Payment Methods and Policies
Charges for tuition, fees, residence, and any prior balance must be paid in full each semester before a student may attend classes. A student’s registration is complete and official when the student has completed registration and has settled all charges with Student Financial Services.
Billing and Payment
Billing statements are emailed monthly if there has been any account activity or if there is a balance due.
Statements are posted online on a monthly basis via the online Student Account Center which can be accessed by logging into Workday.
Students are required to maintain an accurate address with the College. If you will be moving please update your address via Workday or contact the Registrar.
Failure to receive a student account statement is not an adequate reason for nonpayment.
Checks and Money Orders
Make all checks and money orders payable to Simmons University. You must include the student's account number on the check. Post-dated checks will not be accepted. Send payments to the following address:
Simmons University
P.O. Box 414104
Boston, MA 02241-4104
Payments without the billing stub must be brought or mailed directly to the Cashier Window at the University:
Simmons University, Cashier Window
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115-5898
A fee of $20 will be charged for any dishonored check. Student Financial Services will wait 5 business days for an electronic check to clear and 10 business for a paper check to clear before lifting any financial obligation holds.
Monthly Payment Plan
Simmons University, in partnership with TouchNet, offers a variety of payment plans to assist with managing the cost of higher education. Many students and families take advantage of a payment plan to cover their balance in full or to supplement any remaining balance not covered by financial aid or loans. The payment plan is an interest-free alternative to a lump sum payment on the due date.Such arrangements must be made well in advance of the bill due date to avoid late fees.
For details on payment plans, consult the University web site: https://www.simmons.edu/admission-financial-aid/financial-aid-and-affordability/billing-and-payment/payment-plans.
Online Payment - E-Check and Credit Card
Simmons University provides the convenience of making a quick and easy online payment towards your student account. There is no fee for the electronic check payment option. Please note that a convenience fee of 2.85% will be charged by the provider for the credit card payment option. Simmons University does not charge nor collect the convenience fee. Credit cards currently accepted are: Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Debit and credit card payments are not accepted in person at the Cashier's Window. Visit our
billing and payments page for instructions on accessing the online student account center to make a payment online.
Authorized users
Students can authorize parents or other third parties to access their student account and make payments online. After access has been granted, the authorized user will automatically receive an email from sfs@simmons.edu with instructions on how to log in and make payments. Authorized users will only have access to the financial information the student has made available to them through the Online Student Account Center. They will not have access to anything on Workday, such as grades and registration information. Visit our billing and payments page for instructions on accessing the online student account center to authorize a third party.
Wire Transfers
For wire transfer instructions, please contact the Office of Student Financial Services at (617) 521-2001 or sfs@simmons.edu.
College Savings Plans (529 Plans) and Pre-paid Tuition Plans (UPlan)
Simmons University welcomes all college and university savings plans. Student Financial Services recommends that parents contact their individual plan provider for specific information regarding how to initiate payment. Most 529 plans send payment directly to the University based on an invoice supplied by the 529 holder. Some plans request that the University provide the invoice on behalf of the student. Please let Student Financial Services know if your plan provider requires documentation from University directly.
If you are using a pre-paid tuition plan to pay for tuition, such as the UPlan, please provide Student Financial Services with the provider name and the amount you will be using for the upcoming academic year. Once we receive this information, we will credit your account and ensure the timely receipt of payment from the plan provider.
Payment Deadlines
On-Campus Graduate Programs:
- Summer: May 5th
- Fall: August 1st*
- Spring: December 15th
Online Graduate Programs (Nursing@Simmons, SW@Simmons, MBA@Simmons, HCMBA@Simmons, MPH@Simmons & BehaviorAnalysis@Simmons)
- All Terms: Tuition payment is due 7 days prior to the start of each term
Late fees & penalties
Payments received at the University after the due date on the billing statement are subject to late payment fees. A $100 late fee will be assessed if the balance is not paid in full by the tuition payment deadline. Another $100 late fee will be assessed if the balance has not been paid in full by the first day of classes for that semester.
