Financial Information

Academic Common Market Programs

    Through a cooperative tuition-reduction agreement among Southern Regional Education Board states, students from participating states may be able to arrange a waiver of out-of-state tuition charges in order to pursue a degree program at Virginia Tech that is not offered by a public institution in the student's home state. Students are eligible for in-state tuition provided that they have been officially accepted into the ACM major, certified by their home state higher education commission, and are making progress toward their ACM program. Students must maintain continuous full-time enrollment and progress toward their approved ACM program for continued eligibility.

    The programs covered by the Academic Common Market are subject to change without notice. It is the responsibility of the student to inquire about eligibility. Program availability varies by state. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for a current listing. States currently participating include Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and West Virginia.

    Students are responsible for contacting the Academic Common Market Coordinator in their state's higher education office. The state coordinator can assist students in certifying eligibility and providing information regarding eligibility for in-state tuition at Virginia Tech. For additional information, please visit www.registrar.vt.edu.

Auditing

    Students are assessed the same rate for tuition and fees for auditing courses as for courses taken for credit.

Billing Statements

    Statements are processed on the 15th of each month (if the 15th of the month occurs on a weekend, statements are processed on the Friday before the 15th). Payments for monthly statements are due on the 10th of the following month. (If the 10th of the month occurs on a weekend, payments will be due the following Monday.)

    Billing statements for fall semester charges will be processed July 15 with an August 10th due date. However, if a meal plan, a room fee, or classes are added to the account after the July statement is processed, those charges will be billed in August with a September due date.

    Billing statements for spring semester charges will be processed December 15 with a January 10 due date.

    Classes are dropped for non-payment of past due billed charges the second Friday after classes begin for fall and spring semesters.
    Late fees will be charged based upon the due date on the statement. For example, the student receives a statement with an amount due of $3000 with a due date of January 10. If payment is received on January 11, a $50 late fee will be charged to the student’s account.

    A monthly finance charge of 1-1/2% per month will be assessed on unpaid prior term charges.

Budget Tuition Plan

    Virginia Tech's Budget Tuition Plan (BTP) offers a convenient method for planning and budgeting tuition, fees, room, and board. The BTP can cover all or part of the fall and/or spring semester's charges. This plan provides the opportunity for the student or parent(s) to divide the cost of education into four monthly direct debits from the checking account of your choice, instead of paying one lump sum by tuition payment deadline each semester. The only cost for this service is a $45 non-refundable application fee that is due with the application. Contact the Office of the University Bursar for additional information, at (540) 231-9316, e-mail at BTHELP@vt.edu, or visit www.bursar.vt.edu.

Bursar's Office

The Office of the University Bursar provides statements of charges to students and receives and applies payments to the students' accounts. If a student wants financial information released to parents or others, he or she must provide written authorization to the Office of the University Bursar, which will allow the release of financial information only. The Student Information Release Form can be downloaded from the website (http://www.bursar.vt.edu) and sent either by fax or mail to authorize the release of financial information.
Detailed information regarding tuition and fees, payment deadlines, Customer Service Window hours, The Budget Tuition Plan, electronic billing and payment processes, and much more can be obtained by viewing the website http://www.bursar.vt.edu.

Collection of Past Due Receivables for Students

    Any amount owed to the university including, but not limited to, tuition, fees, room, board, loans, notes receivable, and amounts due for goods and services provided is considered a receivable to the university. A receivable becomes past due if payment is not received by the payment due date. At ninety days past due, the receivable becomes delinquent.

    For currently enrolled students, the primary collection tool is the placement of a "HOLD" by the Office of the University Bursar on a student's record. This "HOLD" restricts certain student activities such as the ability to add or drop classes, receive grade transcripts, register for future academic terms, and may also hold your diploma. Once established, the "HOLD" remains in place until the debt is paid in full. Once a student is no longer enrolled, the collection procedures utilized for other "non-student" receivables are implemented.

    Individuals who do not pay all fees and charges owed are responsible, in the event of their default or the return of a check for payment of said fees and charges, to pay a penalty fee, to pay interest at the highest rate allowed by law, and for all reasonable administrative costs, collections costs, and attorney's fees incurred in the collection of funds due the University.

    Addresses must be kept current on Hokie SPA in order for the university to send statements in a timely manner. Students, faculty and staff can change their address on the HOKIE SPA. Non-receipt of statements is not a valid defense for non-payment; it is the responsibility of the individual who has incurred the debt to see that the debt is discharged.

