Tuition and Fees
The total cost for an undergraduate Maryland resident attending the College in the 2017-2018 academic year and living on campus is expected to be approximately $27,312 for tuition, fees, and room and board. The dollar figures listed below are subject to change since the trustees reserve the right to adjust charges at any time as needs dictate.
Undergraduate Program
Tuition and Mandatory Fees
All fees listed are annual charges, unless otherwise noted.
| Tuition: Full-time, Maryland resident | $11,646 |
| Tuition: Full-time, non-resident of Maryland | $27,098 |
| Mandatory Fee: Full-time students (resident and commuter students) | $2,850 |
| Orientation fee: All new students (one time) | $100 |
| Graduation fee | $100 |
Master of Arts in Teaching Program (MAT)
| Tuition and all fees: | $20,370 |
*Billed in four equal installments
Part-Time Tuition
(Undergraduate and MAT)
| Tuition: Part-time (per credit hour) | $200 |
Note: This part-time per credit hour tuition applies to a total of 1-11 credits as well as to all credits over 19.
Retired persons 60 years and older may apply for a waiver of part-time tuition charges for credit courses. This is done on a space-available basis during the late registration period. Consult the Office of the Registrar for details.
Room
| Room: single occupancy | $8,370 |
| Room: double occupancy | $7,400 |
| Room: triple/quad occupancy | $7,400 |
| Suite: single occupancy | $8,370 |
| Suite: double occupancy | $7,924 |
| Townhouse: | $9,066 |
| Apartment: single occupancy | $8,880 |
| Apartment: double occupancy | $8,746 |
Board
The meal plan structure is an “anytime dining” model. The Great Room will be open from 7 am – 8:30 pm, Mondays – Fridays and 10 am – 8:30 pm on weekends. The “anytime dining” board plans provide unlimited access. Students can eat as often as they want, whenever they want, when the operation is open. They can come and go as many times as they like throughout the day/night and eat as much or as little as they want. All meal plans include Dining Dollars.
First Year students living in traditional halls and suites are required to choose one of the Anytime Dining Plans described below. Anytime Dining Plans are optional for commuters, residents of the Townhouses and Waring Commons Apartments, faculty and staff:
- Silver Plan: unlimited access to anytime dining. 12 guest passes per semester and $200 Dining Dollars per semester. Cost: $2,708 /semester; $5,416/year.
- Gold Plan: Same privileges as Silver Plan plus 20 guest passes and $300 in Dining Dollars per semester. Cost: $2,819/semester; $5,638/year.
- Platinum Plan: Same privileges as Silver Plan plus 32 guest passes and $400 in Dining Dollars per semester. Cost: $2,930/semester; $5,860/ year.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors living in the traditional halls and suites are required to choose one of the “anytime dining” plans described above or they may select the 125 Meal Credit plan described below.
Meal Credit Plans: A variety of limited access plans described below are available for commuters, residents of the Townhouses and Waring Commons Apartments, faculty and staff:
- 125 Meal Credit: 125 meals per semester plus $300 dining dollars per semester. Cost: $1,864 /semester; $3,728/year
- 75 Meal Credit: 75 meals per semester plus $300 dining dollars per semester. Cost: $1,379/semester; $2,758/year
- Flex Plan: 10 meals per semester plus $400 dining dollars per semester. Cost: $584/semester; $1,168/year
1st Year Resident Options
Silver – Anytime dining – 12 guest passes per semester – $200 dining dollars per semester
Gold – Anytime dining – 20 guest passes per semester – $300 dining dollars per semester
Platinum – Anytime dining – 32 guest passes per semester – $400 dining dollars per semester
Upperclass Students in Residence Halls/Suites Options
Silver – Anytime dining – 12 guest passes per semester – $200 dining dollars per semester
Gold – Anytime dining – 20 guest passes per semester – $300 dining dollars per semester
Platinum – Anytime dining – 32 guest passes per semester – $400 dining dollars per semester
125 Meal Credit – 125 meals per semester – 0 guest Passes – $300 dining dollars per semester
Options for Commuters, Apartment & Townhouse Residents
Silver – Anytime dining – 12 guest passes per semester – $200 dining dollars per semester
Gold – Anytime dining – 20 guest passes per semester – $300 dining dollars per semester
Platinum – Anytime dining – 32 guest passes per semester – $400 dining dollars per semester
125 Meal Credit – 125 meals per semester – 0 guest Passes – $300 dining dollars per semester
75 Meal Credit – 75 meals per semester – 0 guest Passes – $300 dining dollars per semester
Flex Plan – 10 meals per semester – 0 guest passes – $400 dining dollars per semester
We offer “to-go” breakfast, lunch and dinner programs in the Great Room, as well as a “Grab-n-Go” program from the Lewis Quadrangle Pub. With the “to-go” program, students can pick up food and take it “to go.” With the “Grab-n-Go” program, pre-packaged sandwiches and salads are available to “Grab and Go” Mondays-Fridays. In addition to a sandwich or salad, the student gets a beverage, chips, a piece of fruit, and cookies or a brownie. For the “Grab-n-Go” breakfasts out of the Pub, the student can choose a bagel, muffin, or pastry, along with a beverage and a piece of fruit, Mondays-Fridays.
