Financial Policies

Tuition and Fees 2024-2025

Health insurance is paid for a full year during the fall term and may be waived under certain conditions. Students who enroll only in the spring semester will be assessed at the rate listed for the spring semester.

Tuition on a per-credit (part-time or overload) basis for students entering Fall 2020 and after is $1,751 per credit hour. Tuition on a per-credit (part-time or overload) basis for students who entered in Fall 2019 or Spring 2020 is $1,725 per credit hour. Tuition on a per-credit (part-time or overload) basis for students who entered prior to Fall 2019 is $1,703 per credit hour.

All fees are subject to change.

It is the policy of Emerson College to provide educational programs, room and board, and social opportunities for students at a cost reflecting economic efficiency that is compatible with high quality. Every effort will be made to make charges clear and well known. Students are responsible for knowing and understanding charges and fees and for meeting financial obligations by the published deadline. Additional information pertaining to student accounts including tuition and explanation of fees can be accessed on our website at emerson.edu/billing.

Financial obligations of enrolled students are indicated in the following section of this catalog. Failure to meet payment deadlines through direct payment to the College’s Office of Student Accounts or by written evidence of financial assistance will result in a finance charge of 1.5% per month. Nonpayment will result in cancellation of enrollment, denial of registration for classes, denial of occupancy of residence hall space, and denial of use of the College dining center, library, and all other facilities.

Students will be charged in full for willful or careless damage, breakage, or loss of College property, including library materials. Notice of such charges, with substantiating evidence, will be issued by the College.

Billing and Payment

Tuition, fees, and all other charges are to be paid in full prior to August 1 for the Fall 2024 semester, December 15 for the Spring 2025 semester, and at the time of enrollment for all summer and winter terms in order for students to be officially registered (unless otherwise noted). The Office of Student Accounts generates electronic tuition statements once a semester for the fall and spring semesters. Payment for the summer term is due at the time of enrollment; electronic statements are not created for this term. Statements can be viewed through TouchNet by logging in as a student through eCommon, or as an Authorized User. Email notifications will be sent to students and their Authorized Users each time a new tuition statement has been uploaded.

• Fall semester statements are available in late June and are due August 1.

• Spring semester statements are available in November and are due December 15.

Payments can be made online, via mail, in person, and by wire transfer (for international students).

In addition to electronic checking and savings payments, the College accepts MasterCard, VISA, and American Express. A 2.85% convenience fee will be charged for any payments made via credit card for tuition and fees.

The College Trustees reserve the right to change tuition rates or fees at their discretion, whenever it is determined advisable.

Deferred Payment Plans

Student accounts are payable to the College prior to the beginning of each semester, as billed. Students wishing to pay their accounts in monthly installments may do so by participating in the TouchNet Payment Plan through the online billing site. Arrangements must be completed prior to the payment deadline. All payments for tuition and fees made with a credit card online will be assessed a 2.85% convenience fee.

Tuition and Fees

For full-time students, those registered between 12 and 16 credits a term, one-half of the academic year’s tuition is charged for the fall term and one-half for the spring term. Part-time students and those enrolled for more than 16 credits will be billed on a per-credit basis. All payments for tuition and fees made with a credit card online will be assessed a 2.85% convenience fee.

Credit Balances on Student Accounts

Credit balance refunds are available to students who have overpaid their accounts. To request a credit balance refund, log onto https://emerson.edu/students/billing. Credit balance refunds are granted to enrolled students only when a credit balance exists. Please note that no refunds may be issued based on an anticipated credit balance (e.g., financial aid not yet disbursed). A credit balance must exist prior to the refund request. Currently, credit balance refunds will be processed by the Office of Student Accounts within two Fridays from the date on which the request is received.

Refund Policy

Tuition refunds are made to students who have officially filed for a leave of absence or withdrawal from the College as follows:

• During the first two weeks of classes: 80% refund of tuition

• During the third week: 60% refund of tuition

• During the fourth week: 40% refund of tuition

• During the fifth week: 20% refund of tuition

• After the fifth week: No refund is made

Dates are determined by the Boston campus schedule.

Prorated room and board credit adjustments are made to students living in on-campus housing who file an official withdrawal or leave of absence prior to the published leave/withdrawal deadline and have officially vacated their room. Room and board credit adjustments are based on the date the student completes the housing check-out process, including return of key.

Refunds for the fall and spring terms will be processed by Student Financial Services upon receipt of a completed leave or withdrawal form and, for students living in on-campus housing, confirmation that the housing check-out process has been completed.

