Apr 18, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Financial Information



Northwest University is a private, church-related university. Therefore, no operating funds from taxes or public funds support its operation. Each student is charged tuition and certain fees which cover about eighty-five percent of the cost of his/her education. The remainder of the cost is provided by gifts from friends of the University, supporting districts, endowment income, and other earnings. For a list of the tuition charges and fees, see the Tuition and Fee Schedule  in this catalog. (For a list of applicable College of Adult and Professional Studies  programs, Northwest University Sacramento Campus , Northwest University Salem Campus , and Graduate Program charges and fees, see the appropriate Program’s catalog pages or Student Handbook.)

Financial Payment

Room And Board Information

The board/room charge is required of all students living in the residence halls, and entitles students to meals beginning when the Dining Hall (The Caf) opens to the general student population before semester classes begin and expiring with the noon meal on the last day of final examinations each semester. The University reserves the right to change the rates during the year if it is deemed necessary.

Educational Benefits

Northwest University is approved as an educational institution for the training of veterans or their dependents. Applications are available on the Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.gibill.va.gov. Those qualifying under the extended Social Security Act should apply for benefits at their local offices of the Social Security Administration. The University will make the proper certifications as to enrollment and attendance after the student has enrolled in the University.

Any veteran receiving GI Bill benefits while attending Northwest University is required to obtain transcripts from all previously attended schools and submit them to the school for review of prior credit.

Financial Policy

University financial policies are outlined in the Master Financial Agreement. This agreement is signed through the initial registration process.

Payment of Accounts

The regular school year is divided into two semesters of approximately four months each, and tuition is based on the semester. It is the policy of the University that there can be no outstanding past due account at registration.

All past due and old accounts must be settled. The payment of accounts policy also applies to those qualifying for veteran’s benefits and outside scholarships.

Pay In Full Plan

Tuition, fees, and semester housing charges are to be paid in full before the first day of classes each semester.

Monthly Payment Plan

Tuition Management System (TMS) - Students who wish to make monthly payments based on the annual cost of tuition, housing and fees will enroll with Tuition Management System. TMS is a budgeting service that allows the student to pay an entire year’s education costs in monthly installments. They provide an annual ten or nine month payment plan to help students manage the cost of education. A single semester plan is also available, if necessary.

A budget is set up with this agency based on estimated charges less estimated financial aid (including loans) for the entire academic year/semester. The first payment must be received by TMS not later than July 1 (10 pay plan) or August 1 (9 pay plan) of each year to enroll for this option. Those enrolling with TMS after August 1 include June and/or July payments with their application. Although there is a $125.00 annual enrollment fee for this plan, there are no finance charges to non-delinquent participants.

Late Fees

Northwest will charge late fees as follows: For balances between $0.00 and $25.00, the late fee will be zero. For balances $25.01 and over a 1.5% late fee will be assessed.

TMS - Tuition Management system will assess a $55.00 late fee for each late payment made on the monthly plan established at the beginning of the school year/semester the student is attending. Please contact TMS for further details.

Past Due Accounts

A student is considered past due if:

  • payments are not made by the dates on which they are due.
  • financial aid is not credited to the student’s account by the due date as specified in the promissory note (typically the last business day of the month following registration).
  • any charges, which were not included in the payment plan, still owe on the last business day of the month in which they were charged.

Students failing to meet the payment schedule will be contacted through campus mail and by telephone by the Student Financial Services Office. The student may also be contacted by campus registered mail and Northwest University personnel which may include staff from the Student Development Office and/or professors. Efforts to communicate will be made for a period of approximately 45 days.

If, after these efforts are accomplished and it is clear that the student is aware that payments are delinquent, reasonable attempts to address the financial obligations have not been made, the student will no longer be allowed meal card privileges, and/or Internet privileges.

If the financial problems persist, on-campus resident students will no longer be allowed to live in on-campus housing, and may be suspended from class until a solution is reached between the Student Financial Services Office and the student. Students failing to respond will be withdrawn from the University by the Provost.

