Paying for a New College Education

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Tuition costs at New College are comparable to those of other schools in the State University System of Florida. While a college education is still a major expense for most families, New College works to assist students and their families who demonstrate financial need as determined by the federal financial aid application process. In addition, because New College is an honors college, most students are assigned scholarship funding. Information on financial aid and scholarships follows the sections regarding fees.

Tuition and Fees Assessment and Registration

All fees for New College students are due and payable by 5:00 p.m. on the last day (Friday) of the second week of classes. Fees are updated each year and are posted on the College's Tuition and Fees Information webpage. 

Since all fees are subject to change without notice (by action of the Florida Legislature), the fees in this Catalog and on the NCF website should be used only as guidelines. New College will make every effort to advertise any fee changes as they occur, but students should be prepared for variations at the time of registration.

Account balances are available online through NewCLEIS. Balances are not provided unless the student is cleared for registration. Payment may be made by cash or check at the Cashier's Office during normal working hours, or paid online via NewCLEIS by credit card, debit card, e-check, or through  some 529 plans. Checks may also be mailed to:

New College of Florida
Cashier's Office (PMD-123)
5800 Bay Shore Road
Sarasota, FL 34243-2109.

Payment by credit and debit card may only be made online and those transactions will be assessed a 2.75% convenience fee in addition to the amount owed.

Checks must be made payable to New College of Florida for the correct amount, and must include the student's name and New College Student Identification Number on the face of the check. When sending checks by mail, please ensure that they are received on or before the payment deadline. (We recommend using certified or registered mail, and that you retain the receipt as proof of the mailing date.)

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and associated fees are updated each year and posted on the College website here. For the full breakdown of fees, click on “Tuition and Fee Schedule.” 

For costs attached to enrollment in specific educational activities, consult the Tuition and Fee Schedule section titled “Material and Supply Fees, Including Laboratory Fees.”

Non-Resident fees are charged on the basis of the student’s residency classification for tuition purposes.

The Differential Tuition Fee will be waived for students with Florida Prepaid College Plan tuition contracts [pursuant to s.1009.98(2)(b)] which were in effect on July 1, 2007, and which remain in effect; and any student who was in attendance at New College of Florida before July 1, 2007, and who maintains continuous enrollment.

All students, as a part of their tuition and fees, pay Activity and Service (A & S) fees. These fees are governed by the New College Student Alliance (student government), subject to approval by the New College of Florida Board of Trustees, and used only for student-related services and activities. A & S fees cover costs of operation and maintenance of Hamilton Center, plus programs, publications, theatrical events, student clubs and organizations, and other activities sponsored by the student government.

The Health fee provides access to services of the campus Counseling and Wellness Center.

The Athletic fee provides access and use of the swimming pool, the Fitness Center, and other recreational facilities.

Housing and Meal Fees

Housing rental rates, housing use fees, and food service plan rates are updated each year on the College website. Consult the Office of Housing and Residential Life for details about housing options and food service plans.

Students who register for fall semester, plan an off-campus ISP, and plan to return for spring semester are required to pay the entire fee for fall semester plus the ISP. However, students not returning after the fall semester may request a partial refund of fall housing fees.

Special Fees, Fines, and Penalties

For the Academic Year, please take note of these special processing fees:

  • Late Registration Fee
  • Late Contract Submissions Fee
  • Late Payment Fee for non-deferred registration fees unpaid at the end of the second week of classes (Friday).  
  • Late Payment Fee and Returned Check Charge will both be assessed if a check is returned by the bank.

Collection Costs

In the event the student becomes delinquent or defaults in paying charges due to the college, the student will be liable for collection costs up to 30% of the unpaid debt and any other costs incurred by the College in an effort to collect monies due from the student.

For information on these, other fines, penalties, and use fees, please go to www.ncf.edu/tuition.

Excess Hour Surcharge

In 2009, the Florida Legislature implemented Section 1009.286, Florida Statutes to encourage undergraduate students to complete their baccalaureate degree as quickly and efficiently as possible. The law established the Excess Credit Hour Surcharge, which requires universities to add a surcharge to each credit hour taken in excess of the total number of credit hours required to complete the student’s degree (124.0 credit hours at New College). The number of credits in excess of the total hours is calculated based on a percentage defined in statute and is referred to by New College as threshold hours. The amount charged per credit hour is a calculated amount referred to as the excess hour surcharge.

The surcharge percentage is determined by the student’s start date and calculated based on the student’s First Time in College (FTIC) term and whether or not the FTIC institution was a Florida public institution. If the student entered a state university, such as New College, for the first time as an undergraduate student beginning fall 2009 and after, the surcharge is indicated in the chart below:

Description Reason Threshold Hours
Exempt FTIC in Florida public institution prior to fall 2019 or FTIC not in a Florida public institution is exempt
50% Surcharge after 120% credit hours FTIC in fall 2009 but prior to fall 2011 pays 50% surcharge on credit hours over 120% 148.8
100% Surcharge after 115% credit hours FTIC in fall 2011 but prior to fall 2012 pays 100% surcharge on credit hours over 115% 142.6
100% Surcharge after 110% credit hours FTIC in fall 2012 but prior to summer 2019 pays 100% surcharge on credit hours over 110% 136.4
100% Surcharge after 120% credit hours FTIC in summer 2019 and after pays 100% surcharge on credit hours over 120% 148.8

Under Florida law, the following are included when calculating the number of hours taken by a student:

  1. All credit hours for courses taken at the state university, from which the student is seeking a baccalaureate degree, including:
    1. Failed courses.
    2. Courses that are dropped after the university’s advertised last day of the drop and add period.
    3. Courses from which a student withdraws.
    4. Repeated courses, except repeated courses for which the student has paid the full cost of instruction as provided in s. 1009.285.
    5. All credit hours earned at another institution and accepted for transfer by the state university and applied toward the student’s baccalaureate degree program.

Under Florida law the following credit hours do not count toward excess credit hours:

  1. College credits earned through an articulated accelerated mechanism identified in s. 1007.27.
  2. Credit hours earned through internship programs.
  3. Credit hours required for certification, recertification, or certificate programs.
  4. Credit hours in courses from which a student must withdraw due to reasons of medical or personal hardship.
  5. Credit hours taken by active-duty military personnel.
  6. Credit hours required to achieve a dual major taken while pursuing a baccalaureate degree.
  7. Remedial and English as a Second Language credit hours.
  8. Credit hours earned in military science courses that are part of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

Note: All credit earned while on military active duty is exempt from the Excess Credit Hour law.

Effective July 1, 2018, non-transfer students who graduate within four years of their initial enrollment at New College and incur excess hour surcharges will have up to 12.0 credit hours of their surcharge refunded after graduation. If applicable, this refund will occur at the beginning of the next term after the two-week add/drop period.

Cancellation of Registration for Nonpayment of Fees

All fees are due and payable by 5:00 p.m. on the last day (Friday) of the second week of classes. Students who have not paid their fees in full by that deadline may have their registration canceled for that semester. Cancellation of a student's registration means that the student is no longer enrolled.

A student may request reinstatement through the Finance Office only during the two weeks following the cancellation deadline, and all fees must be paid at the time of the request.