Payment Policy
All registration charges must be paid by August 1 for fall semester and January 1 for spring semester. Summer tuition and fees are due five days prior to the start of each summer session. Students with an unpaid account balance or incomplete registration; may not attend classes, laboratories or placements until satisfactory arrangements have been completed with the Business Office. When completing the semester payment, deduct the amount of pending financial assistance from the semester balance. The items that may be deducted include:
- all scholarship assistance
- grants received from Carroll College
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
- Federal Pell Grants
- Leveraging Education Assistance Partnership Program (LEAPP)
- any loan certified by Carroll College and approved by the lender
The items that may not be deducted are work study, book grants, and loans not approved by the lender.
Students are expected to pay course fees and additional tuition upon adding classes after the start of the semester.
The College accepts cash or checks at the Business Office. Tuition payments by electronic check or credit/debit cards must be made on-line. A $3.00 or 2.85% (whichever is greater) service fee applies to tuition payments made by credit/debit cards. Cards accepted are Mastercard, Discover, Visa, and American Express. Students make online payments at the Saints Student Account Center. Parents must be set up as an Authorized User by the student in order to make payments online.
Payment Plans
Carroll College offers students an interest-free Five (5) Month Installment Payment Plan for fall and spring semesters. Students enroll in a payment plan online at the Saints Student Account Center. Late enrollments are allowed each semester. A non-refundable $50 set-up fee will be charged per semester agreement. Fall semester installment due dates are July 1, August 1, September 1, October 1, and November 1. Spring semester installment due dates are December 1, January 1, February 1, March 1, and April 1. Payments are due the first day of the month and delinquent if not received by the 10th day. Delinquent accounts are subject to a $10 late fee. The terms and conditions of the Payment Plan will be available to the student online when setting up the semester payment plan.
Carroll reserves the right to refuse subsequent semester payment by installment for students who have more than two late payments within a semester.
Students need to enroll in a new payment plan each semester.
Finance Charge
All balances in accounts receivable that have not been paid by the end of the month may be assessed a finance charge of 1 percent per month (12% annual) on the unpaid month-end balance. All accounts must be cleared by the end of each semester.
Return of Credit Balances
Students who receive loans, grants, or scholarships that are greater than the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board receive a refund after the funds are applied. Prior to refunding, students will receive a textbook voucher by email explaining how to use it at the Saints' Shoppe virtual bookstore with MBS Direct. Students who choose to have a credit balance remain on their account within the same financial aid award year must sign the Federal Student Aid (Title IV) Authorization Form in the Business Office every academic year.
Refund Policy
Should a student withdraw from the College, the following policies apply in computing the refund due to the student or the balance due to the College. The official withdrawal date is determined by the date the student begins the withdrawal process at the Registrar’s Office or officially notifies the Registrar of his/her intent to withdraw or the official date of suspension. In instances where the start date of a class is other than the first week of the semester, the Add/Drop period will be the first five days of that class.
Refund and Full Withdrawal from the College
Semester Tuition and Student Fees
In instances where a student withdraws from Carroll College due to personal reasons, administrative withdrawal, or suspension; the student’s tuition and student fees will be charged based on the date of withdrawal during the first three weeks of the semester. No refund is issued beyond the 3rd week of the semester. Program, laboratory, course, workshop, and new student orientation fees are non-refundable.
| Withdrawal Date |
Refund |
| Within 1st week of semester |
100% refund, less minimum $25 Registration Fee |
| Within 2nd week of semester |
75% refund |
| Within 3rd week of semester |
50% refund |
| Beyond the 3rd week of semester |
0% refund |
| Minimum Registration Fee |
$25 |
Refund Policy for Summer Semester
Students must complete a drop card at the Registrar’s Office by the drop date to receive a refund.
| Drop Date |
Refund |
| 5 days prior to session start date |
100% refund |
| 4 days prior through 1st day of session |
50% refund |
| After 1st day of session |
No refund |
Drop Policy
In instances where a student drops from some courses but continues others, no tuition refund is made for reduction of credit hours after the last day to change course enrollment as shown in the academic calendar. Additional program, laboratory, course, workshop, and new student orientation fees are non-refundable.
