All students are required to register and pay tuition and fees each semester. Any financial aid a student might be awarded is disbursed after a student is registered for the fall and spring semesters, but not more than ten (10) days prior to the start of classes.
Fees and charges imposed by the University are subject to change by the Board of Trustees without notice. No degree will be conferred upon any candidate prior to the payment of all tuition, fees, and indebtedness to the University.
Once classes begin, medical students are not entitled to a refund of any portion of tuition and fees paid; however in cases where the University is required to return financial aid funds to the Department of Education (ED), the student may owe an additional bill to the University for those returned funds. In such cases, the student would not owe the returned money back to ED for the loans originally disbursed.
Tuition and Course fees: The Schedule of Fees is maintained by the USC’s Office of the Bursar, and can be found at:
www.sc.edu/bursar/schedule_columbiadeptfees.shtml
Supplementary Application Fee (nonrefundable): $95.00
Admission Deposit (applied toward first year tuition, nonrefundable after May 15): $250.00
Matriculation Fee (first year only): $50.00
Estimated expenditures for books, supplies, equipment, educational travel, insurance, and related educational expenses: These amounts will vary by year and can be found at:
greenvillemed.sc.edu/financial_tuition.shtml
Most books will be provided as part of tuition and preloaded onto the student’s furnished mobile devices and laptop (see below); all other books are provided to students via the class syllabus, and an allowance is made in the student Cost of Attendance(COA) for the purchase of said books. USCSOMG will endeavor to keep the list of required books to a minimum.
The school will provide a list of required equipment to the student along with a suggested location to purchase the equipment. The student can use another vendor; however, the purchases will be subject to review by the faculty.
A laptop computer with designated software is required as part of the technology enhanced curriculum in the School of Medicine and is provided to students in the Class of 2016, and Class of 2017 via the tuition and fees. Other mobile devices may be required, and also will be provided to students in the above classes through the tuition and fees. Future classes will be provided an iPad, but will not be furnished with a laptop as part of tuition. Students will still be required to purchase a laptop, and Information Technology staff (IT) will provide the students with a list of minimum requirements for purchase along with a selection of preferred vendors. If it becomes possible, IT will offer laptops for purchase to the student population.
IT supports the hardware and software (e.g., wireless technology, learning management system) required for effective delivery of the curriculum and they support the development, delivery, assessment, and management of the educational program. They also provide technical assistance for students, faculty and staff encountering difficulties in accessing information resources. In addition, IT facilitates and supports appropriate access to clinical systems. Annually, all electronic devices are updated by IT. There are also public workstations available in the Information Commons.
Policies
The University will refund a part of academic fees in certain areas:
A: Changes in a student’s status, which may require a refund:
- Change in a full-time student’s schedule which results in reclassification to part- time(Less than 12 credit hours).
- Change in a part-time student’s schedule which results in fewer credit hours.
B. Situations which may require a refund:
- Course or courses dropped.
- Drop/Withdrawal from the University.
- Cancellation of a class by the University.
Procedures
The refund procedures for the School of Medicine Greenville reflect those of the University as a whole and use the same calculation procedures to determine a percentage of refund for each Part of Term in which a student is enrolled. In cases where a student has not begun a particular Part of Term, the student will receive a full refund for courses within that Part of Term.
A. Refund Requests
All requests for refunds must be received during the academic year for which the fees were paid. The academic year begins with the fall term and ends with the summer term.
Refunds may be requested at any time during the academic year in which the applicable term occurs.
B. Determining the Refundable Portion Procedure
Student refunds for tuition are calculated based on the student’s liable hours after the drop/withdrawal. Liable hours are calculated as the total hours a student is still registered plus the liable portion of the dropped/withdrawn course(s). The liable portion is computed by taking the number of dropped hours times the liability rate (which is 100 percent minus the refund percentage). The refund amount is determined to be the difference of the original assessment and the assessment based on the new liable hours. For students whose liable hours are 12 or above, no refunds are processed. Other academic fees are non-refundable after the 100 percent refund percentage. For students activated for full-time military service during an academic term, the University follows state law in Section 59-101-395. Any refund calculated will be applied to the student account.
C. Drop/Withdrawal Refund Policy
Standard refund procedures for dropping/withdrawal from the School of Medicine Greenville:
Standard refund procedures for dropping/withdrawal from the university:
All refunds will be based solely on the percentage of time (in days) between the first day of a part-of-term and the last day of a part-of-term. The percentage (in days) will include all Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays between the start and end dates of each part-of-term. Exceptions to this rule may only be made by the Bursar’s Office. In these instances, any change in the refund percentage would be moved out to the next closest business day. Courses fewer than six days long, first day = 100% refund, remaining days = no refund.
1. 100 percent if the student’s official drop/withdrawal calculation is within 6% of the enrollment period for which the student is liable.
2. 70 percent if the student’s official withdrawal calculation is between the period specified in (1) or before the end of the 10 percent period of enrollment for which the student is liable.
3. 50 percent if the student’s official withdrawal calculation is between the period specified in (2) or before the end of the 16 percent period of enrollment for which the student is liable.
