Catalogue

Fees, Payment, and Refunds

Fees and Expenses

Comprehensive Fee: Information about the annual comprehensive fee is provided below. Items included in the comprehensive fee (for fall and spring semesters) can also be seen in table format at the Office of Student Accounts website: bard.edu/studentaccounts. Additional fees are described in the next section. 

The $62,790 tuition covers a full-time course load of up to 20 credits. There is an additional charge of $1,962 for each credit over 20. 

The campus health services fee, which provides access to the health and counseling center, is required for all enrolled students. 

All resident students are charged room and board and are required to take the meal plan. 

All regular semester meal plans, which are included in the room and board charge, are the same cost. 

All nonresident students are charged a facilities fee, which provides access to the campus facilities. 

All students, including those eligible to live off campus who are attending the Language and Thinking, Citizen Science, and Orientation Workshop programs, are required to take the meal plan. An additional meal charge of $1,040 is applied for meals taken during the August Language and Thinking program or August Orientation Workshop. An additional meal charge of $850 is applied for meals taken during the January Citizen Science and Orientation Workshop programs. With approval, students who are eligible to live off campus during the regular academic semester and are attending the Language and Thinking, Citizen Science, and Orientation Workshop programs can opt to live on campus for the duration of the program. An additional charge for housing of $300 is applied for each program.

All enrolled students are required to have health insurance coverage. Students are automatically enrolled in Bard’s student health insurance plan at an additional cost unless the student and/or parent/guardian applies and is approved for a waiver. If the student begins the academic year in the fall semester, the full 12-month cost of $3,362 is applied in the fall semester. If the student begins the academic year in the spring semester, the seven-month cost of $1,974 is applied in the spring semester. Students who elect to have alternate private plans must submit proof of coverage that, upon review by the health plan administrator, is equivalent to the plan offered through Bard and provides all essential benefits, including nonemergency services without referral while on campus in New York. Charges for the student health insurance and tuition insurance cannot be deducted until the required waiver information is received from the applicable company. Payment is expected as billed. Additional information regarding health insurance is available at at hcw.bard.edu/health/services or through the Health Services Office.

All enrolled full-time students are charged for an optional tuition insurance refund plan through Bard at an additional cost. Students who elect to waive the tuition insurance must submit a waiver form online. Tuition Refund Insurance, provided by Dewar, can help refund the tuition, fees, and room and board charges if a student is unable to complete the semester due to a covered medical reason. This insurance program complements and enhances the College’s refund policy. Dewar can help refund a percentage of costs that are not refunded under Bard’s refund policy. If the student begins the academic year in the fall semester, the full cost of $816 is applied in the fall semester. If the student begins the academic year in the spring semester, the half-year cost of $408 is applied in the spring semester. 

Part-Time Students: Part-time resident or nonresident students who register for 9 credits or fewer are charged the tuition fee of $1,962 per credit and are expected to pay the same room and board, campus facilities, and health service fees as full-time resident and nonresident students. Students must submit an Approved Part-Time Study Form each semester to the Office of Student Accounts and Registrar’s Office prior to the drop/add period so that the student’s account can be billed appropriately for the semester. No refunds are made if Student Accounts and the Registrar’s Office have not been officially notified in writing prior to the drop/add deadline.

Part-Time Students in Absentia: Students living outside the immediate area who register for 8 credits (two courses) or fewer are excused from all charges except the part-time status fee of $300 per semester and the tuition fee of $1,962 per credit. Applications for this status must be approved by the Executive Committee.
 

Additional Fees

Enrollment and Security Deposit: Every first-year and transfer student is required to pay the nonrefundable enrollment deposit that is applied toward the semester of attendance. The enrollment deposit that an admitted student pays in May or January is credited toward the fall or spring semester costs depending upon the semester of enrollment. If the admitted student pays the nonrefundable deposit and then decides not to attend for that term, the student is not eligible for a refund of this deposit. Each student is also required to pay a $225 security deposit. Provided there are no outstanding charges, the security deposit is refunded at the completion of a student’s course of study at the College. 

Graduation: Every graduating senior is charged a $50 Commencement expense fee.

