Financial Policies and Procedures

Student Account Costs

Undergraduate (credit) course tuition and fees are assessed on a per credit hour basis rather than a per course cost. The per credit hour tuition rate is determined by the student’s residency classification, as determined by Student and Enrollment Services, and whether a course qualifies for state funding. Additional per course lab or special fees may be assessed, as needed and approved.

Continuing Education (CE) course instructional fees are assessed on a per course basis. The cost of each course is listed in the applicable Continuing Education Schedule located on Collin College’s website at www.collin.edu/ce/.

All Collin College tuition and fees, both course and/or service related, must be approved by Collin College’s Board of Trustees (Board), are added as necessary, and are kept to a practical minimum. For the most current credit course tuition and fee rates, as well as additional course and/or service specific fees, go to www.collin.edu/bursar/tuition.html.

Average In-State Cost of Attendance (COA) for Credit Students

In addition to the direct costs incurred by a student attending Collin College, the cost of attendance (COA), also known as the budget, is an estimate of anticipated comprehensive costs the typical student would incur for a given academic period. The COA includes not only tuition and fees but also other educational related expenses such as books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses.

Standardized costs of attendance are established each year and are applied equally across similar groups of students (e.g., full-time students), providing a more comprehensive budget picture for an academic year or term. Charts showing the average cost of attendance at Collin College are available online at https://www.collin.edu/financialaid/coa.html.

Student Financial Responsibility

Registration is required for students to attend courses at Collin College. Registration in any course or acceptance of any service from Collin College creates a contractual obligation and agreement to pay all tuition, fees, and other assessed and/or associated costs resulting from registration and/or receipt of services. The three (3) primary credit terms have an advertised early registration payment deadline. After the initial credit term’s payment deadline, and for all CE terms, any registration balance on the student’s account is due at the time of registration. It is the student’s responsibility to review account balances, comply with financial aid eligibility requirements and third (3rd) party funding guidelines, and pay any balance due by the established payment deadlines.

By registering for courses at Collin College, the student is acknowledging understanding of, and agreement to, personal financial responsibility, including the following:

• Registration is, in fact, acceptance of financial responsibility and constitutes a promissory note agreement (i.e., a financial obligation in the form of an educational loan, as defined by the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(8) in which Collin College is providing educational services, possibly deferring some or all of a payment obligation for those services per payment deadline policies.
• The student promises to pay and/or secure alternate funding for all assessed tuition, fees, and other associated costs and/or balances by the published or assigned due date. The student acknowledges default of payment obligations may result in additional collection activities, assessed charges, and/or account and/or service restrictions.
• The student is responsible for all course registration activity, including drop/withdrawal from courses.
• Registration is only complete upon full funding of courses.
• Charges for dropped/withdrawn credit courses will be assessed in accordance with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Refund Rules, which specifies 100 percent remission of tuition and fees is only available for courses dropped prior to the beginning of the term or mini-term.
• Charges for dropped CE courses will be assessed per Collin College’s published refund rules, which specify 100 percent remission of instructional fees is only available prior to the course start date/time.
• Payment of tuition and fees corresponding to dropped or withdrawn courses is the student’s responsibility.
• Failure to attend class or receive a bill does not absolve the student of financial responsibility.
• Per Texas Education Code 54.007(d): A STUDENT WHO FAILS TO MAKE FULL PAYMENT OF TUITION AND MANDATORY FEES, INCLUDING ANY INCIDENTAL FEES, BY THE DUE DATE MAY BE PROHIBITED FROM REGISTERING FOR CLASSES UNTIL FULL PAYMENT IS MADE. A STUDENT WHO FAILS TO MAKE FULL PAYMENT PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SEMESTER OR TERM MAY BE DENIED CREDIT FOR THE WORK DONE THAT SEMESTER OR TERM.
• The Agreement to Collin College’s Terms and Conditions of Registration and Agreement to Pay Tuition Charges and Unpaid Student Account Balances is located at www.collin.edu/bursar/Financial_Responsibility.html.

Payment Requirements and Deadlines

Payment deadlines and student account balances are available online. Meeting payment deadline requirements within each registration period is the student’s responsibility. Funding must be in place in compliance with payment deadline requirements within the applicable registration period to ensure course enrollment status.

