Paying for a New College Education

Tuition costs at New College of Florida (NCF) 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, NCF works to assist students and their families who demonstrate financial need as determined by the federal financial aid application process. In addition, because NCF is an honors college, most students are assigned scholarship funding. Please see the Financial Aid and Scholarship sections within this catalog.

Tuition & Fees, Housing, and Meal Plan Assessment and Registration

All charges must be paid by the posted payment deadline. A $100 late payment fee will be assessed for late payments.  Failure to satisfy this requirement will result in cancellation of the registration. Please see the NCF Academic Calendar for the posted payment deadline.

The NCF Tuition & Fee Schedule is legislated by the Florida Board of Governors and approved by the Board of Trustees annually. Fees are updated each year.  For additional details, please view the Tuition & Fee Schedule.

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.

For costs attached to enrollment in specific educational activities, consult the Tuition & 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 only for students with Florida Prepaid College Plan tuition contracts [pursuant to s.1009.98(2)(b)] which were in effect on or before July 1, 2007, and which remain in effect.

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 NCF Board of Trustees, and used only for student-related services and activities. A & S fees cover the 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.

Payment Methods

Account balances are available online through the Student tile located in the NCF Student Portal. Balances are not provided unless the student is registered. Payment may be made by credit card, debit card, e- check, or through some 529 plans online through the Student tile located in the NCF Student Portal. Payment may also be made by check at the START Center during normal working hours. Checks may also be mailed to:

New College of Florida

Bursar's Office

5800 Bay Shore Road

Sarasota, FL 34243-2109

Checks must be made payable to NCF for the correct amount and must include the student's name and NCF 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.

Payment by credit and debit card may only be made online, and those transactions will be assessed a 3.0% convenience fee in addition to the amount owed.  E-checks may only be made online, and those transactions will be assessed a $0.50 convenience fee in addition to the amount owed. 

Payment of Financial Charges

NCF provides installment payment plans to facilitate payments of financial balances. Payment amounts vary by length and initiation date of the installment payment plan agreement, with at least 50% of the charges being paid by the end of the second week of classes. There is no interest charged, but an administrative fee of $15 for the installment plan is charged with the first payment.

Deferred Payment of Financial Charges

1. Recipients of VA Benefits - Upon application by the student, the President or the President's designee may award to eligible VA benefit recipients one 60-day payment deferment each semester.

2. Third Party Agreements - Financial charges may be deferred for any student when a third party has agreed in writing to pay them. The written agreement must be produced by the Third Party and identify the student and the amount(s) to be paid. Arrangements for such deferment will be made with the NCF Finance & Accounting Office.

Refund of Financial Charges

The College authorizes certain refunds of financial charges, less deductions for unpaid debts to the College. The Enrollment and Housing Deposits, along with the late registration and late payment fees, are non-refundable.

Please reference the NCF Refund Policy. 

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:

• Enrollment Fee for new students
• Housing Deposit Fee for each semester
• Late Registration Fee
• Late Contract Submissions Fee
• Late Payment Fee for non-deferred registration fees unpaid by the posted payment deadline
• 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 NCF, the student will be liable for collection costs up to 30% of the unpaid debt and any other costs incurred by NCF in an effort to collect monies due from the student.

For information on these, other fines, penalties, and use fees, please refer to the NCF Tuition & Fee Schedule.

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:

Surcharge

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.
9. Credit hours earned for Civic Literacy competency requirement

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 Financial Charges and Dishonored Payments

A student's current term registration may be canceled for nonpayment of financial charges, including outstanding balances caused by dishonored payments, or if the student’s financial aid or third-party benefits were not received for the term. Cancellation of a student's registration means that the student is no longer enrolled.

The Office of the Registrar will attempt to notify students by email of pending cancellation for outstanding financial balances. This notification will include:

1. The specific reason for the proposed cancellation
2. The final payment deadline

A student may request reinstatement, within the first two weeks of the semester, through the Registrar’s Office after satisfying their outstanding financial balance.