum and requirements of their current program. Students may not maintain matriculation for more than two consecutive semesters or in programs that have been canceled. Students must have a zero balance to maintain matriculation. For BS Aircraft Operation students, a review of the student’s satisfactory flight progress in relations to the student’s academic status is required before any approval can be granted.

Maintenance of Matriculation for Flight Students resides with the Chair, Aviation Department. 

Certification Fees

GG02 Certificate Preparation or Seminar fee-General $410
AA02 Certificate Preparation or Seminar fee-Airframe $410
PP02 Certificate Preparation or Seminar fee-Powerplant $410

Note that Certification  beginning 08/01/2023 there has been an additional $10 fee per FAA aviation maintenance oral and practical examination

All ATI students pay a seminar fee to take GG02, AA02, and PP02.  For students who successfully complete those classes the college will cover the costs of the oral and practical exams as a pass through fee for or a period of one year from the date on the students’ certificate of completion (FAA authenticated document), If the student does not successfully complete GG02, AA02, or PP02 the fees for those classes will be used as a seminar fee and the class must be retaken at additional cost.

AVT250 FCC License Review-$925
AVT250 FCC License Review-$60

These fees cover the costs of oral and practical examination or seminar fees.

Laboratory Fee

A laboratory fee of $70 is required for all subjects that include laboratory activity. This fee, which aids in support of the various laboratories, is payable with the tuition for each semester, and is not refundable after the first day of the semester.

Simulation Fee

The following management courses include a computer simulation program and exam fee of $85: MGT209L; MGT480; MGT509L.

Semester Fee

A nonrefundable semester fee of $450 is required for each enrolled student. This fee is part of the general fund and is used to offset the cost of student registration, computer usage, student club activities, intramurals, identification cards and other student services.

The following are zero-credit courses and are covered by the semester fee charge:

CD 101 - Career Development Seminar 
DP 407 - Degree Project , maintenance programs only

Late Registration Fee

A non-refundable $75 late registration fee will be applied to students who register for classes on or after the first day of the semester.

Simulator Flight and Exam Fees

FLT 102L  $500 Covers five (5) hours of individual simulator use and instruction at $100 per hour.

FLT111FR  $500 Covers five (5) hours of individual simulator use and instruction at $100 per hour.

FLT121FR  $500 Covers five (5) hours of individual simulator use and instruction at $100 per hour.

FLT331FR  $1000 Covers ten (10) hours of individual simulator use and instruction at $100 per hour.
FLT 120L  $500 Covers five (5) hours of individual simulator use and instruction at $100 per hour. 

FLT447  $500  Covers five (5) hours of individual simulator use and instruction at $100 per hour.

Bypass Examination Fee

Students seeking to bypass any subject by examination are charged a $150 per course

Graduation Fee

A nonrefundable graduation fee of $100 is required when the graduation declaration form is submitted.

Texts, Equipment and Supplies

Students are responsible for obtaining necessary books, tools and supplies for their courses. Textbook requirements vary according to the course of study. Students should anticipate a cost of about $950 per semester for books, tools and supplies.

Billing

Payment of tuition and fees is due by the first day of the semester. At that time, students must make payment, in full, using one or a combination of these methods: check, money order, credit card, federal or state financial aid, Vaughn College scholarship or grant, private grant, or third-party payment.

International Student Billing

First-year international students must pay tuition and fees in full prior to the first day of the semester. In subsequent years, international students are permitted to participate in the College’s deferred payment plan. Students who fail to regularly meet their financial commitment after enrolling in a payment plan will be immediately removed from the program.

Summary of 2024-2025 Fee Schedule

Tuition

Housing Charges

Residence Hall Room Rates

Meal Plan- declining balance loaded at the start of each semester; additional funds may be added at any time by visiting Student Accounts; commuters encouraged to add funds to save on sales tax

Note: Plans 1 and 2 are open to returning residents only; plans 3 and 4 are open to all residents.

Residential Fees

Third-Party Billing

You may seek a deferment of payment based on a third-party plan (e.g., employer reimbursement). To do so, you must submit a letter on company letterhead, signed by a benefits officer, stating the terms and conditions for reimbursement. This letter must be presented to the office of student accounts no later than the last day of late registration each semester you apply for a deferment.

Payment Plans

Vaughn uses Nelnet Business Solutions, a third party, to administer the student payment plans. Students who are interested should see the office of student accounts for information. Students who pay their tuition bill in full by cash, check or money order and subsequently withdraw will have their refunds calculated according to the schedule on page 37. Refund checks are mailed directly to the student’s home by the office of student accounts. Students who have made a partial payment on their bills will have their tuition liability calculated according to the schedule on page 37. A reduction in tuition charges may not necessarily result in a refund and, in some instances, a tuition balance may still be due.

Refunds To Students Who Withdraw

All students who want to withdraw from academic courses or flight training for any reason must officially notify the College; to receive a refund or credit, they must withdraw during the official refund periods. Students officially withdraw using the add/drop or total withdrawal form, submitting the form in person at the campus’ registrar’s office and/or emailing a copy to Evelyn Bryant, Assistant Vice President of Registrar Services, at evelyn.bryant@vaughn.edu.

Regular attendance is an essential ingredient for satisfactory academic performance. All students are encouraged to attend their courses on a regular basis and abide by the departmental and course-specific attendance requirements (as provided in course syllabi).

Non-attendance in a course or flight training, verbal communication with College offices or instructors, or stopping payment on a check or payment plan are NOT official ways to drop classes. The official withdrawal is the only form of withdrawal that qualifies a student for a partial tuition credit and partial refundable fees.