Student accounts must be paid in full before a student may attend class. Students who do not settle their accounts prior to the first day of classes may have their schedules canceled and will have to select courses on a space- available basis.
Any account that is severely delinquent may be referred to a collection agency or lawyer for collection. Any expenses incurred by the University in doing so will be added to the due balance.
Simmons University reserves the right to suspend any or all of its privileges and services to students who have not met their financial obligations to the University. Such services include the release of academic transcripts, diplomas, references, and placement materials, as well as access to various campus offices and facilities. Please note that Simmons has no deferred-payment plans. All University charges are payable by the applicable due dates or the late payment fees will be applied.
Enrollment Requirements related to Loans, Financial Aid, and Scholarships/Fellowships
For federal loans, students must meet particular enrollment requirements. All students need to be enrolled at half- time status or more to receive financial aid. For graduate students, half-time status is registered in at least 5 credits.
For merit scholarships awarded at time of acceptance, the credit requirements vary and are dependent on your level of award. Please refer to your scholarship offer letter to ensure you are consistently registered for the minimum number of credits required to maintain the scholarship.
Graduate Tuition and Fees
Fall 2021 to Summer 2022
Please also refer to the Simmons University website for current tuition and fees.
|
Program
|
Tuition (per credit)
|
Activity Fee (per semester)
|
|
Behavior Analysis
|
$1,110
|
$116
|
|
Children’s Literature
|
$1,125
|
$60
|
|
MS Nutrition + Dietetic Internship
|
$39,680 (MS Nutrition: 31 Credit Hours); $11,520 (Internship, 9 credit hours; year 2) |
$116 - Student fee
$110 – CORI checks
$7,306 –Health insurance if needed
|
|
Dietetic Internship (non-degree)
|
$15,360 ($1,280 per credit, including 3 graduate credits)
|
$116 - Student fee
$110 – CORI checks
$7,306–Health insurance if needed
|
|
Education
|
$990
|
$60
|
|
Gender/Cultural Studies
|
$1,125
|
$60
|
|
Health Professions Education
|
$1,290
|
$116
|
|
History
|
$1,125
|
$60
|
|
Library and Information Science
|
$1,335
|
$60
|
|
Nursing (RN-MSN, MSN, DE post-licensure)
|
$1,210
|
$116
|
|
Nursing (DE pre-licensure, DNP)
|
$1,410
|
$116
|
|
Nutrition
|
$1,280
|
$116
|
|
Physical Therapy
|
$1,365
|
$116
$815 – Human Anatomy Lab one- time fee
|
|
Public Policy
|
$1,110
|
$60
|
|
Social Work
|
$1,110
|
$60
$75 – per field placement
|
|
Dual Degree: Education + Gender/Cultural Studies
|
$1,100
|
$60
|
|
Dual Degree: Education + History
|
$1,100
|
$60
|
|
Dual Degree: Gender/cultural studies + Public Policy
|
$1,110
|
$60
|
|
Dual Degree: Library and Information Science
+ Children’s Literature
|
$1,200
|
$60
|
|
Dual Degree: Library and Information Science
+ History
|
$1,270
|
$60
|
|
Online: Behavior Analysis @ Simmons
|
$1,110
|
$116
|
|
Online: MBA@Simmons and HCMBA@Simmons
|
$1,445
|
$168
|
|
Online: MPH @ Simmons
|
$1,500
|
$60
|
|
Online: Nursing @ Simmons (RN-MSN, MSN)
|
$1,210
|
$168
|
|
Online: Nursing@Simmons (DNP)
|
$1,410
|
$168
|
|
Online: SocialWork @ Simmons
|
$1,110
|
$60
$75 – per field placement
|
Student Lending Options
Graduate students who are registered for 5 or more credits per semester are eligible to apply for the following federal loans:
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan is for students who are US citizens/permanent residents and does not require a credit check. Details on this loan:
Failure to sign both the MPN and Entrance Counseling will result in cancelation of the loan.