4. 20 percent if the student’s official withdrawal calculation is between the period specified in (3) or before the end of the 25 percent period of enrollment for which the student is liable. student is liable.
D. Refund Schedules
The University Registrar maintains the official refund schedules for all programs at the University. When a medical student seeks to withdraw from the University, S/He must first contact the Sr. Asst. Director of Financial Aid and Student Records to discuss the amount and procedure for a refund. As medical student schedules are very complicated, no refund calculation can be completed until the student decides on a date for withdrawal.
E. Refund Rate
Owing to the fact that the School of Medicine Greenville has a flat tuition rate, there is no traditional “part-time” rate for enrollment that the USC Banner system can use for the calculation of refunds. For this purpose, a partial tuition rate must be created for sole use in the calculation of refunds. Both medical schools of USC have decided upon the following equation to establish the refund rate:
Tuition Rate/ 12 (Full-Time Hours)= Refund Rate per hour
F. Return of Title IV Funds
1. Refunds Policy for Students Who Have Received Title IV Funds And Withdraw From The University.
Federal financial aid funds are awarded with the expectation that students will complete the entire period of enrollment. Students “earn” a percentage of the funds that are disbursed with each day of class attendance. When a student who has received federal aid funds (Title IV Funds) leaves school before the end of the semester or period of enrollment, federal regulations require the University of South Carolina to calculate the percentage and amount of “unearned” financial aid funds that must be returned. Once a student has completed more than 60 percent of the enrollment period, they are considered to have earned all funding received. This calculation may have the effect of requiring the student who withdraws before this time frame to repay funds that have already been disbursed to the student or credited towards their current account for tuition, fees, housing and/or meals. Students are encouraged to meet with a counselor in the Office of Student Affairs, or the appropriate office on their campus, prior to making the decision to withdraw from school.
2. Title IV Refund Distribution
a For fully withdrawn students receiving federal and/or state funds, the refund will be governed by the current Federal Title IV refund policy. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships determines the amount of the funds that are distributed back to Title IV, HEA Programs or other Financial Aid sources. For students and their parents who have received student loans or other forms of financial aid, funds will be returned in the order prescribed by federal regulations. The institution must return the funds to the financial aid program other than College Work Study, up to the amount of assistance that the student received from those programs. Funds are to be distributed to the financial aid programs in the following order:
- Unsubsidized Federal Stafford
- Federal PLUS Loan
- Federal Iraq/Afghanistan Service Grant
b. Any remaining balance will first be used to repay any outstanding university charges and any subsequent balances will be refunded to the student/parent.
c.Exit interviews are required before leaving the University of South Carolina for all students who withdraw and have received Stafford, Perkins or Federal Nursing/Health Professions Loans. Exit interviews can be completed at: http://www.sc.edu/financialaid/loan_counseling/default.html.
Questions regarding exit counseling should be referred to the appropriate campus Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
G. Appeals Process
A process for appeals exists for students who believe circumstances warrant exceptions from published policy. The student must be fully withdrawn from the University in order to apply for an appeal.
The Withdrawal Refund Appeals Committee for each campus reviews and act on all appeals:
Withdrawal Refund Appeals Committee
Office of the Registrar
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
803-777-5555
Students in the School of Medicine are individually responsible for tuition, fees, and living expenses. It is imperative that all students anticipating the need for financial assistance at any time during their medical educations undertake early long-term planning. Limited aid specifically oriented for medical students is available from the School of Medicine Greenville. However, financial aid programs of the University of South Carolina make it possible for many students to attend the University who could not do so if they were entirely dependent on their own resources. Eligibility for all aid, except for some academic scholarships, depends on applicants’ financial circumstances. Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually to determine the amount of assistance they are eligible to receive. Information and application forms for the various financial aid programs may be obtained from the School of Medicine Office of Student Affairs.
Policy for Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility:
A student is considered to be making satisfactory academic progress if he/she completes 67% of attempted credit hours, and is allowed by the dean, after considering the recommendations of the Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee, to be enrolled in the regular curriculum.
Listed below are some of the financial aid programs available to students. For complete information, contact the School of Medicine Greenville Office of Student Services.
Federal Loan Programs:
Information about federal programs is subject to change based upon changes in federal legislation. Graduate and professional students are no longer eligible to receive Direct Subsidized loans due to the passage of the Deficit Reduction Act. Loan received by students prior to the passage of this law are subject to the terms accepted at the time of the loan disbursement.
A medical student may borrow up to $40,500 per year not to exceed $224,000 ($65,500 subsidized) aggregate, including any amount borrowed as an undergraduate, or through any other graduate/professional program. This amount will also be prorated based on the number of months a student attends class a particular year. If a student receives a Federal Direct Loan, they will not be required to begin repayment until six months after they cease to be enrolled on at least a half‐time basis. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program is not based on financial need and interest payments are not subsidized by the federal government, but rather are the responsibility of the borrower. Medical students can borrow more per year than a standard graduate student. A student may choose to pay the interest or request that it be deferred while enrolled greater than half-time. This results in the deferred interest being capitalized and creating a greater expense during repayment.
