Financial Information

Tuition

• For all graduate courses: $600 per semester hour
• All graduate students will be charged a $26 per credit hour Resource & Technology fee
• The audit fee is also $600 per semester hour. Students who audit a class receive no credit for the class, but they do receive a grade of NC (no credit).

All tuition is due 10 days before the class start-date.

Tuition Refund

Refund of any portion of tuition will be made only in the case of official withdrawal from the College.

Scholarship and grant aid from state or institutional sources are subject to the same withdrawal calculations.

Note that in accordance with federal regulations, students receiving federal financial aid funds are subject to Return of Title IV Policy depending on the date of their official withdrawal petition. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Fees are nonrefundable after the end of the drop/add period.

Financial Assistance

Third Floor, Allison Administration Building, Room 309
(P) 803.786.3612, (F) 803.786.3560

The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to helping students and their families make attendance at Columbia College an academic and financial reality through financial aid planning. There are many different sources of financial aid available to qualified students. It is best to submit all required forms as soon as possible, since most aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for qualified applicants. The Office of Financial Aid awards aid to qualified applicants regardless of race, religious creed, place of national origin, ethnic group, or physical disability.

Financial Aid Application

In accordance with federal regulations, applicants are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form will determine how much the family or student is expected to contribute to the educational costs for the academic year. It is a fair and equitable system of establishing how much aid each student needs. By completing the FAFSA, a student applies for federal, state, and institutional aid. The FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA has to be filed each year to apply or reapply for assistance for the upcoming academic year. The FAFSA is available October  1st at www.FAFSA.gov.

The priority deadline for completion of the FAFSA is March 15th, but students are encouraged to apply for financial aid as early as possible. Applications received after this date will be considered for aid as long as funds are available.

All students are strongly urged to check with the Office of Financial Aid concerning questions related to the financial aid process. In addition, students are advised to check with local service clubs, churches and employers about scholarships that might be offered. These scholarships often go unused.

Procedure for Making Application

1. The student applies for admission to Columbia College and is accepted.
2. The student files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. (All South Carolina residents must apply by June 30 for the South Carolina Tuition Grant) Federal School Code:0034300
3. In the event additional documentation is required, or errors were made on the FAFSA, students will receive notification of additional requirements.
4. The student applying for assistance will receive an official award notification from the Office of Financial Aid via email.
5. Students are not required to return a copy of the award letter. All aid will be processed as offered unless the student returns a signed copy of the award with notations i1ndicating a desire to decline or reduce a specific award.
6. VA students should notify the Columbia College certifying official in the Office of Financial Aid.

Students can view their financial aid information in Koala Connection under Financial Services.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Pursuant to Federal Regulations, the Columbia College Office of Financial Aid  is required to monitor the academic progress of all students who apply for federal financial aid. Financial aid funds can only be awarded to students who are completing a minimum percentage of hours attempted, maintain a specific GPA, and who meet the college’s standards for continued enrollment as defined in the “Academic Standing ” section of the Columbia College Bulletin. If a student fails to meet SAP standards, they will become ineligible for federal financial aid. A student is considered making Satisfactory Academic Progress and eligible for financial aid if they:

1. Are admitted and enrolled as a degree-seeking student.
2. Meets Columbia College’s standards for continued enrollment (See the “Academic Standing ” section of Columbia College’s catalog.)
3. Maintains the minimum Columbia College GPA requirement as follows below.
4. Passes 67%  (0.6665) of all attempted hours (includes all transferred credits).
5. Has not attempted more than 150% of their program of study.

To maintain good standing in graduate programs, students must consistently do “B” quality work or above in coursework and maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.00 in any given semester is placed on academic probation. A student will be dismissed for academic reasons if her/his cumulative GPA is less than 3.00 at the end of the following consecutive semester. Consecutive semesters are fall/spring/summer. The College requires a final cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 (“B”) for receiving the master’s degree.

Full-time/Part-time

For the purposes of Satisfactory Academic Progress, Columbia College does not distinguish between full-time and part-time enrollment. Students’ progress is accessed on both a quantitative (GPA) and qualitative scale (percentage of hours completed). Basing the qualitative measure on percentage of hours completed negates any differences in enrollment status.

