Financial Information

You receive a considerable discount in your expenses because of generous educational grants given to the institute by various donors. Many churches and individuals who have a great concern for you as a future leader have already contributed to support your education.

The information provided in this section reflects Francis’s education prices for academic year 2014-2015, effective July 1, 20014. These rates are subject to change without notice by action of the Board of Directors. The institute reserves the right to assess new charges in relation to rising costs.
Tuition

Undergraduate Theology 12 quarter hours	$1,200.00
(Per quarter unit) Graduate Theology 8 quarter hours (Per quarter unit) Doctoral Program	100.00   $1,200.00 150.00
8 quarter hours (Per quarter unit)	$1,200.00 150.00
Audit (per hour); carries no college credit Undergraduate Graduate	$60.00 $80.00
Directed Study: Regular tuition rate plus $50 surcharge per quarter hour

A tuition deposit of $100.00 is due prior to the beginning of each quarter. See the calendar at the front of this catalog for specific dates.
Textbooks
The institute offers a book purchasing service for your benefit. You can order textbooks for all classes in advance and pay for them when they arrive. (Purchase of ordered textbooks is required.) The cost of textbooks per semester usually ranges from $300 to $500 for a full-time student.

Fees

Application fee	$50.00
Registration Fee	$25.00
Processing Fee	$20.00
Student ID Fee	$20.00
Initial I-20 Fee	$200.00
SEVIS Fee (SEVP I-901)	$200.00
Shipping & Handling Fee
Deferred Payment Plan fee	Five percent of balance
Late payment fee	Ten percent of payment
Returned check charge	30.00
Late registration fee	20.00
Late tuition deposit fee	100.00
Exam rescheduling fee	20.00
Add/drop fee	20.00
Transcript fee (per copy) Graduation Fee Undergraduate Graduate Thesis Fee Undergraduate Graduate Undergraduate Graduate	10.00 200.00 300.00 200.00 300.00 200.00 300.00
Private or group music lessons	Varies; contact School of Music
Lab fee	Varies; see syllabus
Extra handouts	Varies; see syllabus

Explanation of Deposits and Fees
Application Fee
New students pay a small fee to cover the processing of their application.
Placement Test Fee
If you are a new student you are required to take a series of placement tests to help determine whether you are ready for college-level subjects such as the Bible, English writing, etc. This fee covers the cost of this testing.

Admission Fee (paid when admitted)
Registration Fee (paid once per quarter)
Student Fee (paid per quarter, for student activities)
Library Fee (per quarter; for library support)
Tuition Deposit and Late Tuition Deposit
This nonrefundable deposit is applicable to all students each quarter. It is due about one month before the start of the quarter—see the calendar in the front of this catalog for the exact dates.  If you do not pay this deposit on time, then a late tuition deposit fee is charged to your account.
Deferred Payment Plan
Tuition and fees are due in full at the start of each quarter. You may pay by cash, check, MasterCard, or Visa.

For more information on the payment schedule and deferred payment plan, please see the information on the payment schedule, later in this section.
Returned Check Charge
If you pay by check and your check is returned for any reason, we will charge back the amount of the check plus the returned check charge.
Late Registration Fee
On a designated date during the second half of each quarter, we conduct registration for the following quarter. You need to meet with your academic advisor, and then turn in your forms to the registrar. A student who does not make his/her appointments and properly submit all paperwork (including the textbook order form) for registration will be charged a late registration fee.
Exam Rescheduling Fee
All tests, including final exams, are to be taken according to the schedule given in your syllabus. In the event of extenuating circumstances, a professor may allow you to take a test early or late. If the professor permits you to reschedule the exam, you must pay the Business Office the Exam Rescheduling Fee.
Add/Drop Fee
If, after the start of the quarter, you realize that you need to drop a course or add another one, you may do so within one week of the start of the quarter. (See the calendar in the front of this catalog for the exact dates.) To add or drop a course before the deadline, complete a Change of Schedule form in the registrar’s office and pay the Add/Drop Fee for each course added or dropped.
Transcript Fee
Throughout your career you will occasionally need “official” copies of your transcript to be sent to employers or other colleges. Francis will send an official transcript upon your request and upon the receipt of the payment of the then-current transcript fee.
Graduation Fee
Upon your graduation Francis will provide various services including the rental of your graduation robe. This fee offsets the college’s costs for graduation.
Music Lessons
If you want to study music on your own, you are free to make any arrangements you wish with a private instructor. If you intend to take the lessons for academic credit, you should contact the School of Music for a list of approved instructors. You, a Francis professor, and the instructor will jointly negotiate your educational objectives for the quarter, and will agree on how much instruction you will require in order to accomplish those objectives. Tuition and lesson fees should be paid to the institute business office
Lab Fee
Students in some courses perform various laboratory experiments or require special software or equipment. This fee helps offset the cost of lab equipment and consumable items. See the syllabus to determine if a course has a lab fee.
Extra Handouts
When a course has an unusually large number of handouts, you will be charged a small fee for the materials to offset photocopying costs.
Payment Schedule
This section describes the payment deadlines for tuition and fees. From time to time students are unable to settle their account on time. We’ve found the following checklist to be useful to students who are trying to raise money for college:

1. Make sure you are paying your tithe. God has promised to bless you if you are faithful in tithing (cf. Malachi 3:10). If you a tithe, you can ask God to bless you financially.

