Tuition and Fees, Payment Options, Refunds

• Tuition and Fees
  • Credit Course Tuition and Fee rates
  • Dual Enrollment Tuition and Fee rates
  • Non-credit, Continuing Education, & Workforce Training 
  • In-State Tuition Rate for Veterans
  • In-State Tuition Rate for Peace Corps Volunteers
  • Description of Fees
  • Other Common Expenses
• Payment Options
  • Deferred Payment Plan
  • Tuition Waivers and Reductions
  • Sponsored Billing
• Refunds
  • ​Credit
  • Involuntary Withdrawal
  • Deparment of Defense Return of Unearned Tuition Assistance
  • Non-credit, Continuing Education, & Workforce Training
  • Bookstore

​Tuition and Fees Information

All tuition, fees and other charges are payable in full upon completion of registration unless arrangements have been made for the Deferred Payment Plan. Whether registration is for credit, audit, or continuing education courses, students will not be admitted to class until the prescribed charges have been paid in full or a Deferred Payment Plan is finalized.

Students may pay tuition and fees by cash, check, money order, or credit card (MasterCard, VISA, DISCOVER and American Express). Checks and money orders should be made payable to CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.

Students who elect to pay tuition and fees through the Deferred Payment Plan should visit the college webpage at www.chesapeake.edu/ecashier or contact the Business Office at 410-822-5400, ext. 2244 for more information on this plan.

Any balance due deemed in default will be turned over to an outside collection agency where a 17% collection fee will be assessed.

In accordance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-407), veteran students and dependents using Chapter 33 or Chapter 31 education benefits are allowed to attend classes and will not receive penalty for non-payment of tuition and fees covered by the VA for a period of up to 90 days from the date the veteran provides a certificate of eligibility or valid VAF-28-1905. Students will be responsible for paying the difference between the amount of the student’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement in accordance with the payment due dates for each semester.   Veteran students and dependents using VA educational benefits are required to request to use their benefits in writing by submitting a VA Enrollment Certification Request form and submit a Certificate of Eligibility at the time of enrollment.

Tuition for Non-Credit, Continuing Education and Workforce Training Courses

Costs vary for non-credit, continuing education courses and are listed in the Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Training Schedule of Classes. Costs for non-credit courses listed in College publications apply to residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties. For residents of other Maryland counties there is an additional charge of $5 per noncredit course. Out-of-state residents are charged an additional $10 per non-credit course.

In-State Tuition Rate for Veterans

In accordance with provisions outlined in Sections 701 and 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 and PL 115-251 Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018 Section 301, Chesapeake College will consider the following qualifying veterans and dependents as eligible for in-state (also known as “out of county”) tuition and fee rates:

• A veteran using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill – Active Duty Program) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill), of title 38 United States Code, who lives in Maryland while attending a school located in Maryland (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).
• Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. 3319) who lives in Maryland while attending a school located in Maryland (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).
• Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same school.  The person so described must be using educational benefits under either Chapter 30 or Chapter 33,or Chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code.
• Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. 3319) who lives in Maryland while attending a school located in Maryland (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).
• Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. 3319) who lives in Maryland while attending a school located in Maryland (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty.
• Anyone using educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) who lives in the State of Maryland while attending a school located in the State of Maryland (regardless of his/her formal State of residence).

In-State Tuition Rate for Peace Corps Volunteers

Returning Peace Corps volunteer students will be included as in-State residents for the computation of tuition rates.

Description of Fees 

Course Fee

There is a course fee for specified courses which are identified as such in the course descriptions. Fees may vary with each course.

Replacement Diploma

Replacement diplomas for degrees or certificates are available for $20. Replacement Letters of Recognition are available for $10.

Returned Check Fee

There will be a charge of $20 for each check returned to the College. The College may withhold services to a student who has an indebtedness to the institution.

Transcript Fee

Students order transcripts through an online service, Parchment.  There is an $8.00 fee which includes a $3.00 convenience fee charged by Parchment for each transcript destination.  During the online order process a major credit card will be required to pay these fees. Additional fees may apply for transcripts that are printed and mailed per student request. 

Requests for transcripts must be made using this online service. For ordering guidelines, see the Student Records  section of this Catalog.

Other Common College Expenses

Student Expenses

Students must clear all outstanding debts with the College before registration for the current semester can be finalized. A student is not officially registered or entitled to attend class until all financial obligations have been met in the Business Office.

Books

Textbooks may be purchased by cash or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover Card) from the College Bookstore, or by telephone.

Payment Options

Chesapeake College accepts cash, check, money order, MasterCard, VISA, DISCOVER and American Express. Payments can be made at the Wye Mills campus and the Cambridge Center. Payments can also be made online via the Chesapeake College’s online student MyCampus portal and then clicking on the Self Service link. 

Any balance due deemed in default will be turned over to an outside collection agency where a 17% collection fee will be assessed.

Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid to explore scholarship, grant, and other financial aid opportunities. 