Registration Periods

Early Registration (credit term) is the period from the first (1st) day of registration through the advertised early registration payment deadline. Additional information and the payment deadlines for specific terms are located at www.collin.edu/bursar/payment_deadline.html.

Funding for all charges on the student’s account is due in full on or before the early registration payment deadline. Acceptable funding is payment in full, awarded and authorized financial aid, verified third (3rd) party (TP) funding, eligible exemptions/waivers, a promissory note payment plan agreement, or a combination of the above. Students with any outstanding balances not funded in full on or before the published payment deadline may be dropped from all classes by an automated process that same night. Partial funding will not prevent classes from being dropped.

Regular Registration (credit term) for the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms begins after the early registration payment deadline and continues until the day before the term or mini-session begins. Regular registration activity, including Weekend Express or mini-semester registration, must be paid in full or have approved funding noted at the time of registration to prevent the course(s) being dropped for non-payment.

Late Registration (credit term) begins the first (1st) day of the primary part of term for each term (i.e., Fall, Spring, and Summer), and a late fee is assessed for registration initiated the first (1st) week of the term. Late registration activity, including Weekend Express or mini-semester registration, must be paid in full or have approved funding noted at the time of registration to prevent the course(s) from being dropped for non-payment and registration and/or transcript holds being placed on the student’s account.

CE registration terms do not provide an early registration period. All funding sources must be in place at the time of registration to prevent drop for non-payment activity and/or registration and transcript holds being placed on the student’s account.

Charges and payments are term specific. When paying online, students need to select the specific term for which they are making payment.

Automatic Course Cancellation, or Drop for Non-Payment (DNP), of Tuition

Students with outstanding balances not totally funded by the Early Registration Payment Deadline for Fall, Spring, and Summer credit terms are subject to drop for non-payment (DNP) from all courses the day after the published Early Registration Payment Deadline, regardless of whether a partial payment(s) has been made.

During Regular and Late Registration, including CE terms, regardless of course/session start date, registration and payment activity are calculated on a daily reporting cycle. An unpaid balance on one (1) class at the close of the business day may cause the student to be dropped from all classes in the same day/reporting period, including those for which the student previously paid. For example, if a student registers for three (3) credit hours or a CE course at 9 a.m., pays Collin College in full, and then registers for three (3) additional credit hours or another CE course at 10 a.m. and does not pay the additional registration at the time of registration, all six (6) credit hours and/or both CE courses are subject to DNP.

Additionally, if a student drops a course when the refund amount is less than 100 percent and receives a partial credit on the account for the dropped course, then adds a new course and does not pay the full amount due for both the dropped course and the added course, the registered course may be DNP.

If a student is dropped from a class(es) for nonpayment of tuition, it is the student’s responsibility to re-register for classes. There is no guarantee a seat will remain available in the original course(s) for which the student had registered.

CougarPay Access and Services

For students’ convenience, student account services are offered and managed in a secure online site accessible from CougarWeb. Student account services available in the CougarPay site include viewing current charges resulting from account activity; accessing e-bills; paying account balances; initiating promissory note installment plans (when available); establishing an e-Refund account to expedite receipt of refunded monies; authorizing limited access to family members assisting with account activity; and opting in for 1098-T electronic delivery, for eligible students. Students are encouraged to explore the CougarPay site and the many services available.

Follow the instructions below to access the secure site:

1. Go to CougarWeb (https://cougarweb.collin.edu) and log in with the student’s assigned Collin College username and password.
2. From the Student Quick Links select CougarPay (Manage Payments & eRefunds).
3. Select Collin College Account Suite bar to enter the secure payment portal.
4. Select the tab for the desired service and follow the prompts.

Account Statements and Bills

Collin College email is the official means of communicating with students, and billing information for credit students will be provided through their assigned college email account. To activate automated email account notifications, students should initiate at least one (1) login to the CougarPay site. E-bills are generated monthly for any credit student account with a positive or negative balance at that moment in time. Student account history provides real-time account balances as registration or payment/refund activity occurs. Students are responsible for complying with payment deadline requirements, even if an e-bill is not received. Payment deadlines are available on Collin College’s Master Calendar located at https://www.collin.edu/calendars/.