The College’s withdrawal procedure applies to all students including flight students at our partner flight school, including those who receive student loans and financial aid. Withdrawal from college can affect eligibility for financial aid and/or loans, and some students who withdraw, as a result, are liable for amounts due and are billed by the College accordingly.

Program Adjustments and Withdrawal

If you have preregistered and an adjustment is necessary as a result of failure to successfully complete a prerequisite course(s), you may add, drop or change a course section any time after the pre-registration period and before the first day of classes, without penalty. Other adjustments must be made during the program adjustment period, usually on or after the first day of classes, and will be assessed the appropriate fee ($10 per add/drop). Use the add/drop form to make all program adjustments. Because program adjustments can affect your financial aid eligibility, it is important that you refer to the refund schedule in the current catalog to understand your tuition liability.

Failure to follow the proper withdrawal procedures may result in the student being financially liable for full or partial tuition and fees. For students in the Aviation Training Institute, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires full attendance in all FAA-approved subjects.

Federal financial aid cannot pay student charges for a class never attended or stopped attending unless official College withdrawal procedures are followed. Students receiving a pro rata reduction of federal student aid when withdrawing before 60 percent of the semester is completed may be liable for any outstanding tuition due.

Students who do not officially withdraw from a course will receive one of the following grade codes: NA- Registered but never attended.

WX-Withdrawal due to administrative reasons. An appropriate Title IV refund calculation will be performed based on last day of attendance.

FX-Withdrawal due to administrative reasons. Academic penalty will be computed into the grade point average as a grade of “F.” Title IV refund will be calculated if the withdrawal occurs before 60 percent of coursework is completed.

Tuition and Housing Refund Schedule

Title IV Tuition and Housing Refund

As part of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Congress passed new provisions governing what must happen to your federal financial assistance if you completely withdraw from school in any semester. This change of policy has been in effect at the College since the fall 2000 semester. The policy governs all federal grant and loan programs, including Federal Pell Grant and Federal SEOG, but does not affect Federal Work Study.

In general, the new law assumes that you “earn” your federal financial aid awards directly in pro- portion to the number of days of the term you attend. If you completely withdraw from school during a term, the school must calculate, according to a specific formula, the portion of the total scheduled financial assistance you have earned and are therefore, entitled to receive up to the time you withdrew. If you receive (or the College receives on your behalf) more assistance than you earn, the unearned excess funds must be returned to the Department of Education. If, on the other hand, you receive (or the College receives on your behalf) less assistance than the amount you have earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds.

The portion of your federal grants and loans you are entitled to receive is calculated on a percentage basis by comparing the total number of days in the semester to the number of days you completed before you withdrew. For example, if you complete 30 percent of the semester, you earn 30 percent of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. This means that 70 percent of your scheduled award(s) remains unearned and must be returned to the federal government.

Once you have completed more than 60 percent of the semester, you will have earned 100 percent of your assistance. Your withdrawal date will be determined by the College, as outlined in “Refunds to Students Who Withdraw,” above.

If funds were released to a student due to a credit balance on the student’s account prior to withdrawal, then the student may be required to repay some of the federal grants released. Details on exact amounts to be repaid will be provided by the office of student accounts after the appropriate calculations are made.

Any portion of the student’s tuition that becomes due after all Title IV funds are returned will be billed to the student’s account.

For more information on the refunds or repayments of Title IV aid, contact the office of student accounts.

Vaughn College recognizes that occasionally a student is forced to withdraw because of circumstances beyond his/her control, such as illness.

Students should be prepared to present evidence of such circumstances in support of any request for special consideration. Any adjustments to the refund policy above will be made by the vice president of enrollment services.

Financial Policies

Payment of tuition and fees is due by the first day of the semester. Students must make payment in full, or arrangements to pay, with the office of student accounts by that time. Students who register after that date must make payment arrangements to pay at that time. Acceptable arrangements to pay include: evidence of eligibility for financial aid, alternative educational loans, Veterans Affairs benefits, employer education benefits, the College’s or another payment plan, the College’s and/or private grants and scholarships. Students who fail to regularly meet their financial commitment after joining a payment plan will be immediately removed from the program and refused participation in subsequent semesters.

Students who make acceptable financial arrangements to cover their tuition with the office of student accounts and make a good-faith effort to meet their financial obligations will be allowed to maintain their enrollment each semester without interruption. Failure to meet your financial obligation to the College may result in any or all of the following actions against you:

• Denial of permission to register for future semesters
• Denial of participation in commencement exercises (graduating students)
• Denial of receipt of diploma (graduating students)
• Deregistration for the semester
• Surrender of your account to a collection agency (affects your credit rating)

Before deregistration, students affected are notified by first-class mail and given 10 business days to take corrective action. Once deregistration takes place, a program adjustment form is sent to the student by first-class mail, and the student is dropped from the class roster. This action cannot be reversed; the student is liable for tuition in accordance with the College’s refund schedule. A grade of WX is issued.

It is important to note that this action may also result in suspension of TAP and Title IV financial aid for students who qualify. A waiver must be obtained from the office of financial aid in order to have aid reinstated for future semesters.

Appeals of Financial Decisions

Students can consult with the vice president for enrollment services regarding the appropriate procedure to appeal a financial determination.

Financial Arrears Policy

Vaughn reserves the right to withhold registration material and all information regarding the record of any student who is in arrears in the payment of tuition, fees, loans or other charges (including charges for activities or services) as long as arrears remain.