Tuition Payment Plan

The Deferred Tuition Payment Plan is available to credit students for the Fall and Spring term with a minimum balance of $100.00 in tuition and fees and to non-credit students with at least $355.00 in tuition and fees. To participate and for more information, go to www.chesapeake.edu/ecashier. A deposit and a non-refundable $25 fee are assessed per plan per semester. An active plan is required by the pay-by date for each semester or at the time of registration after the pay-by-date and for non-credit classes.

Students Please Note: IRS TUITION FORM 1098T is an IRS reporting requirement for college-related financial transactions. Chesapeake College offers the option for students to retrieve their 1098T form online through the Chesapeake College website. Students must log into the Chesapeake College MyCampus/Self Service portal using their assigned login and password combination before December 31 each tax year to consent to retrieving their 1098T electronically. By signing up for the electronic version of the tax document, no paper form will be mailed to you. When your tax document is ready, an e-mail will be sent containing a link to this website where you may view your documents. Chesapeake College reports numbers on its tax form using registration information, and not cash payments for the tax year. This reporting method is supported by our software vendor and meets current IRS reporting requirements.

Tuition Waivers and Reductions

The following waivers and reductions are subject to State legislation and may change. For updated information, please contact the Director of Financial Services at 410-827-5390.

• Base Realignment and Closure Residency (BRAC) Waiver Policy
  Relocating members of the military and their dependents are eligible for a waiver of the 90-day residency requirement. To qualify for this waiver, members must submit proper documentation, i.e. military orders. To receive in-county tuition rates the member and dependents must live in the College’s five county service area.

• Health Manpower Shortage Tuition Reduction Program
  The State of Maryland designates the following programs as Health Manpower Shortage Programs. Students who are Maryland residents may apply for a waiver of the out-of-county tuition differential for courses in the following programs: Associate degree programs in Emergency Medical Services, Human Services, Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant and Radiologic Sciences; and certificate programs in Emergency Medical Services, Nationally Registered Paramedic, and Surgical Technology.

• Maryland National Guard Tuition Waiver Policy
  Members of the Maryland National Guard are eligible for a waiver of 50 percent of their tuition for credit and non-credit courses. To qualify members must certify by a form signed by their unit commander that they have at least 24 months remaining to serve. This certification must be presented at the time of registration or by the pay-by-date to qualify. Students must pay all applicable fees.

• Somerset County
  Residents of Somerset County will be billed at the in-county tuition rate.

• Senior Citizens Tuition Waiver
  Tuition for credit courses is waived for Maryland residents 60 years or older registering two weeks prior to the start of the semester. Seniors will be responsible for all applicable fees. Seniors wishing to register prior to this date must pay full tuition and fees. The tuition waiver policy for co-listed courses offered through Continuing Education is the same as the credit courses. Seniors registering for other Continuing Education courses, except those designated CES, AFC, or FTW in the course number will have tuition waived at any time. Proof of age will be required at the time of registration.
  
  Seniors who have registered and paid tuition for a course may drop the course but may not re-register with tuition waived until the first day of class.

• Victims of Human Trafficking
  The state of Maryland has enacted a law permitting the boards of trustees of community colleges to adopt policies granting in-county tuition status to individuals who have been victims of human trafficking even though the individual may reside out of the immediate service area. Chesapeake College has adopted this poilcy. Students should contact the Director of Accessibility Services at extension 5805 or by email (oas@chespapeake.edu) for further information. 
   
• Disability Waiver Policy
  Any resident of Maryland who is out of the workforce because of a permanent disability as defined by the Social Security Act, the Railroad Retirement Act, or in the case of former federal employees, the Office of Personnel Management, and enrolls in a community college class that has at least 10 regularly enrolled students, may be eligible for a tuition waiver. Students may be enrolled up to six credits per semester without declaring a degree or certificate. Letters of Recognition programs are no longer eligible for the waiver. Certain Continuing Education programs are eligible if they lead to employment. Please consult the list of eligible programs at http://www.mhec.state.md.us/career/WIA/WIASearch/ WIACountyPgm.asp. This waiver is for tuition only.
  
  Once a student enrolls in more than six credits, they must declare a major and apply for federal financial aid. The priority deadline date for the Fall term is May 1st and the Spring term is December 1st. Students must complete the Certificate for Tuition Waiver Form and have it authorized by the Social Security Administration. Students are no longer permitted to receive both federal/state aid and the waiver unless the federal/state aid is insufficient to cover tuition. Students receiving SSI/SSDI as a dependent or survivor of a disabled beneficiary do not qualify for this waiver. Waiver forms should be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid for review and final approval.

Sponsored Billing

Employer Billed Tuition and Fees
At the time of registration, students must provide a purchase order or completed Chesapeake College Sponsorship Billing Authorization form (available from the Business Office or the Web). Include the employee’s name, Social Security number, course number and title, and total amount for tuition, fees, and books (if applicable). Also include billing address and signature of person authorizing payment. Students must also sign the form. Students will not be confirmed in their classes until the above information is received by the College. If the sponsor fails to pay, the charge will revert back to the student’s account for collection. The regular refund/ withdrawal policy will apply.