Payment Policies

Collin College accepts cash, check, cashier’s check, money order, and MasterCard, VISA or Discover payments not to exceed the tuition and fee charges and/or service charges on the student’s account. Partial payments are accepted, but the full account balance must be paid in compliance with payment deadline requirements. When writing a check or using a credit card, the student must show a picture identification card (ID) and provide his or her College Wide Identification (CWID) number.

Collin College may refuse or restrict check payments on any account on which a check payment was not honored by the originating financial institution or for payment of any past due account balance.

Incomplete and/or unsuccessful payments, including credit card challenges of selected services, may result in additional fees and/or account or service restrictions.

Payments by paper check are processed through the Automated Clearing House (ACH). For paper checks, the Texas driver’s license number of the person signing the check and the student’s CWID and local address must be written on the check. If the student prefers to not provide the CWID on the check, payment may be submitted by web check, cashier’s check, or money order. Students requiring payments from out-of-state financial accounts should pay by web check. Check writing privileges will be permanently revoked for students with three (3) or more insufficient funds, rejected, or returned paper or web check payments.

Students may also set up authorized users in CougarPay. Authorized users may make credit card or web check payments on an authorized student’s account for tuition and fee charges.

Payment Methods

Collin College accepts the following methods of payment for tuition, fees, and services:

1. Secure online payment is the recommended method. Convenient online credit card or web check payments may be made 24/7 via the CougarPay secure payment portal accessed through CougarWeb (https://cougarweb.collin.edu).
2. In-person payments by cash, credit card, check, or money order may be made at any Collin College Bursar/Cashier’s Office location during posted business hours.
3. Mailed checks or money orders are accepted with the same requirements as any paper check and are recorded as of the date received, not the postmark. Checks should be mailed to:
   
   Collin College
   Attn: Bursar
   3452 Spur 399
   Suite 327
   McKinney, TX 75069
    
4. Financial Aid and/or scholarship awards noted on the student’s account as Authorized/Anticipated Aid and/or paid amounts for the corresponding term are considered as eligible funding. Students receiving these financial aid and/or scholarship awards sufficient to cover all of the tuition and fee charges do not need to make an additional payment. Students are responsible for completing any financial aid application and/or acceptance process(es) and maintaining current enrollment status.

   Authorized financial aid funds for a credit student with certified course activity disburse to the student’s Collin College account five (5) to ten (10) business days after the term/mini-sessions census date. Unpaid charges on the student’s account will be deducted from any resulting financial aid credit, and then any remaining credit balance will be processed for refund within 10 days.

   CE Financial Aid awards are for course costs only and are not eligible for student refunds.

   Student accounts with a scholarship credit remaining from an earlier term should verify with the Collin College Foundation Office or other sponsoring department/entity whether those funds may be used for the new term. For more information, see the Financial Aid and Veterans Services and Scholarships.

5. Gift/prepaid MasterCard, VISA, or Discover card payments are accepted. However, students should not discard the used gift/prepaid card. If a refund is necessary, the amount will be returned to the original gift/prepaid card.
6. During early registration, students may make partial payments as their budgets allow, but the full amount due should be paid by the early registration payment deadline. Paying in increments during early registration provides a no fee, no contract informal payment plan for students.
7. Promissory note installment plans allow students to pay in three monthly installments. The promissory note installment payment plans are available online in CougarPay prior to the Fall, Spring, and Summer credit terms. At the time of enrollment, the student must complete a promissory note, pay 50 percent of all tuition and fees plus a $25 non-refundable processing charge, and save a payment method for automatic installment payments. The remaining two payments (remaining 50 percent owed) will be due on future predetermined dates. For example, if the installment plan was set up in January, the next payment will be due in February and the third payment in March. If the student adds a course(s) after initiating the installment plan, 50 percent of the new tuition and fee charges incurred is due at the time of registration to ensure course registration status.
   
   The installment promissory note and initial payment for early registration activity must be completed on the specified deadline for each term. After the deadline, the installment agreement and payment must be completed at the time of registration.
   