No student exceeding the maximum timeframe is eligible for Title IV Federal or state aid.

Re-admit and Entering Transfer Students

Credit transferred from other institutions will count as both attempted and earned hours, but do not count towards the GPA requirement, for the purposes of satisfactory academic progress.  Re-admitting students will be assessed for eligibility upon re-application to Columbia College and will be considered eligible for Title IV Assistance if they meet SAP standards. New transfer students will be assessed for eligibility upon acceptance. All students receiving LIFE Scholarship or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship must meet the credit hour requirement for those programs. Full-time students must earn 24 semester credit hours per year for SCTG, an average of 30 credits per year for the LIFE Scholarship, and 30 total credit hours per year for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship). Courses taken at other institutions do count towards the credit hour and GPA requirements for the LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarships.

Treatment of Courses and Grades in determining Satisfactory Academic Progress

Withdrawals (WD) count toward total hours attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate and are included in the GPA calculation. Only administrative withdrawals do not count against the GPA. 

Incompletes (I) or No Grade (NG) count toward total hours attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate but are not included in the GPA calculation.

No Credit (NC) is assigned to audited courses.  The hours are not included in the attempted hours or the GPA calculation.

Transfer credits accepted by the College count toward the Cumulative Completion Rate and will not count in the GPA calculation.

Repeated courses count toward total hours attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate. The highest grade is included in the GPA calculation. Federal student aid is available for only one retake of a passed course.

Change in Majors. Only courses counting toward a student’s program of study (major) count toward maximum timeframe. Students are allowed a maximum of three times to change major.

Failing (F) grades count toward total hours attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate and are included in the GPA calculation.

Satisfactory (S)/Unsatisfactory (U) are Pass/Fail credit hours that count toward total hours attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate. Successfully completed courses are included in the total hours earned. The grades are not included in the GPA calculation.

Summer School

Summer School is considered a period of enrichment.  Therefore, students are encouraged to attend summer school to improve their academic status.  If summer school is attended, a SAP evaluation will be performed at the end of this term.

Maximum Timeframe

Students are no longer eligible for aid if it is mathematically impossible to complete their program of study within 150 percent of the published program length for all students. The maximum number of attempted hours eligible to be covered by aid is 180 semester hours for a 120-credit hour bachelor’s degree (120 x 150%=180). The hours included in the evaluation will only include the hours for their current major, regardless of how many times they change majors.  Students may appeal their status, if their aid is cancelled and they are pursuing multiple majors or degrees. If at the time when SAP is reviewed at the conclusion of the spring term or any other term it is determined that a student has exceeded the maximum number of attempted credit hours based upon their degree, the student is no longer eligible for financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Cycle

The Office of Financial Aid will review the Satisfactory Academic Progress of students at the end of each semester. Students who have not met Satisfactory Academic Progress after the designated checkpoint are placed in a warning status. If a student is still not meeting the standards after the subsequent semester, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension. Students on suspension are classified as ineligible for aid and are not eligible for Title IV federal aid programs, institutional, or state funding.

Students who are determined to be ineligible for federal financial aid under the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy may appeal this determination if the student feels extenuating circumstances were a major factor in their inability to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Extenuating circumstances are documented conditions beyond the student’s control (e.g., injury, illness, or family crisis). Appeals governing that circumstance will only be granted once. If the appeal is approved, the student will return under a probation status with an academic plan.  If a student does not meet the terms of their academic plan or cumulative SAP standards while on probation, they are suspended. Students who subsequently meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will restart the Satisfactory Academic Progress cycle.

What happens when the appealed probation semester is complete?

A student may regain or lose eligibility following the appealed probation semester.  The status for the semester following the appealed probation semester will fall into one of the categories below: 

1. Stay in an appealed probation status. In order to remain in appealed probation status, a student must meet their academic plan requirements. Students who remain in an appealed probationary status will continue on their established academic plan.
2. Move back to a suspension status. If a student does not meet either:
   1. the required pace of completion or GPA for the semester or
   2. the requirements of their academic plan the student’s status will return to suspension and federal aid will be cancelled for future semesters.

Students who move back to a suspension status will not be eligible for financial aid and no longer have the option to appeal.