Programs: Students enrolled in certain academic programs may be charged an additional fee for special facilities. These fees are not refundable for courses dropped after the semester’s drop/add period. The Music Program offers private instruction in vocal and instrumental performance for a fee of $250 per course. The program secretary can provide details.

Academic Leave: Students who have been approved to take an academic leave of absence to study at another institution pay a $750 fee per semester. 

Course Audits: Registered students may audit a maximum of 4 credits per semester at no charge. A fee of $300 is charged for each additional credit audited. Nonmatriculated students who are approved to audit a course or courses at Bard will be charged a fee of $300 for each credit audited. Matriculated students who are on an approved leave and are approved to audit a course or courses at Bard will be charged a fee of $300 for each credit audited. These fees are nonrefundable for courses dropped after the semester’s drop/add period. 

Independent Study: A special registration fee of $562 per credit is charged for each independent study project undertaken for credit during the January intersession or summer. Only one independent study project is allowed per session. The fee is payable when the student registers for the independent study project. The registrar will record academic credit for January intersession or summer projects only upon receipt of financial clearance from the Office of Student Accounts. No special registration fee is required when an independent study project is taken for credit during an academic semester.

Internships: A special registration fee of $282 per half of a credit is charged for each internship undertaken for credit during the January intersession or summer. Registered students may register for a maximum of 4 credits per session. The fee is payable when the student registers for an internship. The registrar will record academic credit for internships undertaken during the January intersession or summer session only upon receipt of financial clearance from the Office of Student Accounts. No special registration fee is required when an internship is taken for credit during an academic semester.

Returned Payments: A check that is not honored upon presentation will be charged back to a student’s account with a fine of $35. If the College receives several returned checks from an individual, it reserves the right to no longer accept personal checks, and will require payments by bank cashier’s check, credit card, money order, or wire transfer. If a check used to provide financial clearance is returned, room reservation, course selection, and registration will be canceled, and the account will be assessed a $100 late-enrollment fee in addition to the returned-check fine.

Billing and Payment

Billing
Account statements are available online approximately 18 days before each scheduled payment date and cover tuition and fees for the semester. Statements reflect balances due for comprehensive tuition and fees, including health insurance and tuition insurance. Miscellaneous charges assessed by various College departments are also itemized on the statements, including but not limited to infirmary costs, dormitory charges and fines, key and ID card replacement costs, dormitory access charges, parking violations, graduation fees, photography and studio art fees, and private music lesson fees; students requiring quarantine beyond the five days provided are subject to an additional charge.

All balances are due by the date shown on the statement. Payments must be received by that date to avoid late charges assessed on overdue balances. If accounts are not paid as due, the College reserves the right to require that payment be made by bank cashier’s check, credit card, money order, or wire transfer.

Financial aid credits reflect information that has been received and processed as of the date of the statement. 

Reserved campus housing cannot be canceled without prior approval from the College. Students who have reserved campus housing and move off campus are still responsible for the full housing charge. If a resident student arrives for classes but moves off campus after the financial clearance date scheduled at the start of each semester, the student is responsible for the full room charge. A resident student’s choice of room is contingent upon the timely payment of fees. Late payment may result in reassignment or loss of room.

Academic and financial holds are placed on accounts not paid as due. These holds prevent registration confirmation and changes, and financial clearance.

All students entering Bard College are required under federal truth-in-lending legislation to sign the Disclosure Agreement, which includes the disclosure statement for overdue account balances. Academic and financial holds are placed on accounts not in compliance. These holds prevent registration confirmation and changes, and financial clearance.

The account of any student owing a balance after leaving Bard will be turned over to a collection agency. In such cases a 33.33 percent collection fee and attorney’s fees will be added to the balance. Once in collection, an account cannot be recalled nor can the collection or attorney’s fees be waived.

Students are responsible for keeping the Office of Student Accounts informed of their correct address, in writing. 
 

Enrollment Verification

Financial Clearance

Students’ accounts must be current with respect to payments and financial aid matters before financial clearance is issued for enrollment validation and for participation in room draw, online course selection, and registration. The financial clearance dates are noted on the academic calendar and in correspondence sent to students prior to these scheduled events. Accounts not cleared prior to these dates are subject to financial holds that prevent participation in the events. A $100 fee must be paid before such holds are removed. Students are encouraged to call the Office of Student Accounts in advance of these dates to verify the financial clearance status of the account to avoid unexpected complications.
 