   Making a partial payment on or after the payment deadline without completing the promissory note does not initiate a payment plan or meet funding requirements.
   
   Stopping a check or credit card payment will not cancel the installment plan. Any credit resulting from dropped or withdrawn courses will be applied to unpaid charges.
   
   Official grades and transcripts may be withheld until all installment plan payments have been made, and default may result in course withdrawal.
    
8. Third (3rd) Party (TP) funding is accepted if a valid TP agreement between an entity and Collin College is established and/or a voucher from the business or agency verifying the student’s eligibility for funding is presented each term to the Bursar/Cashier’s Office in compliance with payment deadline requirements.
   
   Students are responsible for any amount owed if the sponsoring agency does not remit payment in full.
   
   Students with TP sponsors who pay for books and/or supplies must meet the Barnes & Noble College Bookstore’s TP funding requirements. For more information, contact the preferred campus bookstore.
    
9. Post 9/11 veteran education benefits are acceptable funding for students with documented eligibility. Eligible students must contact a campus Bursar/Cashier’s Office or email cashier@collin.edu each term to authorize use of veterans’ benefits.
10. International currency payments are accepted through Collin College’s partnership with Flywire. This partnership allows international students to pay securely from any country and bank in their home currency. Payments for an amount equal to current student account charges at Collin College may be paid through Flywire Payment and must be received in the Bursar/Cashier’s Office by the applicable payment deadline. For more information, go to https://www.flywire.com/pay/Collin.
11. College savings/529 plan check payments are accepted and processed with the same requirements and restrictions as personal paper check payments on the student’s account.
12. Exemptions and waivers for qualified students may reduce account balances. Collin College offers numerous state and local Board authorized tuition and/or fee exemptions and waivers for eligible students. A list of exemptions and waivers offered at Collin College, including the appropriate office to contact, brief eligibility requirements, the nature of the exemption or waiver offered, and the authorizing citation or policy, is available online at www.collin.edu/bursar/tuitionwaiversexemptionsrebate.html.

Refunds

Credit term refunds are calculated per state mandated rules. One hundred (100) percent refunds (less non-refundable fees) are only issued for courses dropped prior to each term or mini-session’s start date. Each term or mini-session’s start date is based on the week the course begins and not the first (1st) day of an individual’s class. As of 12:01 a.m. on the first (1st) day of the term/mini- session, refunds assessed for dropped or withdrawn courses will be reduced to 70 percent and then graduated down to zero (0) percent, per the THECB refund rules shown below.

Note: Sunday is only counted if it is the first (1st) day of the course and only the first Sunday class day is counted. Saturday is not counted for Summer terms unless the course begins on a Saturday, in which case the first (1st) Saturday will be counted.

CE term refunds are calculated per Collin College’s published refund rules. Courses dropped prior to the course start time are eligible for a 100 percent refund. As of the course start date/time, CE courses may not be dropped and are not eligible for any refund percentage.

Students should consider the financial consequences before making schedule changes, including changes based on campus, professor, and/or date or time convenience. Students in cancelled classes who do not add another class will automatically be dropped and receive a full refund credit (i.e., 100 percent minus non-refundable fees), which will be included in the scheduled refund process. Any credit(s) generated on a student’s account may be applied to outstanding charges before a refund is issued.

Registration refund processing for a credit term begins approximately three (3) weeks after registration opens. CE course refunds are processed on a continuing weekly basis. Eligible credit amounts from registration and/or residency changes may take up to 30 days to be refunded. Financial aid refund processing begins approximately one (1) week after the primary term’s census date and after course activity is certified by faculty. Refunds are generally issued in the same form as the payment received. However, system processes may result in refund types that vary from the initial payment type (e.g., an electronic refund to a saved refund account has priority over a credit card refund after financial aid for a term is posted to the student’s account). Cash and check payments will be refunded electronically when authorized. Students who do not receive a credit card refund and/or do not authorize an electronic refund will be issued a paper check. Checks are mailed two (2) to five (5) days after electronic refunds are processed to the student’s permanent address on file with the Student and Enrollment Services Office. To expedite refunds, students are encouraged to set up electronic refunds on the CougarPay site. Note: Sunday is only counted if it is the first (1st) day of the course (and only the first class day Sunday is counted). Saturday is not counted for Summer terms unless the course begins on a Saturday, in which case the first (1st) Saturday will be counted.