    For non-students, a dunning message is included on each month's statement alerting the customer to the next collection steps that will be taken. If payment is not forthcoming within the stated period, the account and all pertinent information are forwarded to an outside collection agency or the State Attorney General's Office, as appropriate, for collection. In the event the collection agency is unable to collect, the account is reported to a national credit bureau, thus affecting the debtor's credit rating.

    In addition to the above measures, the university also lists the account with the Virginia Department of Taxation for set-off debt collection procedures. This means that any state income tax refund or payment processed through the State Treasurer’s Office to the debtor will be reduced by the amount of the receivable owed by the debtor.

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is in full compliance with the Virginia Debt Collection Act and all regulations promulgated by the State Department of Accounts and the Office of the Attorney General.

Office of the University Bursar
150 Student Services Building
540/231-6277
Fax: 540/231-3238
E-mail: bursar@vt.edu
Web: www.bursar.vt.edu

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Eligibility for In-State Student Tuition Privileges

    General Information: Eligibility for in-state tuition privileges (reduced tuition charges) is governed by §23-7.4 of the Code of Virginia. The provisions of §23-7.4 of the Code of Virginia are set forth, defined, and discussed in the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia's Domicile Guidelines. SCHEV developed these Guidelines to facilitate the consideration of uniform criteria in determining domiciliary status. §23-7.4 of the Code of Virginia places the responsibility on the student for establishing by clear and convincing evidence that s/he is eligible for the in-state tuition rate. Further, the burden is on the applicant to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that his/her domicile is Virginia and that s/he has abandoned any prior domicile. According to SCHEV's Guidelines, clear and convincing evidence is defined as "that degree of proof that will produce a firm conviction or a firm belief as to the facts sought to be established. The evidence must justify the claim both clearly and convincingly." (SCHEV Guidelines, p. 7)

    Domicile: Domicile refers to the "present, fixed home of an individual to which he or she returns following temporary absences, and at which the individual intends to remain indefinitely. No individual may have more than one domicile at a time." (SCHEV Guidelines, p. 3) Domicile cannot be initially established in Virginia unless one actually resides, in the sense of being physically present, in Virginia with domiciliary intent, which means present intent to remain indefinitely, that is, the individual has no plans or expectation to move from Virginia. Residence in Virginia for a temporary purpose or stay, even if that stay is lengthy, with present intent to return to a former state or country upon completion of such purpose does not constitute domicile. "Mere physical presence or residency primarily for educational purposes does not confer domiciliary status." (SCHEV Guidelines, p. 5) A person shall not ordinarily be able to establish domicile by performing acts which are auxiliary to fulfilling educational objectives or which are required or routinely performed by temporary residents of the Commonwealth. The university will consider many factors when determining domicile. Among them are continuous physical residence, state to which income taxes are paid, driver's license, voter registration, motor vehicle registration, employment, property ownership, sources of financial support, military records, a written offer and acceptance of employment in Virginia following graduation, and any other social or economic relationships with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions. The presence of any or all of these factors does not automatically result in Virginia domicile. The factors used to support a claim of entitlement to in-state privileges must have existed for a minimum of one year (12 continuous months) prior to the first official day of classes.

    Reclassification: Students may seek reclassification of their initial tuition classification, but residence or physical presence in Virginia primarily to attend the university does not entitle students to in-state tuition rates. Domicile should be established BEFORE one enters the university. Please note that if a student enters the university classified as an out-of-state student, s/he must present clear and convincing evidence to rebut the presumption that s/he is residing in the state primarily to attend school. Students seeking reclassification to in-state status must be prepared to pay the out-of-state tuition rate unless they are notified in writing that his/her status has been reclassified to in-state according to the Code of Virginia.

    Application Deadlines: According to §23-7.4 of the Code of Virginia, changes in domiciliary status can only be granted prospectively from the date the application is received; therefore, the deadline for submission of the complete application is prior to the first day of the term/semester for which the student seeks reclassification to in-state. Retroactive changes in status are not allowed under the Code. To ensure that students have a decision before the tuition payment deadline, please submit a complete application at least 30 days prior to the tuition payment deadline as published by the Office of the University Bursar. If additional information is requested, the applicant must provide the additional information within 30 days of the date of the letter requesting the information. Tuition refunds may be given to students who paid their tuition at the out-of-state rate but were subsequently reclassified to in-state provided that the Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates was submitted before the first day of the term. Qualifying students should contact the Office of Student Accounts regarding eligibility for a refund.

