Students who expect to transfer credits for full-time study in a non-Colby program will be subject to a fee of $1,000 per semester. This fee will be charged on the Colby tuition bill.

Information regarding application deadlines and other program details may be obtained from the Office of Off-Campus Study.

January Program
A January Program that requires extensive travel, special materials, or highly specialized outside instruction carries a fee calculated to reflect the costs of the individual program.

Students who are not enrolled on campus for either the fall or spring semester will be charged a fee of $4,720 for tuition only for participating in an on-campus January Program. If on-campus housing is provided, an additional charge will be assessed.

Miscellaneous Charges
Applied Music: A student is notified of the fee that will be charged to the student account when registering for musical instruction in the applied music program. Music majors are eligible for subsidized instruction; refer to Music in the Departments, Programs, and Courses of Study section.

Medications: A student may be charged for the cost of some prescription and nonprescription medicines prescribed by the health services staff.

Fines: Fines are charged for failure to register automobiles, parking violations, late return of library books, checks returned as uncollectible, and disciplinary actions.

Damage to or Loss of College Property: Liability for damage or loss of College property located within individual residence hall rooms lies with the resident(s) of the room. When damage or loss of College property occurs in residence hall common areas (e.g., lounges, hallways, lobbies, bathrooms), the Office of Campus Life will make every effort to identify the individuals responsible and to bill them. In cases in which residential life staff determines that responsibility lies with the residents of a specific section of a residence hall, those students will be billed. When the individuals responsible for damage or loss of College property cannot be identified, the cost of repair or replacement is accumulated by the residence hall. At the end of each semester, the Office of Campus Life, in cooperation with the Physical Plant Department, determines the cost of all unidentified damage and loss of College property and bills the residents of each residence hall on a pro rata basis. Any conflicts regarding assignment of responsibility may be directed to the Judicial Board.

Financial Aid

More than $25 million is awarded annually in grants. The average aid package awarded to 748 grant recipients in 2011-12 was $34,993. In addition to Colby’s own programs, state grants, Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal College Work-Study, and Yellow Ribbon grants may be included in aid awards. Beginning with the 2008-09 academic year, the portion of calculated need previously met with student loans has been met with grants and campus employment; federal student (Perkins and Stafford) and parent (PLUS) loans are available to supplement the need-based financial aid package.

Colby requires all first-time aid applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the federal processor and the Profile form to the College Scholarship Service before January 15. On the basis of the FAFSA, the College Scholarship Service Profile form, W-2 forms, federal income tax returns, and other forms that may be required for special circumstances, the College determines eligibility within the context of Colby policy and federal regulations. Students who do not complete a financial aid application prior to admission will not be considered for Colby grant assistance for two award years, unless their family financial circumstances change unexpectedly and unavoidably.

Early Decision applicants who wish to be considered for financial aid must file the CSS Profile form before November 15 for Early Decision I and before January 1 for Early Decision II. International students must complete and submit the International Student Financial Aid Application and documentation of family income (employers’ letters and/or tax forms with translation) by the appropriate deadline.

To provide flexibility, Colby also accepts the Sallie Mae 10-month payment plan and proceeds from parent loans. Students who seek more detailed information may write for the financial aid and financing options brochures or may contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Aid also is available for programs of study abroad and domestic programs of study away that are approved by the Office of Off-Campus Study. The only domestic programs for which federal or Colby aid may be used are those specified in the Off-Campus Study Handbook as Colby-approved programs.

Aid for programs of study off campus is based on the actual cost of the program plus an administrative fee, up to a maximum of Colby’s cost. Student loans may enable financial aid recipients to replace term-time earnings, which are not available on foreign campuses.

Parents and students may review information in the Student Financial Services and Career Center offices concerning scholarships offered by non-Colby organizations.

As stated more fully in the section on Academic Procedures in this catalogue, the Committee on Academic Standing reviews the records of all students at the end of each semester to determine if each is maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Decisions of this committee govern eligibility for financial aid in accordance with federal regulations and Colby policy.