Dining (“Flex”) Dollars
Dining Dollars (also known as Flex) are included in the plans to allow students to eat and drink at the smaller retail dining venues (The Daily Grind, “Grab-n-Go”, and The Pub), in addition to the servery of the Great Room. Dining Dollars can only be used for food and beverages. There is no refund or carryover of unused Dining Dollars at the end of a semester (“Use it or lose it”).
Special Academic Fees
Special academic fees are assessed to both full-time and part-time students when appropriate as follows:
- Applied music: class instruction (one hour per week) $90
- Applied music: individual instruction (one hour per week) $250
- Scuba diving fee for beginning class: $175
- Scuba diving fee for advanced class: $150
- Lab fee for Educational Studies courses with field placements $10
- Study abroad fee: $250 (Fees for exchange programs and summer programs vary. Contact the Business Office for specific program fees.)
- Theater lab fee TFMS 171: $50
- Theater lab fee TFMS 374: $20
- Theater lab fee TFMS 375: $50
- Theater lab fee TFMS 376: $50
- Theater lab fee TFMS 228: $25
- Theater lab fee TFMS 328: $25
- Art academic fee ART 205: $55
- Art academic fee ART 204: $95
- Art academic fee ART 212: $95
- Art academic fee ART 214: $95
- Art academic fee ART 206: $110
- Art academic fee ART 208: $135
- Art academic fee ART 233: $95
- Art academic fee ART 239: $95
- Art academic fee ART 269: $95
- Art academic fee ART 304: $95
- Art academic fee ART 306: $110
- Art academic fee ART 308: $135
- Art academic fee ART 309: $135
- Art academic fee ART 312: $95
- Art academic fee ART 314: $95
- Art academic fee ART 333: $110
- Art academic fee ART 338: $140
- Art academic fee ART 339: $95
- Art academic fee ART 367: $110
- Art academic fee ART 369: $95
- Art academic fee ART 347: $95
- Art academic fee ART 390: $80
Miscellaneous Fees
All fees listed are charged to all students, per occurrence, as appropriate.
- Application fee: new-student applications (undergrad and master’s) $50
- Advance payment: residence hall student (new) $500
- Advance payment: residence hall student (returning) $200
- Advance payment: commuting student (new) $500
- Advance payment: MAT student (new) $250
- Late-payment fee: (under $1000) $50
- Late-payment fee: ($1000 and over) $100
- Bad-check handling fee: (under $1000) $25
- Bad-check handling fee: ($1000 and over) $50
- Motor vehicle registration: (academic year) $100
- Motor vehicle registration: (Continuing Education, per semester) $10
- Parking citation/vehicle violation: $10 to $50
- Identification card replacement: $25
- Residence Hall, Townhouse, apartment and suite key replacement: $36/key
- Mailbox key replacement: $10
- Course-change fee (per change): $25
- Unauthorized meal entry: $40
Payments
All tuition and fees are due in full at the time stipulated on the statement of account. The only exceptions are students who are receiving scholarships, loans, or other financial aid. These students may defer that portion of their semester charges covered by financial aid when payment will be remitted directly to the College by the paying agency. PLUS loans, issued in both the parents’ and the College’s name and remitted directly to the College by the lending institution, can be used in deferring payment as long as they are immediately returned to the College upon request for endorsement. Financial aid documentation must be completed prior to any payment deadline in order to be eligible for deferment. Complete documentation includes the formal acceptance of aid by the student. Students accept or decline their financial aid through the student Portal at https://seahawks.smcm.edu/ics. The amount to be deferred may be no greater than the sum of the scholarships, loans and aid. If any aid used to defer payment is rejected after the due date, late charges may be applied in accordance with the College late payment policy. College work-study programs cannot be used in deferring payment, since wages are based on actual hours worked.
