Expenses and Financial Aid

Students are required to make arrangements for payment of all university fees when they have been registered at the beginning of each semester no later than the third day of class, per regulations.

The engagement of a room in the dormitory is for the full year, payable on a semester basis. However, if a student enters the residence hall after the semester begins, the charges are prorated for the remainder of the semester. The room reservation fee of $100 is retained as a room breakage deposit for all living in the dormitories.

Students may not re-enroll, graduate, or receive a transcript of their records until all indebtedness to the university is settled.

A student’s registration is not completed until the university receives payment for the current amount due the university. If payment is made with a check that is not honored (acknowledged bank errors excepted), a late fee will be charged when the student redeems the unpaid check. If the unpaid check is not redeemed within 10 days of return, the student may be withdrawn from classes.

Refund policies for maintenance fees, out-of-state tuition, and debt service fees are outlined below.

Change of a student’s status which may permit a refund

A refund may be given if there is a change in a full-time student’s schedule which results in the reclassification to a part-time student or a change in a part-time student’s schedule which results in a class load of fewer hours.

Situations which may permit a refund

A refund may be given after a student has dropped a course or courses or withdrawn from the
institution, cancellation of a class by the institution, or death of the student.

Refund procedures

The refund amount for students not receiving Title IV aid is based upon the state policy listed below.

Refunds are defined as the portion of maintenance and/or tuition and university housing charges due as a rebate when a student withdraws. The amount of the refund is determined according to the schedule below.

Tuition refund policy

Tuition and fees refunds in the College of Medicine follow the refund policies of the University. One hundred percent of the tuition and fees are refundable if a student withdraws prior to the first scheduled day of class. Seventy-five percent of the tuition and fees are refundable if a student withdraws by the fourteenth calendar day from the beginning of classes. Twenty-five percent of tuition and fees are refundable if a student withdraws prior to 25% of the length of the term. After 25% of the length of the term, tuition and fees are nonrefundable. Decisions regarding the specific date marking 25% of the term are made by the Bursar’s office. A full (100%) fee adjustment of mandatory fees will be provided to students called to active military or National Guard service during the semester. Fees for disability insurance and parking are non-refundable once paid.

Students who are suspended or expelled from the university or removed from university housing for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for any refund of university tuition, fees, or housing fees.

Return of Title IV Federal Student Aid

This requirement applies to the student ONLY if:

1. The student receives federal student aid, and
2. The student withdraws prior to completing sixty percent of the period for which the aid was provided.

Federal law requires federal aid recipients to “earn” the aid they receive by staying enrolled in college. Students who withdraw prior to completing 60 percent of the semester for which they received federal student aid may be required to return a portion or all aid awarded.

The law assumes that the student used the Title IV student aid to pay his/her institutional charges - tuition, fees, dorm room, and board. Thus, if the student withdraws prior to completing 60 percent of the semester for which he/she was awarded aid, a pro-rata amount of that aid must be returned to the federal government.

First, the University will restore to the appropriate federal fund source a proportional share of the institutional charges that the student paid. In general, the effect of this “return of Title IV aid” by the institution will be to reduce his/her outstanding loan balance. Second, if the amount returned by the university is not enough to repay the entire “unearned” amount of student aid according to the length of enrollment, he/she will be required to return portions of the federal student aid he/she received to pay non-institutional charges. Amounts that must be returned to federal aid sources, whether by the university or by the student, will first be applied to his/her federal loans. With respect to any amount the student owes after the university has returned its share, he/she will be permitted to repay loans based on the original terms of the loan agreement.

In the case of “unearned” portions of federal grants or scholarships, the student will be expected to pay fifty percent of the “unearned” portion immediately.

Any refund due to the student from the university for amounts he/she paid to cover institutional charges will first be applied to obligations to return “unearned” aid. Thus, portions of institutional refunds may be applied on the student’s behalf to his/her outstanding Federal GradPlus, Federal Stafford, or to the federal portions of his/her grant or scholarship and not actually refunded to the student. (This policy is based on 34 CFR, Section 668.22 of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.)

Through various financial aid programs, the Office of Financial Services makes every effort to enable any admitted medical student to attend the College of Medicine. The college supports the federal and state philosophy that the cost of an education lies primarily with the student and the family to the extent they can pay. Over eighty-eight percent of COM students rely on financial assistance beyond that of their families to pay their educational costs. Eighty-two percent rely upon student loans using future earnings as collateral while six percent use service-commitment scholarships; twelve percent are self-pay.

