Navigating the Liberty University Refund Policy: A Comprehensive Guide
Liberty University's refund policy encompasses various aspects of tuition, fees, and other financial considerations. Understanding these policies is crucial for students and their families to manage finances effectively throughout their academic journey. This article provides a detailed overview of Liberty University's refund policies, covering tuition, fees, events, and bookstore purchases.
Tuition and Fees Refunds
General Policy
Liberty University's Student Financial Services (SFS) aims to empower students to make informed decisions about funding their education by providing access to institutional resources, federal and state aid, and military benefits. The university requires all students to complete Financial Check-In (FCI) each semester through ASIST to secure financial arrangements for direct charges like tuition and fees, including prior, current, and future balances. Failure to complete FCI by the published deadline may result in course and housing drops and a $150 late fee.
Tuition Refund Eligibility
Per policy 3.5 in the Academic Catalog, student-doctors who withdraw from LUCOM, take a leave of absence, are suspended, or are dismissed during a semester may be eligible for a tuition refund. Eligibility is based on their date of withdrawal if the outcome results in a change to the student’s anticipated graduation date.
Doctoral Programs
Doctoral students should be aware of specific refund policies related to their programs. For example, a $300 non-refundable enrollment deposit is charged to Psy.D. students upon acceptance. Tuition rates for doctoral programs vary, with some programs offering military discounts under specific conditions. Beginning Spring 2022, some programs moved to a flat rate of $1,200 per credit hour, while students who began coursework earlier may be grandfathered into previous full-time/part-time tuition rates. Students should verify the most current tuition and fee policies with Student Financial Services.
Military Tuition Benefits
Liberty University offers specific tuition rates for military students in certain doctoral programs, such as Education Doctorates (Ed.D. and Ed.S.) and specific Doctoral Certificate programs. Military students pursuing other doctorate programs will be charged the regular (part-time/full-time) doctorate tuition rates. A reduced tuition rate of $375 per credit hour is available to active service members, eligible veterans, and their spouses who continue their studies into specific doctoral programs within two academic years of completing a graduate degree at Liberty.
Read also: Liberty University Fees
Payment Plans
Liberty University offers monthly payment plans as an alternative to paying the full balance upfront. These plans are interest-free but include a non-refundable $50 participation fee for each semester. Students are responsible for maintaining current and valid bank or credit card information and ensuring sufficient funds are available for scheduled drafts. It is also the student’s responsibility to ensure that all financial aid estimates are reflected correctly prior to the processing of the first draft. Students should review and adjust their payment plans if charges or payments are added, removed, or adjusted. Liberty University reserves the right to adjust or cancel a payment plan for any reason.
Failed Payment Processing Fee
A non-refundable failed payment processing fee is charged for each returned or declined payment made via check, ACH, debit card automatic draft, or credit card automatic draft. Accumulating three or more returned or declined payments within a year may result in ineligibility for payment plans and restrictions on online payments.
Check Cashing
Currently enrolled students can cash checks from parents, their personal checking account, or a Liberty University payroll check at the Cashiering & Treasury Services Office. The maximum amount is $50 per week, with a $1 fee per check. Returned or declined checks will result in a charge to the student's account, including the check amount and a returned payment fee.
Online Course Attendance
Regular attendance in online courses is expected. Students who do not attend within the first week by submitting an academic assignment will be dropped from the course and will not be allowed to submit further coursework. The student is solely responsible for any coursework missed due to non-attendance.
Housing and Dining Fees
Students living in University housing are required to pay housing and dining fees each semester. If a student moves into housing and then withdraws or is allowed to move off campus, a portion of the housing fee may be prorated based on the date of removal of items from the residence hall. Dining fees cover the selected resident dining plan and promote healthy living and social engagement.
Read also: History of Liberty's Flames
Course Materials and Fees
Tuition and fees may not cover all course materials. Resident students can use financial aid or payment plans to request a book voucher advance for use at the on-campus bookstore. Online graduate students can request a book voucher advance for use at BNC Virtual. Students are responsible for paying applicable course fees, online content fees, material fees, inclusive access fees, and fees charged for special elective-type courses.
Activity and Health Fees
All resident students are required to pay an activity fee and a health fee each semester. The activity fee provides access to Liberty University activities, athletic events, and recreational facilities. The health fee covers services provided by LU Student Health. Students who do not submit documentation of immunizations and medical history will have a health records late fee added to their student account.