1. ​Move to a satisfactory status. If a student meets the overall GPA and Cumulative Completion Rate (while meeting maximum timeframe conditions) for satisfactory academic progress.  Students who move to a satisfactory status will no longer be on probation and are now meeting cumulative SAP standards. 

Financial Aid Appeals

Students who do not meet these guidelines will be sent a letter and/or e-mail explaining that they are on financial aid suspension. Students who feel there are extenuating circumstances which may affect the denial of financial aid have the right to appeal in accordance with the Financial Aid Appeal Process.

Students who have been on financial aid suspension cannot merely skip a semester to regain eligibility. To regain eligibility for financial aid, the student may submit a written appeal (see Appeals Process below) in accordance with the appeals process and the Office of Financial Aid must approve the appeal. The student is then placed on probation with an academic plan.

To appeal, the student must follow the process below:

1. Complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Application in which the student clearly explains extenuating circumstances which prevented them from meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.  The application must explain:
   1. What occurred; why did you fail to meet the SAP requirements?
   2. How have you resolved these circumstances so that they will not continue to affect your academic performance in the future? What is your plan of action to ensure your academic success?
2. For maximum timeframe, the student must explain the number of hours accumulated and submit a degree audit.
3. Submit your completed appeal application and all supporting documents. Submit the appeal during the following times:
   1. Second week of August
   2. Last week of December
   3. Second week of May
   4. Third week of July

4. Students will be notified of the decision by mail or email within 48 hours of the decision.  The decision of the Financial Aid Office is final.

Submit Appeals Form and Supporting Documents to:

Columbia College

Office of Financial Aid

Attn: Satisfactory Academic Progress

1301 Columbia College Drive Columbia, SC 29203

Email To: fa@columbiacollegesc.edu

If a student’s appeal is denied, then the student will be required to successfully attain minimum SAP requirements using their own financial resources to continue enrollment. Once minimum SAP requirements have been met, aid eligibility is reinstated.

Students who have exceeded the maximum timeframe may appeal. Appeals for the extension of aid beyond the 150 percent maximum timeframe are available only to those students for whom one additional semester of aid will result in graduation. No appeal will be granted for students that require more than one term beyond the maximum timeframe to attain a degree.

Appeals for the upcoming fall semester will be reviewed after spring grades are available (if necessary) and prior to the last day of the add/drop period for the fall semester. Appeals for the upcoming spring semester will be reviewed after fall grades are available (if necessary) and prior to the last day of the add/drop period for the spring semester. Appeals for the upcoming summer sessions will be reviewed during the spring semester and prior to the last day of the add/drop period for the summer session.

Academic Plan

Students whose appeal has been approved and cannot achieve minimum SAP requirements within one semester will be placed on an Academic Plan. 

An Academic Plan will detail the specific expectations and requirements that must be met for each semester the student receives aid until SAP requirements are met. The Academic Plan will be created by the Office of Student Success and forwarded to the Office of Financial Aid. Requirements may include, but are not limited to regular meetings with faculty, advisors, and the Pearce Communication Center, presentation of progress reports to the Director of Financial Aid or other representatives, and optional sessions with the campus Counselor. A specific GPA and percentage of hours completed will be assigned for each semester to ensure that SAP requirements are met within the required time frame. Failure to comply with any part of the Academic Plan requirements or to achieve the expected GPA and percentage will terminate the Academic Plan provision and the student will become ineligible for aid. No additional appeals will be considered.

Columbia College reserves the right to terminate an Academic Plan at any time. Any decision to terminate a plan early will be deliberated by the Financial Aid Committee.

Loans

Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loans

The Federal Unsubdued Direct Loans are non-need-based loans. Interest on an unsubsidized Direct loans begins accruing after the first disbursement. Students have the option of paying the interest monthly or quarterly while in school and during the grace period or can have the interest capitalized and added to the principal amount of the loan upon entering repayment. Repayment begins 6 months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. If a dependent student does not qualify for a subsidized Direct loan, the dependent student may borrow from this program at the same loan limits as the Federal Subsidized Direct Loans. Graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 per year, not to exceed the Cost of Attendance for Columbia College. The current fixed interest rate for the Federal Unsubsidized Loan for graduate students is 8.08%.