Note: Financial aid will not be credited to the student’s account prior to 10 days before the first day of classes. Financial aid listed on the statement of account prior to that time is for informational purposes only. The College will allow the deduction of the amount of aid indicated on the statement with the understanding that the student will be held responsible for the amount of any reduction or elimination of aid.
Students who are in a federal, state, or county vocational rehabilitation program may defer that portion of their tuition and fees being funded by these programs, as long as payment is made directly to the College and proof of participation is provided.
Students whose tuition and fees are being paid by their (or their parents’) employer may defer that portion of their tuition and fees which is being paid by an employer, provided the employer has made prior arrangements to be billed directly by the College.
If the total balance of tuition and fees is not paid within the deadlines specified on the bills, a $50 or $100 late-payment fee will be charged, based on the balance due. In addition, the institution reserves the right to cancel class registration, room reservation, and other assignments if full payment or financial aid arrangements are not made prior to the published deadline. The College normally will not permit a student to register nor will the College release transcripts or diplomas as long as the student has an outstanding debt to the institution. All payments for tuition and fees should be made payable to St. Mary’s College of Maryland and forwarded to:
Cashier
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
18952 E. Fisher Road
St. Mary’s City, MD 20686-3001
For new students, the College accepts VISA, MasterCard, or Discover credit cards for application fees, housing and tuition deposits. For all other payments and for all payments made by returning students, the College accepts online payments using MasterCard, Discover, or ACH (electronic check) through the Portal at https://seahawks.smcm.edu/ics. There is a convenience fee for use of a credit card, but there is no fee for payment by ACH. The College does not accept VISA for payments other than those itemized above.
Deposits
Housing Contracts are binding for the entire academic year. Since cancellation of housing directly affects eligibility for a refund, see the Refunds and Student Affairs sections of the catalog for specific deadlines. Advance payments for all new students are non-refundable and are credited to their first-semester billing. Failure to matriculate will result in forfeiture of the advance payment. New students wishing to live on campus should forward the residence hall advance payment to the Business Office upon notification of their admission to the College, but no later than May 1. Housing is not guaranteed for new students who deposit after May 1.
New students who do not wish to live in on-campus housing are required to pay the commuting student advance payment upon notification of their admission to the College. This fee must be paid prior to the established deadline for the following semester. Failure to pay by the deadline may result in loss of class placement. Returning resident students must sign and complete the Housing Contract and pay the $200 housing deposit by February 23, 2018 for the fall 2018 semester. The housing deposit is credited to the student’s first semester billing.
Deferment of the housing deposit is not acceptable, even for those students on full scholarships. Returning students wishing to be released from the Housing Contract with no financial penalties must submit a written release request by May 1. Please contact the Office of Residence Life for additional information.
Housing deposits for students going on a leave of absence:
- If a returning student pays a housing deposit and subsequently is granted a leave of absence before the Housing Contract release deadline (May 1 for the fall semester), the deposit will be credited to the student’s account unless the student wants the deposit held until such time as the leave of absence is terminated. There are no financial penalties for students that are granted a leave of absence by November 1 for the spring semester.
- A student who requests a leave of absence after the Housing Contract release deadline (May 1 or November 1) forfeits the deposit and may be assessed an additional late fee (please refer to the student handbook for Housing Contract release dates and information).
- A student who does not return at the conclusion of the leave of absence will forfeit the deposit.
Refunds
Tuition Refunds
- Before classes officially begin, 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees will be refunded. As of the first day of classes, mandatory fees are non-refundable.
- Eighty percent of tuition will be refunded only prior to the end of the second week after the official beginning of classes.
- Sixty percent of tuition will be refunded only during the third week after the official beginning of classes.
- Forty percent of tuition will be refunded only during the fourth week after the official beginning of classes.
- Twenty percent of tuition will be refunded only during the fifth week after the official beginning of classes.
- After the fifth week of classes, no tuition or fees shall be refunded.