CE term refunds are calculated per Collin College’s published refund rules. Courses dropped prior to the course start time are eligible for a 100 percent refund. As of the course start date/time, CE courses may not be dropped and are not eligible for any refund percentage.

Students should consider the financial consequences before making schedule changes, including changes based on campus, professor, and/or date or time convenience. Students in cancelled classes who do not add another class will automatically be dropped and receive a full refund credit (i.e., 100 percent minus non-refundable fees), which will be included in the scheduled refund process. Any credit(s) generated on a student’s account may be applied to outstanding charges before a refund is issued.

Registration refund processing for a credit term begins approximately three (3) weeks after registration opens. CE course refunds are processed on a continuing weekly basis. Eligible credit amounts from registration and/or residency changes may take up to 30 days to be refunded. Financial aid refund processing begins approximately one (1) week after the primary term’s census date and after course activity is certified by faculty. Refunds are generally issued in the same form as the payment received. However, system processes may result in refund types that vary from the initial payment type (e.g., an electronic refund to a saved refund account has priority over a credit card refund after financial aid for a term is posted to the student’s account). Cash and check payments will be refunded electronically when authorized. Students who do not receive a credit card refund and/or do not authorize an electronic refund will be issued a paper check. Checks are mailed two (2) to five (5) days after electronic refunds are processed to the student’s permanent address on file with the Student and Enrollment Services Office. To expedite refunds, students are encouraged to set up electronic refunds on the CougarPay site. Note: Sunday is only counted if it is the first (1st) day of the course (and only the first class day Sunday is counted). Saturday is not counted for Summer terms unless the course begins on a Saturday, in which case the first (1st) Saturday will be counted.

Delinquent Account/Collection

Accounts not paid when due are subject to holds preventing future registration, receipt of diploma, and/or access to grades and transcripts. Additionally, the student’s course enrollment status may be changed to drop for non-payment (DNP) or withdrawn. Students who fail to pay any monies owed by the due date and/or fail to make acceptable payment arrangements to bring their accounts current may have their delinquent accounts referred to an outside collection agency and/or reported to the national credit bureaus. Monies owed include any unpaid amount on the student’s account, including, but not limited to, assessed charges for qualified tuition and related education expenses, including resident housing and/or meal plan charges, and/or adjustments to financial aid awards and/or amounts not covered under an approved and eligible third (3rd) party funding agreement. If a student’s account is referred to a third (3rd) party for collection, a collection fee will be assessed and will be due in full at the time of the referral to the third (3^rd) party. Students are responsible for all late fees, assessed collection fees, attorney fees, interest, and any costs and charges necessary for the collection of any amount not paid when due. The collection fee will be calculated up to the maximum amount permitted by applicable law, but not to exceed 30 percent of the amount outstanding. If a lawsuit is filed to recover an outstanding balance, the student will also be responsible for any costs associated with the lawsuit. The student further understands and agrees that:

• Collin College may apply monies due to the student from Collin College to any delinquent amount due until the principal account balances, interest, and costs are paid in full;
• Collin College may pay any balance due on the student’s account from any Title IV funds awarded and disbursed to the student’s account in the same academic award year, including an amount up to $200 for educationally related expenses incurred in a prior financial aid award year;
• any financial obligation to Collin College constitutes an educational loan to assist in financing education and, therefore, is not dischargeable, pursuant to United States Bankruptcy Code § 523(a)(8);
• all disputes about registration or payment will be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws of the State of Texas; and
• the venue for any lawsuit regarding collection of a delinquent debt will be in Collin County, Texas.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Student Payment Accounts

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records, including student financial accounts. In accordance with FERPA, a student’s account and payment information may only be provided to the student. However, a student may grant a family member(s) or other designated individual(s) access to view the student’s account information and/or make payments by designating the family member(s) or individual(s) as an authorized user(s) on the CougarPay site. As authorized users, individuals are provided unique login information to access the student’s account and make payments.