Since financial responsibility is part of the educational process, the Student Financial Services Office encourages students to meet and counsel with the University personnel any time a financial problem arises. Many problems may be avoided and/or resolved with communication. Communication is the key to successful fiscal responsibility.

The University reserves the right to assign delinquent accounts to an agency for collection and/or attach student’s credit report. The venue of defaulted Federal Perkins Student Loans shall be in King County, State of Washington or as determined by the holder of the defaulted Promissory Note.

Cancellation of Registration

The Registration Cancellation policy applies to all semesters. Note that private music lesson fees (after the contract is signed) and cancellation penalties may not be indicated below. Housing charges will be prorated for the days occupied based on the percentages below under “Withdrawal from University Housing”. See the Academic Calendar  for the applicable First Day of Class.

Cancellation of Registration – A student who registers for class but decides not to attend must notify the Regis-trar’s Office in writing before the end of business on the Last day of the Add/Drop period. Proper notification will cancel the tuition and related charges.

Cancellation after Add/Drop period if any classes were attended – Considered a Withdrawal from University – see next section for refund schedule

Withdrawal from University

Students may withdraw from the University up through 5:00 PM on the Last Day of Classes. Adjustments will be made on the accounts of students who withdraw from school during the semester subject to the following conditions:

  • The student must have officially withdrawn from the University;
  • Institutional financial aid will be removed during the semester of withdrawal – this includes but is not limited to NU scholarships and tuition credits;
  • Exit clearance from Housing Personnel is required for all students living in campus housing;
  • Fees are nonrefundable; tuition will be charged according to the chart below based upon the date the Request Registration Change Form is submitted. Tuition is charged based on the highest number of credits during the semester:

20% during second week of semester charges
32% during third week of semester charges
44% during fourth week of semester charges
56% during fifth week of semester charges
68% during sixth week of semester charges
80% during seventh week of semester charges
92% the eighth week of semester charges
100% after eighth week of semester charges

During Summer University, adding or dropping of courses must be made prior to 5:00 p.m. on the next business day after the respective class begins.

Withdrawal from University Housing

The housing cancellation policy applies to all semester housing charges. The semester charge begins the Friday before the first day of classes. See the Academic Calendar  for the applicable first day of classes.

All Residential Students

  • Cancellation received after the first day of the semester charge – Resident is subject to the prorated semester arge according to the chart below based upon the following conditions:
  • A written cancellation from the Registrar’s Office must have been received in the housing office.
  • The student must have checked out of their room/apartment with housing personnel.
  • Housing charges are billed from Thursday to Wednesday on any given week.

2.5% per day during first week of semester charges
20% during second week of semester charges
32% during third week of semester charges
44% during fourth week of semester charges
56% during fifth week of semester charges
68% during sixth week of semester charges
80% during seventh week of semester charges
92% during the eighth week of semester charges
100% after eighth week of semester charges

Withdrawal from University – Administrative

If a student is absent from all classes for more than two weeks consecutively without contacting the Registrar’s or Provost’s Office to explain the reason for his or her absences, the University has the authority to adminis-tratively withdraw the student from all course enrollments and to assign grades of “F” to each course. In this case, the official withdrawal date for financial obligation purposes will be two weeks after the last date of class attendance as certified by faculty and verified by the Registrar’s Office.

Withdrawal from Summer University

Students are required to pay in advance for the Summer University Sessions.

Students withdrawing from school during Summer University will be charged tuition as described below. Course fees are not refundable. Adding or dropping of classes during Summer University must be made prior to 5:00 PM of the second day of the respective class session.

  • For Summer University sessions of three weeks or less:

20% of tuition for withdrawal on the first day of classes
40% of tuition on the second day of classes, and
100% of tuition after the third day of classes

  • For Summer University sessions that are longer than three weeks:

20% of tuition for withdrawal on the first or second day of classes;
40% of tuition for withdrawal on the third or fourth day of classes;
60% of tuition for withdrawal on the fifth or sixth day of classes;
80% of tuition for withdrawal on the seventh or eighth day of classes; and
100% after the eighth day of classes