Enrollment Status Change
Tuition refunds will be made for all degree-seeking undergraduate and MAT students, whether changing from full-time to part-time status, or as a part-time student dropping one or more classes while remaining enrolled, according to the following conditions:
- Before classes officially begin, 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees are refundable to the student. As of the first day of classes, mandatory fees are non-refundable.
- Before the end of the second week following the official beginning of classes, 80 percent of the tuition payment can be refunded.
- Starting on Monday of the third week following the official beginning of classes, 0 percent of the tuition payment can be refunded.
Room Refunds
For students taking a leave of absence or withdrawing from the College, the room refund schedule is as follows:
- One hundred percent, less the penalty fee as noted on the Housing Contract before classes officially begin.
- Eighty percent prior to the end of the second week after the official beginning of classes.
- Sixty percent during the third week after the official beginning of classes.
- Forty percent during the fourth week after the official beginning of classes.
- Twenty percent during the fifth week after the official beginning of classes.
- No refund after the fifth week following the official beginning of classes. Room refunds must be requested in writing to the Office of Residence Life, as part of being released from the Housing Contract.
Note: Depending upon the date of notification, student-initiated room cancellations may result in a liability for some portion of housing costs in addition to loss of the advance payment. This information is contained in the Housing Contract.
Board Refunds
Remittance of Excess Financial Aid
Financial Aid
St. Mary’s offers a variety of programs designed to assist in meeting college expenses. These programs include scholarships, grants, loans, work opportunities and a tuition payment plan. St. Mary’s participates in all applicable federal and Maryland financial aid programs. To gain an objective assessment of a candidate’s ability to contribute to educational cost, St. Mary’s requires applicants to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA provides St. Mary’s with the expected family contribution to the student’s comprehensive expense, as well as the estimated contribution of any federal grants for which the student may be eligible. St. Mary’s then prepares a package of financial assistance consisting of a combination of loans, grants, scholarships and/or work opportunities intended to meet the portion of expenses that cannot be met by other sources. In the end, the goal is to ensure that qualified applicants have the opportunity to obtain a liberal arts education at St. Mary’s.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
To be eligible for most federal, state and institutional aid programs, students must be U.S. citizens or must meet eligible non-citizen criteria, be admitted to and pursuing an eligible degree program and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis.
First-year and Transfer Students
To be considered for most forms of aid, students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. By filing the FAFSA, applicants are applying for grants, loans and work-study. New accepted students receive notification of financial aid in April.
Returning Degree Students
Applicants submit the completed FAFSA or Renewal Application between January 1 and March 1. Awards are based on academic performance and/or financial need. Returning students receive notification of their financial aid in June.
How to Accept Financial Aid
Responsibilities of Financial Aid Recipients
Financial aid recipients must do the following:
- Maintain good academic standing and make satisfactory progress as required. Detailed information may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid.
- Report changes in names, addresses and dependency status to the Office of Financial Aid. Changes in name and address also must be reported to the Office of the Registrar.
- Report to the Office of Financial Aid the receipt of any financial assistance (scholarship, grants and so forth) received from other groups or organizations.
- Consult with the Office of Financial Aid prior to making any changes in enrollment status (change from full-time to part-time or withdrawal from the College).
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or the Renewal Application) before the priority deadline of March 1. Maryland residents who file after the March 1 deadline may not be considered for Maryland state assistance. Note: St. Mary’s reserves the right to adjust aid awards at any time when there are changes in enrollment or residency status, income discrepancies, or financial changes.
Grants
St. Mary’s Scholarships
Loans
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program
St. Mary’s College of Maryland participates exclusively in the Direct Loan Program. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education.
With Direct Loans, you can:
- Borrow directly from the federal government
- Have online access to your Direct Loan account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Choose from several repayment plans that are designed to meet the needs of almost any borrower
- Switch repayment plans if your needs change
Please go to http://studentaid.ed.govto learn more about the Federal Direct Loan Program.
Campus Employment
Financial Aid for Study Abroad
Limited financial assistance is available to eligible students for SMCM approved academic year, semester, summer, and faculty-led study tours. Students should begin this process by contacting the Office of International Education or by visiting Financial Aid for Study Abroad. For more information regarding aid availability, contact the Office of Financial Aid or the Office of International Education.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured in three areas: maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) which is consistent with the standards for good academic standing established by the Academic Policy Committee, successfully completing a required number of credits per semester, and receiving a degree in a timely manner. See below for more details.