Refunds

Credit Classes

For withdrawal from credit courses that would reduce the student’s enrollment, or for complete withdrawal from the College, the schedule of refunds of tuition and fees will be as follows:

15 week classes: Refund for class withdrawal will be 100% of tuition and fees for the first 7 calendar days from start of term.  No further refunds will be given for withdrawal from a class.

7.5 week classes (includes summer): Refund for class withdrawal will be 100% of tuition and fees for the first 5 calendar days from the start of term.  No further refunds will be given for withdrawal from a class.

Winterim (and any other shorter terms): No refund after start date of the term.

Note: CE Refunds: 100% of tuuition and fees refunded prior to start of class, after class has begun, no refunds.

The first day of classes is specified in the College Academic Calendar as the day the semester classes begin and not the day individual classes begin.

Special refund dates may apply to Weekend College, late starting classes, or classes in shortened time frames. Refer to the Academic Calendar published with the semester schedule for specific dates.

The College reserves the right to alter the above schedule of refunds as necessary.

The schedule of refunds may be adjusted for holidays within the refund periods. See the semester schedule for exact dates..

Process to Appeal should there be extenuating circumstances: A student must make a written appeal addressed to the Refund Appeal Committee by emailing refundcommittee@chesapeake.edu.

Form Link:

https://www.chesapeake.edu/sites/default/files/Involuntary_Withdrawal_Refund_Appeal_Request2022.pdf

Involuntary Withdrawal Refund Policy

In extreme circumstances, where the student is forced to withdraw after the normal refund period, the College will consider granting a partial refund of tuition as determined by the refund appeals committee.

To be eligible for consideration the student must meet the criteria described in the Involuntary Withdrawal Policy, submit a written request and all documentation to the Director of Financial Services, Chesapeake College, P.O. Box 8, Wye Mills, MD 21679 no later than the 10th week of a 15-week semester or the 5th week of an 8-week semester.

Policy Description

An involuntary withdrawal may qualify a student for partial refund of tuition after the normal refund deadline. In order to be eligible for a refund, the student, or next of kin, must submit a written request and appropriate substantiating documentation to support such a request. A withdrawal is considered involuntary if it results from one of the reasons described below:

Hospitalization

1. Student must have certification from a physician stating that the student’s medical condition required hospitalization for 72 hours or longer, and that the medical condition requires the student’s withdrawal.
2. Required certification: A. Must be an original letter on official letterhead (no photocopies); B. Must specifically state that the student’s medical condition required hospitalization for 72 hours or longer, and that the medical condition requires the student’s withdrawal from class, and C. Must give the date on which the hospitalization began.

Military Duty

1. Student must have entered active duty involuntarily, or have been transferred involuntarily.
2. Student must provide a copy of military orders signed by the individual’s commanding officer or appropriate official.

Death

1. Withdrawal is considered involuntary if the death of the student or immediate family member of the student’s has occurred. Immediate family members include the following: spouse, parent, child, sister or brother.
2. Appropriate required documentation: A. An official death certificate, or B. A copy of a newspaper obituary notice, and C. A letter from a physician (or other appropriate medical professional) verifying the student’s relationship to the deceased. (If the relationship is not evident, additional documentation may be required.)

Job Conflict

1. Involuntary job transfer or job schedule (shift) change, which causes a conflict with class schedule.
2. Student must provide documentation dated and certified by the employer.

Other Extreme Situations

Requests for an involuntary withdrawal based on other extreme situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Department of Defense Return of Unearned Tuition Assistance

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. 

When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.  To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, Chesapeake College (CC), will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided.  TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based on when a student stops attending. 

If a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, and the service member notifies the school of their obligation, CC will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.

Calculation:

When a student officially withdraws from a course, the date of withdrawal will be used as the last date of attendance.  If a student stops attending, without officially withdrawing, CC will determine the last date of attendance based on information received from faculty. 

CC will calculate the student’s TA eligibility based on the following formula:

    Withdraw prior to the semester start                                                           100% return of funds

    Withdraw or stop attending prior to 20% point of semester                         50% return of funds

    Withdraw or stop attending prior to 30% point of semester                         40% return of funds

    Withdraw or stop attending prior to 40% point of semester                         30% return of funds

    Withdraw or stop attending prior to 50% point of semester                         20% return of funds

    Withdraw or stop attending prior to 60% point of semester                         10% return of funds

Determining eligibility of TA is class specific.  Using the formula above CC will return, to the DOD, some or all of the TA awarded to service members who did not complete at least 60% of each course. 

Non-Credit/Continuing Education and Workforce Training Class Refunds

A refund of 100% will be made prior to the day of the first class. No refund will be given after that date. The effective date of refund calculation is 5:30 p.m. on the day when the official College withdrawal form is completed and filed in the Office of Registration and Records.

Bookstore Refunds

Refunds for books will be made in accordance with Bookstore policies. Please contact a Bookstore representative for more information regarding dates and return policies. The Bookstore can be reached by phone at 410-827-6874, or via the Web at www.chesapeake.bncollege.com.