Committee decisions of dismissal may be appealed. When students have been readmitted after academic dismissal, federal Title IV assistance (to a maximum of 10 semesters) will be awarded on a cumulative basis according to Colby’s published funding priorities for financial aid. All standards are in accordance with federal laws with respect to satisfactory progress. In general, a Colby grant is available only for tuition charged for course work required to obtain a Colby degree, up to eight semesters of full-time enrollment. To ensure maximum aid eligibility, a student must maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, exclusive of credits taken during January.

Students who are admitted to Colby as other-than-first-semester freshmen are eligible for Colby aid for the number of semesters required for graduation as determined by the College at the time of entry. For example, a student who matriculates as a second semester freshman is considered for up to seven semesters of aid.

Payment

Payment of Bills
Online student account statements are available to enrolled students. Students may authorize the College to make online statements accessible to parents or to discuss financial matters with the parents. In order to do so, permission must be granted by the student through the myColby portal. Instructions on how to grant parental access are available on the portal. Electronic notices will be sent to the student's e-mail account monthly should there be a balance due or as needed to communicate financial transactions, obligations, and pertinent information.

Prior to the first day of classes each semester, student accounts must be paid or satisfactory arrangements made with Student Financial Services. If the balance on the account is to be paid by an outside scholarship, a 30-day late fee waiver will be granted for the amount of the scholarship only if the student notifies Student Financial Services of this information prior to the first day of classes. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all financial matters are resolved prior to the first day of classes. Payments are applied against charges in the order in which the charges appear on the student's account.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this catalogue, a student's account, including tuition, room and board, fees, charges, and fines, must be paid in full before that student will be allowed to register for classes for an upcoming semester, to receive transcripts, to participate in the annual room draw process, to participate in baccalaureate or commencement exercises, or to receive a degree or diploma.

In the event that a student account is delinquent, the account may be placed with a collection agency or an attorney for collection. All collection costs, including attorney's fees, will be charged to the student.

The College does not accept either credit cards or post-dated checks for payment of semester charges. Electronic payments from a U.S. checking or savings account can be made at www.colby.edu/sfs. A fee of $15 is charged for any returned check or electronic payment.

Late Payment Fees
A late payment fee of one percent of an unpaid balance of $1,000 or more will be assessed at the first of each month for as long as such a balance remains unpaid. A balance must be 30 days old to be assessed a fee. Assessment dates for September and February will coincide with the first day of classes rather than with the first day of those months. In order to avoid late fees it is best to send payment as early as possible, as Colby cannot be held responsible for delays in mail service. Overnight mail or electronic payments are recommended when making payment within two weeks of the first day of classes. Electronic payments from a U.S. checking or savings account can be made at www.colby.edu/sfs under the Student Account Info link.

Loan and Payment Plans
The College makes available a number of loan and payment plans. Those interested in such plans may contact Student Financial Services at 1-800-723-4033.

Refunds

Refunds
Pro rata refunds of the basic charges will be made for students who withdraw either voluntarily or upon advice from the College physician during the enrollment period. The enrollment period is either the fall or spring semester. (Refunds of basic charges are not granted to full-time students withdrawing during the January Program.) A similar refund policy is in effect for Colby off-campus programs.

The College offers an optional tuition refund insurance designed to reduce the financial loss caused by a medical withdrawal. Information is sent to the students by July.

No refund will be made until the withdrawal/leave process established by the dean of students is completed.

Federal regulations determine the amount and the order in which federal loans and scholarships are to be refunded.

No refunds are made for students who elect not to do an on-campus January Program.

Future Tuition and Fees
The College projects that Colby costs likely will increase above inflation in order to maintain the real growth in salaries comparable to professionals outside of higher education, continue a financial aid grant program for about one third of all Colby students, maintain and update the College's physical plant and sophisticated equipment, and retain flexibility for currently unforeseen but essential investments that will be needed to keep Colby in the forefront of innovation and excellence in national liberal arts colleges.

General Information
Student Financial Services is located on the first floor of the Garrison-Foster Building. Staff members are available on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to answer questions about student accounts, financial aid, student and parent loans, and College financial policies.