No tuition refund or room and board credit adjustment is made when withdrawal of a student from classes or on-campus is required by College authorities, or when a student withdraws from a course with a WP or WF grade. Mandatory student fees are assessed to students each term and are nonrefundable, regardless of whether the student completes the full academic year or a given term at the College.

Summer Refunds

Students may drop summer courses online for a full refund prior to the first day of class. If the summer session has started but the course has not met yet, students cannot drop the course online but may drop the course for a full refund by visiting the Registrar’s Office or emailing registrar@emerson.edu. If the course has met once, students are eligible for a 75% refund. If the course has met twice, students are eligible for a 50% refund. If a course has met three times or more, students must withdraw from the course and no refund will be made. Online courses without a set schedule are assumed to follow a Tuesday/Thursday 6:00 pm schedule for refund policy purposes.

Graduation Policy

Students must fulfill all financial obligations to the College in order to receive a diploma. A student’s account balance that is a result of direct charges (tuition, room and board, fees, residence hall or disciplinary fines, and any outstanding payments on established monthly plans) must be paid in full prior to the last day of class in that semester.

If students have met all academic requirements but have not settled their account balance prior to the last day of class, Emerson cannot guarantee the students’ ability to receive their diploma or academic transcripts. To guarantee receipt of their diploma, and access to their transcripts, students must meet all financial obligations.

Once all financial obligations are fulfilled, the Office of the Registrar will be contacted in order for the diploma to be released to the graduate.

Please contact the Office of Student Accounts at 617-824-8655 or bills@emerson.edu with any questions.

Loan Exit Counseling

If a student has participated in a federal student loan program (Federal Perkins Loan and Federal Direct Loan), mandatory exit counseling requirements must be completed before the last day of the semester. Borrowers required to participate will receive notice prior to their graduation. For additional information regarding loan requirements, please contact studentloans@emerson.edu or 617-824-8655.

Withdrawal and Leave of Absences for Students Receiving Title IV Federal Assistance

All students are eligible to receive full credit of their tuition and fees, excluding non-refundable deposits, if they withdraw before the first day of classes. Students receiving federal financial aid funds who withdraw on or after the first day of classes will have their aid adjusted using the percentage determined by the Federal Return of Title IV Funds calculation. Adjustments will be made based on the number of days a student attends, up to the 60 percent point of the semester. For a complete explanation of the Return of Title IV Funds calculation, please visit the Leaves and Withdrawals page of the Emerson website.

Food and Housing

One-half of the academic year’s food and housing charge is billed for the fall term and one-half is billed for the spring term. Selection of a meal plan is mandatory for all students living in Emerson residence halls. There are several meal plans from which to choose. Information on these plans is available from the Office of Housing and Residential Education. Off-campus students can obtain a Commuter Meal Plan. Information is available online at https://emerson.edu/departments/business-services/emerson-dining-catering-eccash/meal-plans.

Fees and Other Costs

Application Fee

$65 must accompany an application for admission. This fee is non-refundable.

Admission Deposit

$500 is payable at the time of the student’s confirmation of admission to the College. This deposit is non-refundable. Please note: For students confirming their acceptance of admission to the Global BFA in Film Art major, the nonrefundable enrollment deposit is $1,000.

Student Services Fee

The Student Services Fee is a consolidation of campus-required fees that support several College services. This comprehensive fee is paid by all full-time students at the College.

The components covered under the comprehensive fee provide the following services:

Student Services

The Student Services Fee supports all departments that provide student-oriented services and activities on campus, such as the Registrar’s Office (registration), Student Life (Orientation), and the Commencement Office.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association Fee is charged to support student club- and organization-related programming and activities.

Health Services

The Health Services Fee enables students to access the College’s Counseling and Psychological Services and the Center for Health and Wellness during the fall and spring terms.

Center for Health and Wellness and Health Insurance

Health Entrance Requirements: All students enrolled for 9 or more credits are required to submit health entrance documentation. This includes completion of the medical history, tuberculosis-screening questionnaire, and an immunization verification. In addition, Massachusetts state law mandates that all college students must have certain immunizations valid and current as a condition of enrollment. Students must provide evidence of vaccination/immunity or submit documentation that they meet the standards for medical or religious exemption within 30 days of the first day of classes. Failure to do so will jeopardize a student’s enrollment and on-campus residency. Information on the online student health portal (OSH) and process for completing and submitting the entrance health documents will be posted on the accepted student and Center for Health and Wellness web pages. Information must be submitted after June 1 and no later than July 1 for students entering in the fall semester, and after October 15 and no later than January 4 for students entering in the spring semester.