Graduate Direct PLUS Loan
The Graduate PLUS Loan is a federally funded loan that enables graduate students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance less any other financial aid received. Here are details about this loan program:
If you are denied a PLUS Loan you will have these options:
- You can contest the credit decision on your PLUS Loan application by appealing directly to the Direct Loan program. More information is available by logging into the Direct Loan website or by calling Applicant Services at 800.557.7394 (8 AM- 8 PM ET, Mon-Fri).
- You can choose to add an endorser to your PLUS Loan application in order to get credit approved. To add an endorser, you and your endorser should submit the additional information via the Direct Loan website. For assistance, please contact Applicant Services at 800.577.7394 (8 AM- 8 PM ET, Mon-Fri).
Private, Credit-Based Loans
This loan, called an alternative loan, is available through lending agencies such as banks or credit unions. Most of these loans carry a variable interest rate, but there are a few that offer fixed interest rates. While Simmons cannot recommend any particular lender or group of lenders to its students, we do strongly recommend that you compare rates carefully and know what their monthly repayment schedule will be. Elmselect.com is a resource available to begin your research.
When researching your options, contact the lender directly. They will be able to answer questions you may have on the terms and conditions of the loan(s). However, make sure that you do not apply for your loan until you are ready! Each time you apply for a loan, your credit is checked. If the lender is not able to provide an estimated interest rate without processing your credit, please make sure that you've narrowed down your loan options to as few as possible before allowing them to run your credit!
Once you have decided which loan you would like to use, please submit your application directly to your chosen lender. After you are approved, the lending agency will electronically notify Simmons of your approval and request the loan's certification. It generally takes about a week, but once Simmons has certified the loan you will be able to see it pending on your next award letter and bill.
Financial Aid and Credit Balance Refunds
Students will automatically receive a refund for any excess funds (credit balance) on their student account each semester. Simmons University will not hold credit balances to be applied to subsequent semesters. Refunds are processed by Student Financial Services 7-10 business days after the completion of the add/drop period each semester, approximately four weeks into the semester, following verification of student enrollment.
Since refunds are not immediately available at the beginning of each semester, students must ensure they have sufficient funds to meet living expenses, including rent for the first two months of each term (for students living off- campus), books, supplies, and personal expenses until refunds become available.
All refunds, regardless of the source, are first applied to any credit card payment(s) that were made toward the student's account during the current fiscal year (July 1—June 30). For instructions on how to set up direct deposit for your refund, please see the section on our website titled "Direct Deposit Student FAQ". If direct deposit is not setup, a refund check will be mailed to the student's home address on file in AARC. Please ensure that your address in AARC is current at all times.
Financial Aid and Withdrawals/Leaves
Return of Title IV Aid
When federal Title IV grant or loan assistance is disbursed, but the recipient does not complete the enrollment period, the law requires that Simmons University calculate the amount that must be returned by the school and/or student to Title IV program accounts.
The date the student initiates the withdrawal is used for calculating the percentage used in the formula for Return of Title IV funds. Students are required to initiate their withdrawal by completing the electronic wufoo form. The data from this form is sent to all of the appropriate offices on campus that play a part in processing a student’s withdrawal. The date the student files the form is used as the date of the withdrawal as it serves as the date the student notified the institution of their intent to withdraw. In addition, the Registrar’s Office sends a weekly report of all leaves and withdrawals and this report captures any withdrawals by a student who did not complete the wufoo form but was determined to no longer be enrolled (in these cases the withdrawal date is the date the institution became aware the student was no longer enrolled).The number of days from the 1st class day to the withdrawal date divided by the number of days in the payment period (semester) equals the percentage of Title IV funds earned. If the withdrawal date is after the 60% point of the semester, the student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds.
