Monthly Payment Plan - Questions

<p>Trying to figure out the monthly payment...</p>

<p>What are these extra fees?</p>

<p>$1300.00 - Academic Support Fee
$320.00 - Health Center Fee
$150.00 - Recreation Center Fee
$120.00 - Student Activity Fee</p>

<p>Here is the explanation of fees from the website:</p>

<p>Tuition and Fees:</p>

<p>Tuition - $43,150</p>

<p>Academic Support Fee - $2,600 - The University fee entitles a student to use the supplementary services of the university library and the language and science laboratories. It also covers certain computer services and data and voice hookups, the Educational Resources and Counseling Center and other academic support services.</p>

<p>Student Health Fee - $640 - The Student Health fee provides all students on all Tulane campuses with primary care at the Student Health Center. It also contributes to health education programs, drug and alcohol counseling and the Tulane Emergency Service.</p>

<p>Student Activity and Reily Recreation Fees - $540 - The student body at Tulane assesses itself a Student Activity fee to support its activities. The Student Activity fee entitles students to participate in or attend supported activities, readership of a weekly student newspaper, and admission to many intercollegiate athletic contests, movies and lectures. Students are also assessed for membership to the Reily Recreation Center.</p>

<p>Room: The estimated room cost for resident students (not living with parents or other relatives) is based on the average cost of a double-occupancy room in a traditional residence hall on campus. The average cost of a double-occupancy room for freshmen students is $6,862. The average cost of a double-occupancy room for uppercases students is $7,384. Certain students can choose either on-campus housing options or choose to live off-campus. However, their room budget will not be increased to cover charges above these levels. For students living at home with their parents, or with other relatives, room costs are estimated at $1,600. </p>

<p>Board: The estimated board cost is based on the average board plan offered to freshman through Tulane Dining Services. Upperclass students can choose between a variety of board programs through Tulane Dining Services, and the cost reflects this variety average at a frugal level. The estimated board costs ($1,300) for commuter students DOES NOT REFLECT the cost of any Tulane Dining Services board plan, but rather represents an estimate of what a commuter student might incur for meals eaten away from home.</p>

<p>Books*: The estimated cost for books and supplies is $1,200 for all undergraduates in a full-time division, with the exception of Architecture students. The estimated cost for books and supplies is $1,400 for Architecture students.</p>

<p>Transportation: For students whose permanent address is outside the New Orleans area, transportation budgets vary from $700 to $2,200. The budget is set by the student’s permanent home address state and is based upon the average advanced reservation airfare for two round trips to the home state per year. The estimated transportation costs for commuter students are estimated at $814.</p>

<p>These have been around forever. In fact, they are not covered by the full tuition scholarships so besides room and board, DHS and PTA winners have to pay these fees as well. Most universities have extra fees (hence the ubiquitous references to “tuition and fees” instead of just tuition), Tulane’s are just on the high side. On the other hand, Tulane doesn’t charge students separately for attending games and the like, while many schools do.</p>

<p>As far as what they are, some are self-explanatory. The Student Activity fee supplements funding for clubs and club/intramural sports, events like Crawfest, and a host of other activities that take place on campus. This is levied by the student government, not by the university. Same for the recreation center fee, which is for the Reily Center. The Health Center Fee covers the on-campus facility, the emergency response service, and related expenses. Finally, the Academic Support Fee. Here is the explanation given by Tulane:

One might have thought this is what part of the tuition should be covering, but apparently Tulane and other schools don’t do it that way. We can all voice frustration at the accumulation of all these expenses, but it doesn’t do any good. This is why it is so important to look at the Total Cost of Attendance (TCA) rather than just tuition.</p>

<p>Thank FC. I guess I should have been clearer in my question but you ended up answering it. I did find the explanations on the site, but since this is the first time I’m sending a kid to college the costs came as a surprise to me. It also wasn’t clear if these are optional or not, but it appears not.</p>

<p>Thanks for the detailed info!</p>

<p>I’ve looked EVERYWHERE on the website but cannot find a information on when the Fall semester tuition is due if you <em>don’t</em> do the monthly payment plan. Any idea?</p>

<p>I looked at my old bills. You will get a bill 7/31 and the money is due 8/31.</p>

<p>I am almost certain it is the end of September, if you take into account the 30 days to pay before it is counted as late. I notice the Spring semester tuition was due by January 31, 2013, and I seem to recall it has always been due by the end of the month in which the semester starts.</p>

<p>OK, Vitrac posted while I was typing. So that seems to confirm it. I am virtually certain they don’t start charging interest until after 30 days from the posted due date.</p>

<p>OK, excellent. Thanks!</p>