Health Insurance: The state law requires undergraduate students enrolled at least 75 percent of full time (9 or more credits), who are not enrolled solely in short term courses or an online program, to be covered by a qualified health insurance program. The College automatically provides a health insurance policy for all eligible matriculating students. Students enrolled less than 75 percent of full time not in a fully online program will not be automatically enrolled but may request enrollment. Please contact the Office of Student Accounts for elective enrollment or for more information on the special insurance policies.

The automatically assessed student health insurance premium may be waived each academic year by providing proof of enrollment in comparable coverage by another qualified health insurance program. Coverage under a health benefit plan is comparable if:

• The health benefit plan provides to the student throughout the school year reasonably comprehensive coverage of health services, including preventive and primary care, emergency services, surgical services, hospitalization benefits, ambulatory patient services (laboratory testing), and mental health services.

• The services covered under the health benefit plan are reasonably accessible to the student in the area where the student attends school.

The health insurance waiver is found at emerson.edu/billing/payments-refunds/health-insurance-waivers. The insurance waiver process is separate from the health forms mentioned above.

The student health insurance policy is designed to offer protection against unexpected and potentially heavy expenses for accidents or illnesses. Please refer to the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)/University Health Services Student Health website for specific coverage benefits.

During the academic year, students enrolled in the student insurance program are required to first seek an evaluation at the Center for Health and Wellness prior to receiving non-emergency medical care. Referrals are not required when the center is closed (semester breaks, summer, holidays). Referral authorization for specialty care is required for most medical conditions. Please review the policy benefits or contact an insurance representative for clarification. A referral is not required for students seeking mental health services off campus; however, a clinician in Counseling and Psychological Services can facilitate referrals to behavioral/mental health providers outside the College.

Insurance Regulations for Students Who Experience Loss of Coverage Mid-Year

Massachusetts state law requires all students participating in at least 75 percent of full time (9 or more credits) to be continuously enrolled in a qualifying health insurance plan. Students who waive the College-sponsored insurance program at the beginning of the year and subsequently lose their alternative coverage are obligated to seek immediate enrollment in either the College-sponsored plan or a qualifying alternate insurance plan. In either case, students are responsible for notifying the Office of Student Accounts to make arrangements for enrolling in the College-sponsored insurance plan or to update the Center for Health and Wellness (CHW) with the pertinent information regarding their new qualifying alternate plan. A pro-rated premium is available for the College-sponsored insurance plan when coverage begins after the start of the applicable policy year.

International Students

Massachusetts regulation does not consider coverage by insurance carriers outside of the United States and coverage by foreign national health services programs as comparable under a qualifying student health insurance program. To be eligible to waive the insurance, the policy must meet the above definition of “comparable,” be underwritten by a US-based insurance carrier, and be accessible to the student the entire academic year while they are on campus in Boston or at one of the College’s external programs. The benefit coverage must be comparable to that required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Exceptions to the regulations are:

• Students whose health coverage is sponsored through their country’s embassy.

• Students whose health coverage is mandated and provided through a scholarship or special program.

These exceptions allowing a waiver assume that the student’s insurance coverage is comparable to that required by the state regulations. This regulation will require that the vast majority of international students be enrolled in the Emerson College-sponsored insurance.

Tuition Insurance Plan

Elective insurance is available from the Dewar Tuition Refund Plan to enhance the College’s existing refund policy. This insurance provides coverage for medical withdrawals not covered by the College policy due to the date of the withdrawal or the nature of the charges. This plan would provide 80 percent protection for withdrawals as a result of injury, sickness, or mental health concerns. The Tuition Refund Plan charge will appear on your bill automatically each semester unless you opt out of the coverage at tuitionprotection.com/emerson.

Other Charges

Miscellaneous fees, such as those on the following list, will be billed as appropriate. Changes to this list are at the College’s discretion.

Late Registration: $50
Audit Fee (per credit): $30

Collections Policy

Outstanding balances not covered by financial aid or an approved deferred payment plan will result in the monthly assessment of a finance charge on the unpaid balance. Students with unpaid balances at the end of the second week of classes face possible financial withdrawal and referral to an outside collection agency. Students referred to an outside collection agency will be responsible for all collection costs and interest charges.

Note: All delinquent accounts are subject to credit bureau reporting.