If the total amount of Title IV grant and/or loan assistance that the student earned is less than the amount disbursed to or on behalf of the student, the difference between these amounts must be returned to the Title IV programs in the following order of priority (not to exceed the amount originally disbursed):
- Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
- Subsidized Stafford Loans
- Direct PLUS Loans
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal SEOG Grant
- Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant
The school and the student share the responsibility for returning Title IV aid. The school returns "unearned" Title IV funds that have been paid to the school to cover the student's institutional charges received from Title IV grant and/or loan programs.
The school must return Title IV funds due to the federal programs no later than 30 days after the date the school determines the student withdrew.
If the student owes funds back to the Title IV programs, the institution will advise the student within 45 days of determining that the student withdrew. The student has 45 days from the date of notification from the institution to take action on the over payment. If the student's portion of unearned Title IV funds included a federal grant, the student has to pay no more than 50% of the initial amount that the student is responsible for returning. Immediate repayment of the unearned loan amount is not required because the student repays the loan to the lender according to the terms or conditions in the promissory note. The institution will advise the lender of the student's withdrawal within 45 days of determining the student withdrew.
No additional disbursements may be made to the student for the enrollment period. If the student does not repay the amount owed to the Title IV programs or does not make satisfactory payment arrangements with the U.S. Department of Education, Simmons University will report to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) that the student received an over payment. The student loses eligibility for further Title IV aid until resolved.
Example
NOTE: Dollar amounts are for example only and are not true current costs. Rachel has been awarded the following package for Fall 2020:
- Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan - $10,250
Rachel withdraws from all of her classes on October 5, 2020. The total amount of Title IV Aid that is subject to the Return of Title IV Calculation is $10,250. The percentage of Title IV aid Rachel has earned is 31.1%. The total amount of Title IV aid that was earned by the student is $3,177.5.
The total amount of Title IV aid to be returned is $10,250 - $3,177.5 = $7,072.5
Total charges for Fall 2020 semester is $17,088 tuition and fees. The amount of Title IV aid unearned is 68.9%. The charges times the amount of unearned aid is $17,088 X 68.9% = $11,773
The amount of Title IV aid to be returned by the school is the lesser of the two, or $7,072.5. Therefore, Simmons University would return $7,072.5 Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Simmons will also report the withdrawal effective October 5, 2020 to the National Student Clearinghouse.
The student in this example would not need to return any additional funds since the amount to be returned by the school was the same amount to be returned.
Post withdrawal disbursement
If a student’s loans were originated but did not disburse and they were enrolled at least half time when they ceased to be enrolled, they may be eligible for a post withdrawal disbursement (PWD). (note: The student may need to resolve an issue that prevented loans from disbursing. For example, if they did not complete their loan documentation but the loan had originated, regulations state the student can complete them after last day of attending.)
We will communicate with the student, or parent in the case of a parent PLUS loan, and inform them that they can accept all, a portion or none of the PWD. The normal timeframe we allow them is 14 days to inform us of their wishes. If they do not meet our deadline, then the loan funding is cancelled. We can, on a case by case basis, extend that deadline as long as the overall length is within scope of the federal regulations.
If the student has completed their loan documents but does not respond to the offer of the PWD, the loan will need to be cancelled.
Satisfactory Academic Progress and Student Aid
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
To be eligible and continue to receive Federal Student Aid (FSA), students must make satisfactory academic progress toward achieving and completing their program of study through measurement of qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (completed credits) standards.
Qualitative Standard:
Students enrolled in a graduate degree program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA established by their program
- 3.0 - Required by all on-campus programs, online library science, Nursing@Simmons, SocialWork@Simmons, and BehaviorAnalysis@Simmons
- 2.67 - Required by MBA@Simmons, HCMBA@Simmons, and MPH@Simmons
How courses count when determining GPA:
|
Count Toward GPA
|
Do Not Count Toward GPA
|
|
Completed courses
|
Withdrawals
|
|
Failed courses
|
Incompletes
|
|
Repeated courses
|
Transfer credits
|
Quantitative Standard:
All graduate students must complete at least 50% of all credits attempted. This is calculated by dividing the total credits earned by the total credits attempted.
