Tuition and Fees
Annual Fees for 2005 - 2006
The tuition fee for both resident and non-resident students is $32,115. The student activities fee is $235 for all students. The residence fee is $4,130 for room. Board charges are $3,700. All resident students are also charged a $120 network access fee.
General Fee
All new students will be charged a general fee of $50, which is used to defray the cost of common area damage to dorms and other buildings. This is a one-time fee that is charged in the first semester of enrollment.
Study Away Administrative Fee
Students participating in a Non-Wheaton Approved Program will be charged a $500 administrative fee per academic year of study abroad to support the Center for Global Education in providing services to students. Students participating in a short-term study abroad program (January or Summer) will be charged a $250 administrative fee. This fee will be applied to the Wheaton College student bill during regular billing cycles.
Special Fees and Expenses
- Music performance fees are $450 per semester for non-majors taking performance courses for academic credit. Non-credit lessons are $300 per semester for 30-minute lessons; $600 per semester for 60-minute lessons.
- The transcript fee is $2 for each copy.
- Automobile registration is $50 per year.
Special fees are set each year and are subject to change.
Health Services Fees
There are no charges for visits to the professional staff of the Norton Medical Center during clinic hours. There are small charges, however, for medicines dispensed by the health center, for laboratory work and for some clinical services.
Student Health Insurance
All college students in Massachusetts are required to be covered by health insurance and to indicate that they have coverage equivalent to or in excess of that provided by the Wheaton College Student Health Insurance Plan. This plan is available through the Office of Student Financial Services. Students are automatically enrolled in the plan unless a waiver is requested and approved. In accordance with Massachusetts state law, students who are granted a waiver must be enrolled in a health insurance plan that satisfies state regulations. All students are sent a brochure describing the Wheaton College Student Health Insurance Plan, the process for requesting a waiver, and the state requirements for student health insurance.
The plan offered by Wheaton provides twelve-month coverage for areas including preventive health care, accidents, illness, hospitalization, emotional disorders, alcoholism and sports injuries. Further details on the health plan can be obtained through the director of student health services or the Office of Student Financial Services.
The college requires international students, or U. S. students living abroad who do not have coverage by a domestic carrier, to enroll in the Wheaton College Student Health Insurance Plan.
Optional Accident Insurance Plan
Wheaton also offers an optional accident insurance plan for any student who waives the Wheaton Student Health Plan. The purpose of the accident plan is to provide low-cost secondary insurance coverage, particularly for varsity athletes (under the accident sections of both policies, varsity athletes are covered 100 percent, subject to the policy limitations). The cost of the optional accident insurance (for 2005-2006) is $127. The details of the plan are mailed with the billing information packet each June.
Other Expenses
It is estimated that approximately $2,000 will cover a student's general expenses for such items as books, supplies, clothing, recreation, laundry and transportation during the academic year. This estimate is based on a modest standard of living and may vary from student to student depending on individual needs and expectations.
Fines
There are various fines administered by different offices of the college. These include library fines, fines for violation of the alcohol policy, fire safety violation fines and fines for damage to college property. Students who violate college policies will be subject to disciplinary action, which may also include a substantial fine. Questions should be directed to the Office of the Dean of Students or the office issuing the fine. Failure to pay fines may result in the withholding of grades or transcripts or prevent registration.
Tuition for Special Programs
All Part-time Non-degree (Special) Students are required to pay for all classes at the time of registration.
| PROGRAM | CREDIT COST | CONDITIONS | AUDIT COST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time Non-degree (Special) Student | $4,296 | Per course; may not live in campus housing | $100 per course |
| Part-time Degree Student | $4,296 | Per course; approval by petition to CAAS and SFS only, may not live in campus housing | |
| Visiting Student | Full-time tuition | Apply through Admission Office, full-time status, approved for campus housing | |
| Alumnae/i Audit | $50 per course | ||
| Norton Resident | $150 | Per course for four courses (no more than one course per semester for four semesters) | $15 per course |
Tuition Policy for Degree Students
Tuition charges for degree students are not based on credit hours for courses. While the normal course load is four courses per semester, some students are approved by the Committee on Admissions and Academic Standing to take additional courses; extenuating circumstances may justify an occasional request for a reduced course load. Students living on campus are required to pay full tuition regardless of the number of courses they take in a given semester.
Students who are within two credits of completing the requirements for graduation and who do not live on campus may request a pro-rated tuition charge; if a student chooses to reside on campus, full tuition will be charged but no restrictions will be placed on the number of courses she or he may take.
Students should be aware that requesting a reduced course load could affect the financial aid they are receiving in the current or future semesters. We recommend that any financially aided student petitioning for a reduced course load meet with a Student Financial Services counselor to review the impact on their aid eligibility.
Fees May Change
In the face of rising costs affecting all facets of higher education, tuition and fee increases have been necessary each year for the past decade. As such increases may continue to be necessary, parents and students are advised that the Board of Trustees may change the fee schedule from one academic year to the next, and make changes required by law during the academic year.