    Contact:

New Undergraduate or Transfer Students please contact:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
201 Burruss Hall, Mail Code 0202
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540/231-6267

Continuing Undergraduate Students please contact:
Office of the University Registrar
250 Student Services Building, Mail Code 0134
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540/231-6252

    The regulations governing domicile are determined by state law, and are therefore subject to change. The information stated herein is not intended to be a contract between a student and Virginia Tech but is provided for informational purposes only. For additional information, please visit www.registrar.vt.edu.

Enrollment Status, Full-Time

    Certification of full-time student status, for most purposes, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) educational benefits, Social Security benefits, loans, scholarships, and grants, is based on the following enrollment information: official undergraduate and College of Veterinary Medicine enrollment for each regular semester must be 12 or more credit hours and official graduate enrollment for each regular semester must be 9 or more credit hours. All courses must be in the A/F option, P/F option, or equivalent credit. Please note that courses taken under the audit option do not count toward the enrollment status. Participation in the Virginia Tech Cooperative Education program, National Student Exchange program, and International Student Exchange program reflects full-time enrollment. Certification of enrollment for V.A. educational benefits will reflect only those hours considered to be progress toward the degree or educational objective. Although considered to be enrolled full-time, students who participate in the Cooperative Education program are not eligible for V.A. educational benefits or federal financial aid during the terms in which they participate in the Co-Op program.

Fees, Cooperative Education Program

    Charge for each term a student is placed in industry employment while enrolled in the Cooperative Education Program.

Fall & Spring terms $50.00 per term
Summer terms $25.00 per term

Payment for the fee must be received in the Office of the University Bursar by the established deadline each term to prevent a late fee being assessed to the student’s account.

Fees, Late Payment

    A $50 Late Payment Fee will be charged to students whose payments are received after the statement due date.

Fees, Reinstatement

    A $75.00 fee is charged to students whose registrations are cancelled due to non-payment of fees, but are given permission by their dean to add classes after the deadline. The $75 reinstatement fee is in addition to the $50 late payment fee.

Fees, Summer School

    IInformation on summer school tuition and fees as well as costs for room and board can be obtained on the Bursar's website.

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Medical Resignations

    A student withdrawing for medical reasons will be charged a daily tuition rate for each day enrolled.

    Withdrawal for medical reasons must be accompanied by a statement from the Student Health Services at Virginia Tech indicating the student is unable to continue in school due to medical reasons. Student Health Services will determine the effective date for a medical resignation.

Payment Directions

    Payment should be made by cash, check, cashier’s check, money order, Budget Tuition Plan, or by the on-line electronic payment process for the amount due by the date shown on the statement. Checks/money orders should be made payable to "Treasurer of Virginia Tech."

    Payments should be mailed to our payment address: Virginia Tech, P.O. Box 7620, Merrifield, VA 22116-7620. Payments should be sent with the bottom portion of your statement to prevent delays in processing.

    Do not use the payment address for certified or express mail, scholarship checks, or any other correspondence; those items should be sent to our office address: Virginia Tech, Office of the University Bursar, 150 Student Services Building, Blacksburg, VA, 24061

Payment Information

    Effective with the July 15, 2005 billing, the Office of the University Bursar will make student account statements available on-line for viewing and payment through an electronic payment system called QuikPAYTM. Both paper and electronic billing statements will be sent to students for the Fall Semester 2005. Paper bills will no longer be mailed to students beginning Spring Semester 2006. All students will be notified by an e-mail sent to their Virginia Tech e-mail address when the bill is available for viewing. The student can elect to pay by electronic payment or by printing the statement to be mailed with their paper check.

    The QuikPAYTM system allows for account management 24 hours a day 7 days a week and was developed under the highest Internet security standards. It features a web-based presentation of the student’s most recent monthly account statement and up to 12 months of statement history. Customer/Students can pay their statement balance or the current account balance shown on the Hokie SPA by e-check or by credit card, and can set up parents or others to be authorized payers on their behalf.

    The QuikPayTM system will send email notifications to all official Virginia Tech (vt.edu) email addresses and to addresses of authorized payers whenever a statement has been generated that will have instructions on where to go to view and pay the e-bill. Instant e-mail confirmation is then sent acknowledging the electronic payment. You will be able to view your payment on Hokie SPA the following business day.

    You may also print your e-bill and mail the bottom portion of the statement along with your paper check to the address listed on the statement. Virginia Tech generates statements monthly for all new account activity and previous account balances.

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