How courses count when measuring pace
|
Count as Completed
|
Do Not Count as Completed
|
|
Completed courses
|
Withdrawals (after add/drop)
|
|
Transfer credit
|
Incompletes
|
|
One repeat after a failed course
|
Failed courses
|
Additionally, all graduate students are required to complete their degree within a reasonable timeframe. As the number of credits required to complete Simmons degree varies, students should consult with their program to determine the maximum allowed for their degree. All credits attempted will count toward this timeframe.
Frequency of Review:
Academic progress will be determined by Student Financial Services based upon the information contained on the student's academic record as of the date of the review. Students must meet both the qualitative and quantitative standards in order to be eligible and continue to receive financial aid. Reviews will include all terms of the student’s attendance (including summer terms).
SAP is reviewed at the end of each term for graduate students
**Please note: Financial aid may not be disbursed to your student account until SAP has been evaluated.**
The office of Student Financial Services will complete the SAP evaluation after the prior semester grades have been officially posted by the Office of the Registrar. If grades are not made official before the beginning of the next term, an otherwise eligible student may have their financial aid disbursement delayed.
No exceptions can be made to this process.
Review Results:
Satisfactory academic progress reviews result in a status for Title IV and Institutional eligibility. One of the following results will occur upon review for satisfactory academic progress:
SAP Appeal Decisions
Students will be notified of the appeal decision via email from Student Financial Services. Students who have an appeal approved will have their status updated to financial aid probation.
- Financial Aid Probation: Students who have their financial aid suspension appeal approved are placed on financial aid probation and will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated for the following semester.
- Graduate students on probation must meet with their academic advisor to determine their Academic Plan
- Progress toward SAP will be evaluated at the end of each probationary semester and may require submission of additional documentation to show the student has adhered to the terms of their plan
Student Health Insurance
All students taking 9 or more credits are required by Massachusetts State law to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan or be covered by a health insurance plan with comparable coverage. To ensure compliance with Massachusetts State law, Simmons students are automatically billed for the Student Health Plan, which is separate from the Health Center fee. Failure to submit a waiver form by the stated deadline will result in automatic enrollment. Students are not allowed to waive coverage with a foreign insurance carrier or Health Safety Net Plan. Only insurance companies within the United States will be accepted as substitutes for the Simmons Student Health Insurance Plan.
Simmons University does not offer Student Health Insurance to students enrolled in less than 9 credits OR to the dependent(s) of any Simmons student.
If you are covered under a comparable insurance plan you may be eligible to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan. Waivers must be completed online at the website of our insurance provider, www.universityhealthplans.com. The deadline to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan for the fall semester is August 1 and the deadline to waive for the spring semester is December 15. Failure to submit a waiver by the stated deadline will result in mandatory enrollment in the Simmons University Student Health Insurance Plan with no possibility of reversal or refund of the insurance cost.
Tuition Refund Policies
The tuition refund policy applies to all Simmons University graduate students and is applicable to all Fall and Spring terms starting Fall 2021. Students are responsible for abiding by the published tuition refund deadlines. Tuition is not refundable when students drop or withdraw from courses after published deadlines. Should a student completely withdraw from all coursework after classes have begun, he/she may still be accountable for a portion of tuition, room & board as well as other fees.
The percentage of tuition to be refunded is calculated using the official drop date of the course as determined by the Registrar. Non-attendance does not constitute a drop or withdrawal from a course.
In all cases, students should be aware that any reduction in the number of registered credit hours and subsequent charges may affect their financial aid. Students considering a withdrawal or reduction in credit hours are strongly encouraged to contact their Financial Aid Officer, prior to course withdrawal, to determine the impact on financial aid eligibility. Simmons University is responsible for adhering to rules established by the federal government that determine the amount of federal financial aid a student is allowed to keep toward university charges. Please refer to the "Return of Title IV Aid" section of this webpage for more detailed information.