Medical students are eligible to borrow under the Federal PLUS Loan Program up to their cost of attendance minus other estimated financial assistance. The terms and conditions applicable to the Parent PLUS loans also apply to Grad PLUS. These requirements include a determination that a student does not have an adverse credit history. Repayment begins on the date of the last disbursement of the loan, and a fixed interest rate of 7.9%. To apply for this loan students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and must also have applied for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
The Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest (5%), long-term educational loan program available to both undergraduate and graduate students demonstrating exceptional financial need. Repayment is required unless the loan debt is otherwise resolved. Medical students may receive up to $6,000 for each year of study not to exceed $40,000 for all years of study including undergraduate amounts received. Award amounts are based on fund availability and are determined annually by the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. If a student is eligible for Perkins Loan funds their award amount may be less than these limits due to limited fund availability. Interest is not charged and repayment does not begin until nine months after their enrollment drops below half-time status. If the student receives their first Perkins Loan on or after October 1, 1992, their minimum payment will be $40 per month. In all cases, repayment may extend up to 10 years depending upon the total amount borrowed. If the student has outstanding NDSL balances and is currently receiving a Federal Perkins Loan, they must review their NDSL promissory note to determine the terms and conditions that apply to the loan. Under certain conditions of reenrollment, employment or extenuating circumstances, payments may be deferred or canceled. Further information concerning repayment is available in the Office of Student Loan Collections. At present (7/02/2013) the Perkins loan is scheduled to be terminated at the end of the 2013-2014 academic year. Several proposals have been submitted to extend or change the Perkins loan. This information will be updated when changes become clear and final.
Federal Programs with a Service Commitment:
Information about federal programs is subject to change based upon changes in federal legislation. National Health Service Corps Scholarships are offered by the federal government to students and physicians interested in pursuing careers in primary care and serving in health professional shortage areas in the United States.
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship recipients are commissioned in the armed forces and their tuition, fees, books, and equipment, including microscope rental, are paid by their particular branch. In addition, a monthly stipend is paid directly to the student. Recipients are required to serve 45 days of training duty each year. Repayment is on a year-for-year basis. A deferment for postgraduate education is given only if a student is not chosen for a military residency program.
Scholarships:
Private Sources:
Students are encouraged to seek scholarships from all sources available. All SC Residents will be provided the opportunity to apply for scholarships through the South Carolina Medical Association in January.
School of Medicine Scholarships:
The application for USCSOM-G Scholarships is available both in person and on the website for the USCSOM-G. Policies regarding the selection of recipients are available for review upon request and are housed with the Sr. Asst. Director of Financial Aid and Student Records.
Veteran Benefits:
Veterans and children of deceased or disabled veterans who meet regular admission requirements may be eligible to receive educational assistance benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Application for benefits may be made through the campus University Office of Veterans Affairs. Students are urged to apply for benefits at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the semester.
All veterans and other eligible persons are responsible for informing the University veterans records clerk of any change in enrollment status or withdrawal from the University.
Other Sources of Financial Aid:
The School of Medicine Greenville Office of Financial Aid has current information on various financial aid opportunities. Additionally, the Office of Student Affairs has national directories listing sources of loans, fellowships, and scholarships. A number of city and county medical societies offer loans or scholarships for residents of their localities, as do churches, businesses, fraternities, and sororities.
Policy on Management of Financial Resources from External Entities:
It is the policy and practice of USCSOM Greenville to assist enrolled students in the identification of financial resources from external entities to aid them in the financial support of their educations. External entities providing such financial resources can be individuals, employers, professional organizations, hospitals, communities, foundations, and others. The School of Medicine is also required to follow federal and state laws and regulations and University of South Carolina policies, procedures, and guidelines in the processes associated with nominating students for, the awarding of, and the handling of financial resources from external entities for which enrolled students qualify.
For these reasons, and because (1) the School of Medicine usually does not have specific information about the external entities providing financial resources to students; (2) the School of Medicine usually has not been involved in the prior contractual arrangements associated with students’ receipt of financial resources from external entities; (3) the School of Medicine cannot provide legal advice about tax consequences, either for the external entity or for the student, of the award of financial resources to students by those external entities; and (4) all final decisions about the nomination of eligible medical students for awarding of financial resources from external entities are made by the School of Medicine, it is therefore the policy of the School of Medicine:
1. To refer external entities wishing to provide financial resources to enrolled students to the School of Medicine director of development for information about the creation of accounts in the University of South Carolina Educational Foundation from which scholarship monies can be awarded to students;
2. To refer external entities to the University of South Carolina Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships when those entities wish to underwrite any portion of a student’s tuition and/or fees at the School of Medicine;
3. To refer students to their legal and financial advisors when questions arise about the tax consequences of financial resources provided to them in support of their educations by external entities; and
4. To refer all requests for nominations of eligible enrolled students for awards of financial resources from external entities to the School of Medicine for final decisions about those nominations.
Employment must be discussed with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions. The academic responsibilities of the first year of medical school preclude outside employment.
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