Tuition, Fees, Room and Board*

Compared to other institutions with similar faculty and facilities, the cost of attending the University of the Virgin Islands as a regular student is very reasonable.  Since the institution is substantially supported by funds from the Government of the Virgin Islands, it is the University’s intention to bring higher education within the reach of every qualified high school graduate in the Virgin Islands and to encourage promising non-residents to enroll in its programs.
Because no two individuals are alike in their needs and spending habits, no two college budgets are the same.  However, if students are realistic about their personal expenses, the following information should enable them to estimate their annual costs quite accurately:

NOTES:
1. A refundable room damage and key deposit of $50.00 is required of all students residing on campus.
2. An estimated $325.00 per semester for books and supplies is not included in the approximate annual cost.  Non-residents should include transportation in estimating the total cost.
3. On St. Thomas, both room and board charges are required of all students residing on campus.
4. A dormitory room deposit of $50.00 is required to be paid by all students applying to live on campus in a given semester.  This deposit will be applied towards payment of room and board charges.

*Subject to change by the Board of Trustees.
 
 

Tuition and Fees for Part-Time and Summer Students
 

NOTE:  Depending upon course registration, additional laboratory fees may be assessed as listed below.
 

Student Deposits: The damage and key deposit are refundable at the end of the student’s academic career at the University of the Virgin Islands providing there has been no loss, library fine or breakage charged against the deposit.
 If the deposit is reduced during the time of the student’s attendance at the University, the Business Office will request that the deposit be returned to its original amount.

Payment:  Students are responsible for paying their bills at the Business Office at any time prior to the published “due date”.  Registered students’ failure to do so will result in their course selections being cancelled.  If this occurs, students wishing to register may do so during the late registration period.  A student who owes money to the University, other than on student loans not yet due, will not receive their diploma and a hold will be placed on their record.

Late Registration Fee:  A late registration fee of $15 for the first day after the close of official registration and $20 thereafter is assessed through the period allowed for late registration.  This fee is non-refundable.

Graduation Fee:  A non-refundable fee of $50.00 is charged each candidate for a baccalaureate or associate degree.  It is payable at the time of application for graduation.  If the requirements for the degree are not completed, the student is re-assessed in the next year he or she becomes a candidate for a degree.

Institutional Refund Policy:  The University arranges its services well in advance of each academic year.  Consequently, when a student withdraws, the University’s cost is not reduced, nor can the student be replaced.  For these reasons, the University refunds only a portion of its charges, thereby sharing with the student the loss caused by the withdrawal.  The schedule of refunds of tuition is as follows:

                                        During first week of classes 90%
                                        During second week of classes 70%
                                        During third week of classes 50%
                                        During fourth week of classes 25%
                                        After fourth week of classes. none

    Students must formally withdraw through the Enrollment Managment Office on St. Thomas or Academic Affairs on St. Croix by completing a withdrawal form.  The withdrawal date as shown by the Registrar’s records will be the date used in the computation of any tuition refunds due to students.  Refunds of tuition due to students because of withdrawal from the University will not be paid during the first two weeks following registration.  Students who withdraw during this period should leave their names and forwarding addresses with the Business Office.  Requests for refunds should be accompanied by the student’s registration receipt.
    All students residing on the St. Thomas campus are required to pay for both room and board.  St. Croix students residing on campus must pay room fees at the time of registration.  Meals are from the snack bar on a cash basis.  Should a student residing in a University residence hall move off campus during a semester, the student may be entitled to a room and board refund if he or she adheres to the following procedures:  The office of the Associate Chancellor must be notified in writing in advance.  Check-out procedures, as established by that office, must be followed.  The date of the actual move as shown in Housing Office records will be the date used in the computation of any board and room refund due to a student.
    The University refunds only that portion of the board which is not used.  Maximum refund of the room charge will be 50%.
All refunds due to students for any reason whatsoever will be forfeited unless called for on or before June 30 of the University year in which they are due.  Should June 30 fall on a Sunday or on a day when the Business Office is closed, the refund will be made on the next business day.
 

Financial Aid

The primary purpose of the University’s financial aid program is to provide financial assistance to its students who, without such aid, would be unable to further their educational goals.  The financial assistance offered may not always meet the student’s total financial need.  It is the student’s and family’s responsibility to pay the difference between the student’s cost of education and available financial aid.  This financial assistance may be in the form of scholarships, grants, loans or work-study employment.

Eligibility

U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States and the U.S.  Virgin Islands are eligible to apply for financial assistance.  Applicants must be matriculated students of the University and must be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree.  International students may apply for special foreign scholarships as announced and may apply for University of the Virgin Islands work-study after they have completed a full year at the University.