Refund of Carroll College Scholarships and Grants
In instances where a student withdraws from Carroll College due to personal reasons, administrative withdrawal, or suspension; the student’s institutional financial aid will be reduced based on the date of withdrawal during the first three weeks of the semester. This follows the tuition refund policy.
| Withdrawal Date |
Scholarship/Grant Award |
| Within 1st Week of semester |
100% decrease |
| Within 2nd Week of semester |
75% decrease |
| Within 3rd Week of semester |
50% decrease |
| Beyond the 3rd Week of semester |
0% decrease |
Return of Federal Funds Policy
Federal regulations require that a portion of Title IV grants or loans be returned to the Title IV program upon a recipient’s withdrawal from school. The full financial aid refund policy for federal and institutional aid is available on-line or in the Financial Aid Office.
Refund of Room
All rooms are contracted and assigned on the assumption that the student will occupy the room for the fall and spring semesters. When a student withdraws from the College, room charges may be prorated. Students who leave the residence halls for other reasons will not receive a refund and may be charged a breach of contract fee.
Refund of Board
When a student withdraws from the College, board charges may be prorated. Students are charged for meals and flex points used over the prorated amount.
Withdrawal
If an official withdrawal date from Carroll College is after the published refund dates, the student remains liable for tuition and fee charges remaining after Federal Aid has been adjusted per guidelines placed on Title IV funds by the Department of Education. This includes unofficial withdrawals for students who earn all F’s on their semester transcript.
Default/Collection
The student’s account will be considered in default if payments are not made when due, including failure to make payments due to insufficient funds in an account upon which payment is drawn or failure to make scheduled payments on a Five-Month Payment Plan Agreement. Failure to pay will result in the following: 1) The student may be immediately withdrawn from classes (see administrative withdrawal from the College); 2) The student will not be able to receive formal grade reports or transcripts; 3) The student will not be able to register for subsequent terms; (4) The student’s housing and meal plans may be affected; 5) The student’s access to Carroll’s computer network may be denied; 6) The student will not receive a diploma upon graduation; 7) The student’s debt may be referred to a collection agency; and 8) The student’s repayment history may be referred to a credit bureau. In the event of default, the student will reimburse Carroll College the fees of any collection agency, which may be based upon a percentage at a maximum of 33.3% of the debt, and all costs and expenses the College incurs In such collection efforts, including reasonable attorney fees.
Bankruptcy
The College is a nonprofit institution of higher learning. As such, the student’s obligation will be deemed to be for the sole purpose of financing an education and is not dischargeable in bankruptcy proceedings.
Appeals
- Outstanding Balance
The Appeals Committee of Carroll College will review written appeals from students who feel that individual circumstances warrant exceptions to published policy. Written appeals must be received within 90 days from the last day of attendance. Such appeals should be directed to the Carroll College, Business Office-Appeals Committee, 1601 N. Benton Avenue, Helena, MT 59625-0002. Written response of the appeals committee’s decision will be mailed to the student within 5 business days of the committee meeting. Decisions of the committee are final.
- Late Payment Fee
The student must complete the Petition to Waive Late Payment Fee form. The form must be received at the Business Office by September 15th for the fall semester and by February 15th for the spring semester. The Business Office Appeals Committee will review the petition and inform the student of their decision.
Waivers may be issued when:
- The late fee was the result of an institutional error, or;
- A student was actively engaged in military service, firefighting, law enforcement, or other similar public service, or;
- An unusual circumstance beyond the control of the student caused the student to be unable to finalize payment by August 1st (fall semester) or January 1st (spring semester). Additional supporting documentation of the circumstances should be provided.