Refunds 

No refund of fees will be made if a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from the College at any time after registration except as herein specified. In all situations, the student must submit a complete application for leave or withdrawal to the dean of students and the bursar. The date of final processing of the application for leave or withdrawal will determine if a refund will be given and the amount.

If the withdrawal or leave of absence is official before the first day of expected arrival and before classes begin for the semester in question, a full refund of all charges is given. If the official withdrawal or leave occurs on or after the first day of classes, only tuition and board (prorated) are refunded; no refund for room or required fees is allowed. Board refunds are made on a per-week basis, but no board refunds are given if the student withdraws during the last six weeks of a semester. Students are still liable for any payments due after the date of withdrawal or leave. 

For students not enrolled in the Language and Thinking, Citizen Science, or Orientation Workshop programs, the schedule of tuition refund is as follows: if the withdrawal occurs within the first week of classes, 80 percent of the tuition is refunded; within two weeks, 60 percent of the tuition; within four weeks, 30 percent of the tuition. No tuition is refunded for withdrawal after four weeks. The official date of withdrawal is the date on which the Office of Student Accounts receives written notification of withdrawal from the Dean of Student Affairs Office.

For students enrolled in the Language and Thinking, Citizen Science, or Orientation Workshop programs, the first day of this program is established as the first day of fall semester classes. The tuition refund schedule for students enrolled is as follows: if withdrawal or leave of absence occurs at any time during the program, 80 percent of the tuition is refunded; within two weeks following the program, 30 percent is refunded. No tuition is refunded if withdrawal occurs more than two weeks after the program. Satisfactory completion of the Language and Thinking program is required. A student who fails to meet this requirement will be asked to take a one-year academic leave.

Reserved campus housing cannot be canceled without prior approval from the College. Students who have reserved campus housing and move off campus are still responsible for the full housing charge. If a resident student arrives for classes but moves off campus after the financial clearance date scheduled at the start of each semester, the student is responsible for the full room charge. If a student takes a leave or withdraws after the fall semester and before the spring semester without giving the College timely notification, a spring semester room fee in the amount of 25 percent of the room charge will be levied. If a resident student returns for the spring semester but moves off campus without the College’s prior approval, the student is responsible for the full room charge for the spring semester.

Refund calculations for students on the payment plan who withdraw are the same as for students not on the payment plan. They have the same financial obligations as students not on the plan and therefore are responsible for the full amount due, whatever the date of withdrawal.

Adjustments in financial aid awards for students who withdraw are determined according to the following procedures. Any institutional grant or scholarship is reduced according to the schedule given above for tuition refund. Adjustments in federal aid are made on the basis of a formula prescribed by federal regulations. Details of the federal regulations may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid. Students considering withdrawal should confer with the Office of Student Accounts and the Office of Financial Aid concerning any anticipated refund and adjustments in financial aid.

No refund is made in cases of suspension or expulsion, except in instances where a student is eligible for a pro rata refund as determined by the federal government.

Refunds after Registration: Students who change their enrollment status from full-time (10 credits or more) to part-time (9 credits or fewer) while the drop/add period is in effect during the first two weeks of the semester may receive a refund of tuition charges, provided an approved Part-Time Study Form is submitted by the student to the Office of Student Accounts and the Registrar’s Office prior to the designated end date of the drop/add period. No refunds are made if Student Accounts has not been officially notified in writing prior to the drop/add deadline.

Students enrolled in private music lessons who change their enrollment status while the drop/add* period is in effect during the first two weeks of the semester may receive a refund of the course fee(s), if applicable, provided the Office of Student Accounts and the Registrar’s Office have been officially notified in writing prior to the designated end date of the drop/add period.

No refunds are made if Student Accounts and the Registrar’s Office have not been officially notified in writing prior to the drop/add* deadline.

*Drop/add occurs during the first two weeks of the semester and is different from late drop. Late drop is not applicable to this policy.