Financial aid eligibility is determined through the use of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA).  This form is available on both campuses of the University and in local secondary schools.  In completing this form, the students are expected to provide information on their own income and assets, family income and assets, and non-taxable income (Social Security benefits, veteran’s benefits, etc.).  The need analysis formula used in analyzing the information on the aid application measures the ability (not the willingness) of students and their families to contribute toward educational costs.  The financial aid application  priority deadline is March 1.  The Title IV Institution Code numbers of the University of the Virgin Islands are:  006989 for the St. Croix Campus and 003946 for the St. Thomas Campus.

Scholarships: Scholarships are available for incoming high school students and currently enrolled University students.  Scholarships are awarded on the basis of demonstrated scholastic ability.  The minimum required grade point average is a “B.”  Scholarship announcements are generally made during the month of March for the upcoming academic year, at which time scholarship applications will be available in the Financial Aid Office and at local high schools.

Veterans/ National Guardsmen:  Veterans who attend the University may apply for federal benefits in the Office of the Registrar on the St. Thomas campus and the Office of Academic Services on the St. Croix campus.  A program of special tuition allowances for Virgin Islands veterans is administered by the Division of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Governor. A similar program is also available for qualified members of the National Guard.

Exit Interviews: All students who received loans from the University of the Virgin Islands must complete an exit interview prior to graduating, transferring or withdrawing from the University.
 

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require that all schools participating in any Federal Financial Aid program must adhere to a Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.  These are the standards by which students’ progress toward the completion of their program of study at the University of the Virgin Islands will be measured to determine continued eligibility for financial aid.  These standards are cumulative and include all periods of a student’s enrollment, including periods in which the student did not receive financial aid.  The records of all financial aid recipients will be reviewed at the end of each academic year to determine compliance with this policy. In order to remain eligible for financial aid, continuing students must meet the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy requirements outlined below.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement :   Students are expected to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA as outlined in the chart below.

                Degree credits
                attempted:                            12-29              30-44              45 and above

                Minimum semester
                and/or cumulative GPA         1.70                1.80                      2.00

Completion Rate Requirement:   Students enrolled full-time are expected to complete a bachelor’s degree within 6 years and an associate’s degree within 3 years; part-time students are allowed 12 years for a bachelor’s degree and 6 years for an associate’ s degree.   All students must  successfully complete at least 70% of all  degree credits attempted.   Students cannot receive financial aid for more than 180 degree credits attempted.  Transfer credits are included in determining attempted credit hours.  Withdrawals, grades of   ‘incomplete’,  ‘audits’, and courses that are repeated are included in determining a student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress status.

Non-Degree Remedial courses:  Students cannot receive financial aid for more than 30 credits of non-degree remedial courses.

Probationary & Ineligible Status:  All students who fail to meet any of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy requirements will be placed on financial aid probation.  Students continue to be eligible for financial aid while on financial aid probation.   Students who fail to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress policy requirements by the end of their probationary period automatically become ineligible for financial aid.
Appeal:  Students in ineligible status may submit an appeal in writing if the student has extenuating circumstances such as personal or family illness or injury.   All appeals must be substantiated by appropriate documentation and submitted to the Financial Aid Office Appeals Committee.

Appeal:  Students in ineligible status may submit an appeal in writing if the student has extenuating circumstances such as personal or family illness or injury.   All appeals must be substantiated by appropriate documentation and submitted to the Financial Aid Office Appeals Committee.

Reinstatement:  Students who were placed in ineligible status may be reinstated once all Satisfactory Academic Progress deficiencies have been met.  Students’ records will be reviewed at the end of each academic year to determine eligibility
for reinstatement.  Reinstatement will be effective at the beginning of the academic year following the review.  It is the students’ responsibility to reapply for financial aid to initiate the reinstatement process.
 

Return of Title IV Aid (Federal Financial Aid)

     A ‘Return of Federal Financial Aid’ calculation must be done for any federal financial aid (excluding Work-Study) recipient who withdraws from all classes during a semester for which payment was received.  The amount of the student’s unearned federal financial aid  must be calculated and  returned to the Title IV programs. The formula to determine the amount of federal aid to be returned is mandated by federal guidelines and is available for review in the Financial Aid office.   It  requires the calculation of the percentages of federal financial aid  earned  by the student and the calculation of the total amount of unearned federal aid to be returned by the student and/or the University.
     The  withdrawal date used in the calculation will be the date the student began the withdrawal process.  This is the date the student provides official notification of the intent to withdraw.   If the student did not begin the withdrawal process or otherwise notify the University of his/her withdrawal, the midpoint of the payment period would be used as the withdrawal date.

Unearned funds returned by the student and/or the University will be credited to federal financial aid programs in the following order:

1.  The Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan Program
2.  The Subsidized Federal Direct Loan Program
3.  The Federal Perkins Loan Program
4.  Federal Direct Plus Loan Program
5.  The Federal Pell Grant Program
6.  The Federal SEOG program
7.  Other Title IV  programs