2. Make sure you have completed the college’s financial aid application. You may qualify for a Francis scholarship.

3. Look for any assets you may be able to sell. Some students find that they can trade in their vehicle for another, or sell unused stereo equipment, in order to raise money for college. During the spring term, check to see if you have a tax refund coming.

4. Contact friends, family, and your church. Many people are eager to help our students attend Bible College.

5. The cost of a college education should be considered an investment rather than a debt. Consider borrowing at least some of the money for college. Many banks will extend a loan secured by assets such as your vehicle. Note: Francis accepts both MasterCard and Visa.

 

If you choose to apply for a deferred payment plan, make sure you have a plan to make your payments. While there are ample opportunities for off-campus employment in Los Angeles or the greater Bay Area, most full-time students should not plan to work more than about 20 hours a week. A student who works 20 hours a week at $7.50 can expect to clear about $1,600—enough to pay for full tuition—during the course of the quarter. Note: If you are not a U.S. citizen, it is your responsibility to see what work, if any, you may legally perform while in the U.S.

Some students will find it necessary to work full-time during the summer, or over holiday breaks, in order to make their payments to the college. Many students who are willing to work 60 hours a week during the summer and 20 hours a week during the quarters find that they’re able to meet all of their obligations on time, even if they do not receive help from their church, family, or friends.
Tuition and Fees
All new students must pay tuition and fees in full at registration. Returning students who cannot pay tuition and fees in full at registration may apply for the Deferred Payment Plan in the Business Office. To qualify for the Deferred Payment Plan, the student’s account from the previous quarter must be paid in full. The student must then pay at least 25 percent of the tuition and fees that are due in the current quarter. The balance, plus a five percent fee, is divided into three equal payments (in fall and spring quarters). Each of these payments is due on the 15th of the month (or the first business day thereafter) for the next three months. During the summer quarter, the balance due must be paid no later than the 15th of July.

If you have been given permission to pay in this way, and you are not able to make a scheduled payment, you should contact the Business Office right away. If you fail to make a payment as scheduled, you will be charged a late payment fee of ten percent of the amount of the payment.
Note that the deferred payment plan is not available for Winter Modular courses. All tuition and fees must be paid prior to the start of the modular week.
Unpaid Accounts
Students who do not maintain current financial accounts with the college will be denied the privilege of classroom attendance beginning five days after the payment is due. Absences will be counted until the payment is made in full or until withdrawal is instituted.
A student whose account is not paid in full (including tuition and fees) by the end of the quarter will not be allowed to reenroll in the subsequent quarter.

Francis makes exceptions to this policy only with the approval of the President. In those cases where the college elects to make an exception, the student is required to sign and comply with an approved payment agreement. If the student withdraws from the college without paying the account in full, the payment plan becomes void and the college has the right to collect the unpaid amount immediately. Should the college find it necessary to use the services of a collection agency or attorney, the former student is responsible for all court costs, reasonable collection and litigation fees, up to 100 percent of the balance due.

A student will not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies or receive grades, a certificate, a diploma, a degree, a transcript, or a letter of recommendation until all financial obligations have been satisfied in accordance with the college’s financial policies.
Tuition Discounts

Tuition discounts are not available for students.  However, if you are enrolled in full-time and maintain your GPA well, you may be qualified for scholarship. You must apply to receive some form of scholarship at the Registrar’s Office prior to each quarter.
Tuition Refunds

If you find it necessary to withdraw from the college you may be eligible for a refund of part of your tuition. (We do not give refunds of fees, nor do we give refunds for courses that you are auditing.) In order to qualify for a refund, you must notify the Registrars Office of your desire to withdraw. As part of the withdrawal procedure you must settle all accounts. If you do not follow the withdrawal procedure you will receive a grade of W/F for all courses and will forfeit your eligibility for any tuition refund. Students who are dismissed or suspended from the college are not eligible for any refund.

The student has a right to a full refund of all charges less the amount of $100 for registration, fees for any placement and diagnostic testing, and $100 for admission (if applicable) if he/she cancels this agreement prior to or on the first day of instruction. In addition, the student may withdraw from a course after instruction has started and receive a pro rata refund for the unused portion of the tuition and other refundable charges if the student has completed 60 % or less of the instruction. The following method for calculating the pro rata refund is stipulated by the California Educational Code (CEC section 94820), which indicates that the hourly rate of instruction shall be calculated for the course based on total hours of instruction and tuition paid; this rate shall then be used to calculate the cost of instruction already received by the student for classes attended.  The remaining amount (indicating classes not attended) shall be refunded, minus an allowable $100 registration fee.  For example, if a 3 unit course costing $1800 is 11 weeks long, having the usual 2 ½ hours of instruction per weekly session, then the hourly rate of instruction is valued at $65.45.  Therefore each week of the quarter that passes prior to the student’s withdrawal will reduce the possible total refund by $163.64 – until 16.5 hours of instruction have been completed for the class (that is 60%), or seven weeks have passed. 

If the school cancels or discontinues a course or educational program, the school will make a full refund of all charges. Refunds will be paid within 30 days of cancellation or withdrawal.