As costs of a medical education rise sharply, it becomes imperative for students to explore every option to support their educational expenses. Applicants and returning students should investigate the possibility of obtaining financial help through private, religious, civic and fraternal organizations in addition to state or federal agencies. Anyone seeking information about financial assistance at Quillen may write to East Tennessee State University, Quillen College of Medicine, Office of Financial Services, Box 70580, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614-1708; or telephone during normal business hours at (423) 439-2035; or view information on our website at http://www.etsu.edu/com/sa/comfinaid/.

Regulations established by Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, require the dissemination of certain information about financial aid to any student or prospective student who might request such information. In compliance with federal policy, the following information may be obtained from the Office of Financial Services:

1. Description of financial aid programs available to students
2. Statement of rights and responsibilities of students receiving aid
3. Cost of attending the institution (direct and indirect costs)
4. Refund policy (see Refund Policies also listed in this catalog)

Financial aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated need, which is, the annual cost of attendance less an expected family contribution determined by the federal government. This figure is derived from the information given on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are awarded aid each year in the spring prior to the year for which support is sought. Each student is required to complete the financial aid process in order to be considered for aid.

To apply for federal financial aid:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at http://ww.fafsa.ed.gov. Be sure to use the College of Medicine school code E00171. There is no fee for this application.
2. If the application is chosen by the federal government for verification the student must submit copies of all W-2 form, an IRS transcript of the base year’s income tax form, and the verification form sent by the Office of Financial Services.

To apply for institutional scholarships:

1. Applicants and currently enrolled students must complete the COM Institutional Scholarship

Application (ISA) annually by visiting the Office of Student Affairs Financial Aid website. Click on Apply for Financial Aid; then, click on Step 3 and follow directions to submit the ISA electronically.

2. Also apply for federal student aid. Numerous Quillen institutional scholarships require that a student have a demonstrated financial need. The FAFSA results are used to demonstrate a student’s financial need in most cases.

Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid administered by the College of Medicine consists of private funds and federally sponsored programs. Other sources are private loans, grants and scholarship programs administered by outside agencies such as banks, hospitals, the Armed Services (Air Force, Navy, Army, Marines, and Veteran Benefits) and professional organizations. There are limited scholarships that are awarded by the Financial Aid/Scholarship Committee in the spring and summer to incoming students; the Admissions Committee awards five scholarships.

The majority of assistance is through various loan programs. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans have an annual maximum amount of $42,722 beginning on those loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2007. There is no interest subsidy and the interest accrues if not paid by the borrower. Most loans first disbursed prior to July 1, 2006, have variable interest rates that are effective from July 1 of one year through June 30 of the following year. The fixed interest rate on Direct Unsubsidized Loans is 5.28% annually beginning with loans originated after July 1st. Because the student is borrowing funds from the federal government, no collateral is required. For any loans disbursement where the first disbursement is on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2022, the origination fee for a Direct Unsubsidized loan is 1.057% and for a Direct Grad Plus loan it is 4.228%.

The federal government also has a Federal Grad Plus Loan available. These loans have no interest subsidy and interest also accrues if not paid by the borrower. The interest rate is fixed at 6.28% annually. Students may borrow up to the cost of attendance and must be credit worthy. These loans are regulated by the federal government and offer the same deferment, forbearance, consolidation, and repayment options as the Federal Stafford Loan Program.

Cost of attendance includes only those expenses associated with the student. Students may only borrow up to the cost of attendance that includes tuition, fees, room, board, health insurance, premiums, transportation, personal and miscellaneous expenses. Student budgets are based on the expected educational expenses of the student and are rarely increased and require documentation of extenuating costs, such as childcare or medical expenses. A dependent care allowance can be added to the cost of attendance to cover the costs of daycare for dependent children. However, this results in a larger loan amount and increases aggregate student loan debt. Financial Services advises all applicants and students to explore all other sources for financial assistance early in the admissions process.

The Office of Financial Services of the College of Medicine is dedicated to providing financial resources in the most efficient and understanding manner. Applicants can request information by writing or calling the Quillen College of Medicine Office of Financial Services at (423) 439-2035. Appointments are available Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. More information may be found on our website at https://www.etsu.edu/com/sa/comfinaid/default.php.