For more information, see CougarPay Access and Services above and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Student Education Records section in the current Student Handbook.

Bursar/Cashier Services

Bursar/cashier’s staff provide support services for students’ financial accounts, including payments and refunds. Course registration and residency classification questions should be addressed to a Student and Enrollment Services staff member. Financial aid questions should be addressed to a Financial Aid and Veterans Services Office staff member. For more information or assistance with student account payments and refund processing, contact cashier@collin.edu.

Tuition and Fee Charges

To see a current list of tuition and fees, visit https://www.collin.edu/bursar/tuition.html.

Non-Fundable Course Tuition

Texas resident students enrolled in courses not eligible for funding by the State of Texas may be charged a higher tuition rate for each course that is not eligible for state funding at a rate of $50 per semester credit hour in addition to regular tuition. Examples of non-fundable course tuition being assessed include:

• Courses repeated more than one time - Collin College is generally not permitted to report for state funding those courses that a student has taken for the third time (or more).  Exemptions exist for selected types of courses.  See the Collin College website https://www.collin.edu/register/withdrawal.html.
• Courses not approved for funding by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board - Collin College offers two courses that are taught specifically to transfer into the programs of a specific university that are not approved for state funding. See the Collin College website https://www.collin.edu/register/withdrawal.html for a complete list of courses charged the higher tuition rate.
• Limitations on State Funding for Remedial and Developmental Education Courses- Collin College is limited to reporting no more than 18 semester credit hours for state funding for an individual student taking Remedial and Developmental Education courses/interventions.  Up to 9 additional semester credit hours can be reported for funding for English for Speakers of other Languages (ESL) courses/interventions, bringing the maximum allowable to 27 semester credit hours for an individual student.
• Excess Hour Courses-Beginning in the Fall 2023 semester, Collin College will no longer be permitted to report for state funding semester credit hours in excess of specified limits unless those hours are exempted. As a result, in the Fall 2024 semester, Collin College may begin charging non-fundable course tuition for course credits that constitute excess hours for the student’s declared degree plan.

For an undergraduate, Texas-resident student who was initially enrolled in higher education in the Fall 2023 semester and declares pursuit of an associate degree program, the limit on the number of semester credit hours that can be reported for state funding is the required semester credit hours for the degree plus 15.

For an undergraduate, Texas-resident student who was initially enrolled in higher education in the Fall 2023 semester and does not declare pursuit of a degree program, it will be assumed the student is enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program, and the limit on the number of semester credit hours that can be reported for state funding is 150.

For an undergraduate, Texas-resident student who was initially enrolled in higher education in the Fall 2006 or later semester and declares pursuit of a baccalaureate degree program, the limit on the number of semester credit hours that can be reported for state funding is the required semester credit hours for the degree plus 30.

For an undergraduate, Texas resident student who was initially enrolled in higher education in the period from the Fall 1999 semester through the Summer 2006 semester and declares pursuit of a baccalaureate degree program, the limit on the number of semester credit hours that can be reported for state funding is the required semester credit hours for the degree plus 45.

For an undergraduate, Texas resident student who was initially enrolled in higher education in the period prior to the Fall 1999 semester there is no excess hour limit.

Numerous exemptions exist for certain types of credit hours which can be found in Texas Administrative Code Section 13.104.

Exemptions and Waivers

Partnering with the State of Texas to ensure affordability of higher education for all students, Collin College offers numerous State and local Board-authorized tuition and/or fee exemptions and waivers for eligible students.  The exemption and waivers table located online at www.collin.edu/bursar/tuitionwaiversexemptionsrebate.html outlines the exemptions and waivers offered, the Collin College office to contact, summary data on eligibility, nature of exemption/waiver offered, and authorizing citation/policies.

Eligible students should contact the responsible Collin College office to ascertain what documentation is required to prove eligibility.  Proof of exemption/ waiver eligibility must be provided for each term of attendance at Collin College. Students are responsible for meeting any eligibility requirements and providing required documentation to Collin College in compliance with payment deadline requirements to consider exemptions/waivers as a source of funding for the term.