School of Divinity and Law School Activity Fees
All School of Divinity students are required to pay the School of Divinity Activity Fee each semester to help offset the cost of the School of Divinity’s Student Government and social events. All Law School students are required to pay the Law School Activity Fee each semester.
Ticket Refund Policy for Events
General Policy
Tickets issued by Liberty University and Liberty Athletics are revocable licenses. Liberty University may revoke tickets and refuse admission by refunding the purchase price. However, all sales are final, and there are no refunds or exchanges, except in rare circumstances.
Event Cancellation
If an event is canceled and the ticket cannot be moved to another event, a full refund of the ticket purchase may be issued.
Read also: Explore Liberty University's Graduate Programs
Flames Club Donations
Flames Club donations, often required as part of ticket purchases, are non-refundable.
Ticketholder Responsibilities
Ticketholders agree to abide by all School of the Arts, NCAA, Conference, Liberty University, and venue rules. Misconduct or violation of policies will result in removal from the event without a refund.
Other Conditions
Liberty University may void ticket purchases for reselling purposes due to existing contracts with ticket resellers. The university and its Marketing Department have permission to use the ticketholder's likeness in print, video, and electronic formats. Performances, artists, event dates, game dates, times, and venues are subject to change.
Inclement Weather
Patrons purchase tickets for outdoor events at their own risk regarding inclement weather. Liberty University will notify patrons of ticket procedures for any canceled and rescheduled events and games.
Ticket Validity
Liberty University only guarantees the validity of tickets purchased directly from the Liberty University Ticket Office.
Barnes & Noble Bookstore Refund Policy
Textbook Purchases
The Barnes & Noble bookstore at Liberty University offers options for purchasing textbooks both in-store and online. Online orders can be placed through the "Resident Bookstore" link for on-campus students.
Textbook Rentals
Textbooks can be rented in-store or online. The course information tag in-store will display a "Rental" option. Online, many books display a RENTAL option, along with NEW and USED options.
Book Dollars/Vouchers
Book Dollars/Book Vouchers can be used as a payment method for online textbook orders by selecting ‘Book Dollars/Vouchers’ on the checkout page and entering the Student ID number (without the preceding ‘L’). The bookstore will exhaust all Book Dollar/Book Voucher funds before processing any remaining balance to a secondary method of payment.
Order Fulfillment
The estimated total at the time of order completion is approximate and may be adjusted based on inventory availability. Payment is processed when the books are pulled off the shelf and boxed for pick-up or shipping.
Refunds/Exchanges
Textbook refunds and exchanges can be done on the second level of the Bookstore. Refund and exchange deadlines are typically extended to allow for reduced store traffic and adjustments to the start of in-person instruction.
Digital Purchases
Digital materials can be purchased in-store or online. ‘Digital’ will appear as a textbook option whenever available.
Textbook Buyback
Textbooks can be sold back remotely by going to www.mbsdirect.net/liberty and selecting Sell Books.
Financial Aid and Refund Processing
Aid Disbursement
Aid disbursements are made throughout the day. The setup of a Liberty University Online semester (term) consists of multiple sub-terms a student can enroll.
Refund Eligibility and Options
If eligible, students will receive a refund if they have an excess of funds in their account from financial aid credit (federal, state, and institutional aid) after all direct educational expenses have been paid. Students can select "Refund my credit" to authorize Liberty University to process a refund or "Hold my credit" to authorize Liberty University to hold any excess aid for future charges.
Student Loan Refunds
If a refund has been paid from a student loan credit balance, the student can pay the refund to the applicable student loan servicer. Student loan servicer information is available on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
VR&E Invoicing
Students receiving Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits in addition to using an Online Student Book Voucher may experience a delay in invoicing of 2-3 weeks.
Non-Title IV Aid Charges
Some charges, such as the late Financial Check-In fee, Payment Plan Participation fee, and Returned Payment Processing fee, cannot be paid by Title IV federal aid.
Privacy Policy
Liberty University is committed to protecting the privacy of its patrons' personal information. By using university services, individuals acknowledge that Liberty University may collect personally identifiable information for marketing and other business purposes, as well as to improve customer experience. Liberty University will not sell personally identifiable information to third parties without separate consent.
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