- In order to receive financial aid, a student must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards established by the Academic Standards Policy. In general, a student is expected to have at least a 2.0 GPA or be meeting standards set through an individualized academic plan.Below is a schedule of the minimum credits that students must successfully complete each year while attending SMCM. Students must receive a grade of A, B, C, D, or Cr. in order for the class to be successfully completed. This schedule specifies the pace at which a student should progress through the undergraduate program to ensure completion of the program within our maximum timeframe of six years.
- Below is a schedule of the minimum credits that students must successfully complete each year while attending SMCM. Students must receive a grade of A, B, C, D, or Cr. in order for the class to be successfully completed. This schedule specifies the pace at which a student should progress through the undergraduate program to ensure completion of the program within our maximum timeframe of six years.
Full-Time
|
| Hours | # of Semesters |
| 24 | 2 |
| 48 | 4 |
| 72 | 6 |
| 96 | 8 |
| 128 | 10 |
Part-Time
(Transfer hours are included)
| Hours | Semesters | Hours | Semesters |
| 12 | 2 | 72 | 12 |
| 24 | 4 | 84 | 14 |
| 36 | 6 | 96 | 16 |
| 48 | 8 | 108 | 18 |
| 60 | 10 | 128 | 20 |
- Recipients of financial aid must earn heir degree within a maximum timeframe. The financial aid policy at SMCM requires an aid recipient to earn a degree within 150% of full-time attendance or 192 attempted credits. If a student does not earn a degree within this time, whether financial aid was received the entire time or not, the student is not eligible for financial aid for any credits taken after it becomes mathematically impossible to complete the undergraduate degree program within 192 credits attempted.
- In order to meet satisfactory progress regulation, cumulative progress towards the degree will be measured by dividing the total number of completed credits by the total number of attempted credits. A student must maintain a cumulative 66.67% completion rate at the end of each semester.
Evaluation of SAP/Financial Aid Warning Status
A student is placed on academic probation if his or her cumulative GPA falls below 2.0. When a student is placed on academic probation, the Office of Academic Services will send the student (and his or her advisors) a letter defining the terms of the probation and indicating what constitutes satisfactory progress toward the removal of the probationary status. A financial aid recipient who is placed on academic probation will also receive notification from the Financial Aid Office that they are being placed in Financial Aid Warning status. Students on academic probation may not register for more than 16 credit hours per semester and are not permitted to participate in varsity sports and other extracurricular activities as specified in the Academic Catalog.
When a student who receives federal, state, or institutional financial aid is placed on academic probation the student is placed in Financial Aid Warning Status. A student may receive need-based financial aid for one semester while in Warning Status. Aid eligibility is terminated if the student does not achieve Satisfactory Progress or meet the requirements specified by the Office of Academic Affairs in the student’s academic plan after one semester of Financial Aid Warning Status.
Financial Aid Suspension and Appeal
The Appeal Process permits a student to request re-instatement of aid eligibility. Successful appeals are usually based on factors which impacted the student’s academic performance, such as, illness, death in the family, or other extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Appeals are submitted in writing and are reviewed by the Academic Policy Committee. The letter of appeal must be submitted by the date specified in their letter of dismissal notification and must address the following issues:
- why he/she did not achieve a 2.0 GPA or why he/she did not successfully complete the required semester hours;
- what has changed that will allow the student to improve his/her academic performance.
The Committee will review the appeal and will respond in writing to the student. The Committee may uphold the suspension of aid or it may re-instate aid eligibility and place the student in Financial Aid Probation status. The appeal may only be approved if the Committee determines that the student will be able to meet SAP standards after the next semester or if an academic plan is developed by the Office of Academic Services that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet SAP standards by a specific point in time.
Financial Aid Probation Status
Additional Financial Aid Policies
- Transfer credits are counted in the determination of the pace at which the student is progressing through the program but are not counted in the computation of the GPA.
- Course withdrawals (W grade) after the drop/add period are not included in the computation of the GPA but are considered a non-completion of attempted coursework.
- Incomplete courses and I grades are not included in the computation of the GPA but are considered a non-completion of coursework unless a permanent grade is assigned.
- Audited courses and other noncredit coursework are not included in GPA calculation or as attempted coursework.
- Credits are given for classes given a grade of P or PD but they are not included in the GPA calculation.
- F grades are treated as attempted credits that were not earned and are included in the calculation of GPA and minimum