Federal Graduate PLUS Direct Loans

The Federal Graduate Plus loans are federal student loans available to students attending graduate school and professional school. The current fixed interest rate for the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan is 9.08%.

Student Employment Office

The Office of Student Employment helps students participate in the most beneficial work experience possible while at Columbia College.

The following describes two programs coordinated through the Office of Student Employment:

Federal Work Study (FWS)

The Federal Work Study, as its name implies, is a federally subsidized program awarded to students based on financial need. Students are approved to receive Work Study awards as part of their financial aid package. To be considered for FWS, student must

• Complete the FAFSA by March 15^th
• Have financial need as determined by the FAFSA

Workship (WS)

Workship is institutionally funded aid awarded to students based on their skills and the campus student work needs. This program also assists students who do not qualify for FWS funds but express a desire to work on campus.

FWS and WS applications must be submitted via Handshake.

Withdrawal Implications for Recipients of Financial Aid

During the Drop/Add Period

During the college’s published drop/add period, students who drop or reduce their enrollment may be eligible for a 100 percent refund of tuition for classes dropped.

Financial aid recipients must immediately notify the Office of Financial Aid Office in writing when a drop from one or more classes during the drop/add period results in an enrollment status different from the enrollment status on which their current financial aid eligibility was based. The same applies if one or more classes are canceled.

The Office of Financial Aid will review the student’s new enrollment and, if appropriate, revise the student’s eligibility based on the new enrollment status.

If a financial aid recipient drops from all classes or drops to less than half-time status during the drop/add period, all financial aid awards must be returned to their respective programs. Students who drop from all classes or drop to less than half-time status during the drop/add period are considered never to have established eligibility for financial aid. If the student was given financial aid funds for other expenses, the student will be expected to return those funds to the college.

After the Drop/Add Period

Students who are recipients of Title IV federal student aid are also covered by federal Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) regulations. Title IV federal student aid is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend for the entire period for which the assistance is provided and thereby “earn” the award. When a student ceases academic attendance prior to the end of that period, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of federal funds that the student was originally scheduled to receive.

If a Title IV recipient withdraws from all classes on or before the session is 60 percent complete, based on their last date of attendance, federal policy requires that any “unearned” Title IV federal student aid be returned to the U.S. Treasury, even if the student is not entitled to a refund of tuition.

A student is required to immediately notify the Registrar when the student stops attending classes. If the student fails to notify the Registrar’s Office, it is possible that the 50 percent point in the term will be used to determine the student’s last date of attendance, in accordance with federal regulations. If a student withdraws from all classes*, the Office of Financial Aid will determine if that student’s period of attendance resulted in the earning of all federal student aid awarded for that term. If it is determined that not all the scheduled federal aid has in fact been earned, then the Office of Financial Aid will calculate the amount to be returned to the federal student aid programs. The Office of Financial Aid will bill the student via the student’s college account for the amount to be returned. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Cashier’s Office to settle the bill.

*Note to students in modular programs: In a modular program, one or more of the student’s enrolled courses do not span the length of the entire semester. Students in modular courses who withdraw from one or more courses but are still registered for future courses within the term will be required to confirm their future enrollment plans. For students who fail to confirm or fail to re-enroll, the Office of Financial Aid will determine whether you have completed module(s) that contain 49 percent or more of the number of days in the payment period. If you have completed 49 percent or more, you are not considered to have withdrawn for R2T4 purposes. If you have completed less than 49 percent, the Office of Financial Aid will calculate the portion of your financial aid that has been earned based on your latest date of attendance. Refunds to the U.S. Treasury may be required.

Additional Responsibilities of Students Who Withdraw

Any time a student withdraws from one or more courses, the student should consider the potential effect on their Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status. See page # for more information about SAP requirements.

Whenever a student’s enrollment drops to less than half time or the student withdraws completely, or if a student takes a leave of absence, they must notify the lender, holder, or servicer of any loans. Student borrowers of federal loans must also satisfy exit loan counseling requirements at https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/.

Students who have withdrawn from studies may be entitled to a prorated cancellation of charges from these offices.