Tuition Refund Schedule – Fall 2021 & Spring 2022: All Graduate Students
|
Course Dropped
|
% of Tuition Charges Canceled
|
|
on or before 14 calendar days after term start
|
100%
|
|
on or before 21 calendar days after term start
|
80%
|
|
on or before 28 calendar days after term start
|
60%
|
|
on or before 35 calendar days after term start
|
40%
|
|
on or before 42 calendar days after term start
|
20%
|
|
43 or more days after term start
|
0%
|
Tuition Refund Schedule for Online Students Residing in Maryland
|
Proportion of Total Course, Program, Or Term Completed as of Date of Withdrawal or Termination
|
% of Tuition Charges Canceled
|
| Less than 10% |
90% |
| 10% up to but not including 20% |
80%
|
| 20 % up to but not including 30% |
60%
|
|
30 % up to but not including 40%
|
40%
|
|
40 % up to but not including 60%
|
20%
|
|
More than 60%
|
0%
|
Tuition Refund Schedule Condensed Graduate Courses
This refund schedule applies to on-campus graduate courses that are 2 weeks or shorter:
|
Course Dropped
|
% of Tuition Charges Canceled
|
| On or before the first day of class |
100%
|
| On or before the second day of class |
80%
|
| After the second day of class |
|
Appeal for Exception to Tuition Refund Policy
Students are responsible for abiding by the published deadlines on the Academic Calendar and the Tuition Refund Schedule. Tuition is not refundable when students drop or withdraw from courses after the published
deadlines. If circumstances beyond the student’s control have made the late drop or withdrawal necessary, the student may appeal the tuition charge. Before a student can appeal the tuition charges, they must be officially withdrawn or dropped from the courses for which they are appealing the tuition. In all cases, students should be aware that any reduction in the number of registered credit hours and subsequent charges may affect their financial aid. It is highly recommended that all students discuss their individual situation with Student Financial Services.
Petition Refund Exceptions:
- Death of an immediate family member
- Medical condition requiring extended medical care where continuing school is impractical or impossible
- Military deployment or military commitments
- Other documented extraordinary extenuating circumstances may be considered
These circumstances are NOT sufficient to support a Tuition Refund Appeal:
- Not being aware of the Registration Deadline (add/drop deadline) or forgetting you were registered
- Insufficient financial aid or financial hardship
- Dropping courses to avoid bad grades
- Deciding that school/life/schedule is overwhelming
- Academic or disciplinary dismissal
- Dissatisfaction with an instructor or course content or determining that courses you took do not your academic or personal goals
Please be aware that:
- You must have OFFICIALLY dropped your course(s) during the semester for which you are petitioning. Simmons does not drop courses for non-payment or non-attendance
- Refunds cannot be given for courses in which students have recorded grades
- Petitions must be submitted within six months of the start of the term
- Please submit the petition form with all supporting documentation. Incomplete petitions and petitions lacking supporting documentation will not be considered
Supporting Documentation
The burden of proof rests with the students to submit documentation of the circumstances that prevent the student from adhering to the Simmons policies. All statements in the petition MUST be documented.
Documentation may include, but is not limited to:
Death of an immediate family member:
- Certificate of death or obituaries listing relationship to deceased individual
- Immediate family is defined as spouse, sibling, children, and/or parents
Medical condition requiring extended medical care where continuing school is impractical or impossible. (This provision specifically excludes conditions or chronic illnesses that remain static and are known to the student at the time of enrollment. Please do not submit medical bills or insurance claims. Statement from the physician or hospital on official letterhead that provides:
- Date the medical condition was diagnosed
- Dates of treatment
- Dates of hospitalization or confinement, recuperation period, release from treatment
- How this condition affected your university attendance
Military deployment or military commitments:
- Military orders if the student’s military unit was activated and deployed during the semester
- Other official legal documents that substantiate the inability to participate in courses during the semester due to the deployment or military commitments
Submit the Appeal for Exception to Tuition Refund Policy Form and all supporting documentation to Student Financial Services, Bursar.
Download the Appeal for Exception to Tuition Refund Policy Form on the Student Financial Services website.