Notes on Federal Policy

Title IV Federal Student Aid

Students are considered recipients of Title IV federal student aid if they have received funds from one or more of the following programs to meet educational expenses for the semester in question: Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal TEACH Grant, Direct Loans (Subsidized or Unsubsidized), or Direct Graduate or Parent PLUS Loans.

FAFSA and Verification

The Department of Education’s deadline for receipt of a 2024-2025 FAFSA is June 30, 2024. To receive financial aid funds, a complete, valid FAFSA must be received at Columbia College by the last day of the student’s 2024-2025 enrollment. Financial aid applicants selected for verification are required to submit documentation before any financial aid funds are awarded or disbursed. The deadline to submit verification documentation is 120 days after the student’s last date of enrollment for 2024-2025, or September 10, 2025, whichever is earlier. CC will continue to accept verification documentation until this date.

Applicants are notified of any changes to their financial aid eligibility on their Financial Aid Summary and Tasks (FAST) page. The FAST page also indicates any outstanding documentation or tasks that need to be completed for aid to be processed or disbursed. 

Period of Enrollment

At Columbia College, the periods of enrollment are generally measured using the session(s) in which the student enrolled on a semester basis, starting on the first day of classes and ending on the final day of examinations for a given term. For purposes of Title IV federal student aid, any scheduled break of five or more days will not be included in the measurement of the enrollment period. For programs offered in modules (sessions that do not span the entire length of the semester), breaks of more than five days between modules will not be included in the measurement of the enrollment period.

Measurement of Earned Title IV Federal Student Aid

When a student withdraws from all classes or withdraws from one or more classes while attending a modular program, the Office of Financial Aid will calculate the percentage of earned Title IV federal student aid using the date of withdrawal. The earnings calculation is based on the number of days of enrollment, up to and including the day of withdrawal, divided by the total number of days in the enrollment period. In most cases, when a total withdrawal is determined to occur on or before the 60 percent point in a semester, some federal aid will need to be returned.

Return of Title IV Federal Student Aid

To satisfy federal regulation, returns to Title IV financial aid programs must be made in the following order:

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Direct Subsidized Loans
• Direct PLUS Loans
• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
• Other Title IV federal programs

Veterans Benefits

The following policies and procedures are of primary concern to veterans, servicepersons, members of guard and selected reserves, and other eligible persons who receive VA educational benefits while enrolled at the College.  More information about VA benefits can be found at https://www.columbiasc.edu/tuition-aid/veterans-benefits.

Please note: Academic standards of progress and attendance are covered under school standards of progress as specified by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, License Division, and are required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Enrollment Certification

Certification by the College VA certifying official in the Office of Financial Aid, is required for eligible students who wish to receive VA educational benefit checks. Students must initiate their own requests for enrollment certification via Koala Connection under the Academic tab. Students should begin to request certification at the end of the drop/add period for each semester. The certifying official will complete certifications and forward other forms to the VA only for those students who have made such requests and have completed the necessary paperwork.

The VA requires that eligible students must have completed full College admissions requirements and matriculation into degree-seeking status before they may receive VA educational benefits. Only the federal VA has the final authority to award or to deny military educational benefits.

Veterans or servicepersons should contact the Office of Admissions for consideration of receiving college credit for military schools.

Normally, VA payments are authorized only for those courses which are required by the academic department for the student’s current degree program. All students receiving educational benefit checks from the VA are responsible for notifying the VA certifying official of any changes in their degree programs and/or course loads during a semester, to include drop/add, withdrawal, changing from credit to audit status, invoking the Pass-Fail option in a course, or enrolling in any distance education course, independent study, internship, or practicum.

Appropriate forms and benefits-related information are available at the Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Veterans Affairs. Each student request will be handled individually according to their VA benefit program and enrollment status at the College.

Majors Approved for Veteran Education Benefits for Columbia College:

Criminal Justice, M.A.
Healthcare Administration, M.A.
Organizational Leadership, M.A.
Business Administration, M.B.A.
Educational Administration and Leadership, M.Ed
Higher Education Administration, M.Ed
Innovation and Divergent Learning, M.Ed
Trauma-Informed Education, M.Ed

Certificate in Organizational Leadership
Certificate in Divergent Learning