Graduate Financial Information

Financial Policies

Tuition and Fee Policy

Degree seeking students enrolled at least half-time (three credits/semester) may be eligible for Federal direct Loans. Contact the Office of Financial Aid at 440.375.7100 for more information.

Fees may be calculated by referring to the tuition and fee schedule listed on the website for each semester. Financial refund schedules are published there as well. Be sure to reference this information when making decisions to add or drop classes after the semester begins.

Due to federal regulations, all international students entering the United States on an F-1 Visa are required to prepay their tuition before registering for classes. International students are not eligible for time-payment plans.

Students who do not meet financial obligations on a timely basis may be removed from their educational program. Re-entry into the program will require payment of a re-matriculation fee equal to the current late registration fee in addition to the regular tuition and fee charges assessed.

The College reserves the right to withdraw a student from his or her academic program, to withhold diplomas and transcripts, to deny entry to the residence halls and to deny participation in graduation exercises if tuition and fees are not paid on a timely basis. The student may apply for re-admission to the program for following semesters; re-admission will be dependent on proof of financial stability.

Late fees will be charged on all accounts that are not enrolled in a payment plan or paid in full by the dates noted in your billing correspondence from the Bursar.  Charges that remain unpaid at the end of a semester will be sent to a third party collection service.  Once the balance is turned over to collections, the balance owed plus any applicable fees or interest charged by the collection agency will become the responsibility of the student.

Methods of Payment

Four options are available for paying education expenses:

• Pay each semester’s expenses in full. The amount, less financial aid and loans, is due on May 19-summer, August 25-fall, January 12-spring.
• Apply for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program at www.fafsa.gov. Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 per academic year with this program.
• Apply for a private student loan and/or GRAD PLUS loan, The Lake Erie College Financial Aid website has more information on how to apply. Proof of loan funds approval and disbursement date information is due on the semester due dates as indicated in option one.
• Enroll in the Time-Payment Plan, pay the enrollment fee and begin making the monthly payments prior to the semester due date as indicated in option one. This plan is interest free. Note: All of the above options may be combined to make a financial plan that is suitable for budgeting needs, making sure they are in place on or before the semester due dates as indicated above.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Students eligible for employer reimbursement have two options:
  • For a student who receives tuition assistance through their workplace, if billing information is provided to the College in advance of the due date, the College will invoice the employer approximately two weeks after the add/drop period with the expectation that payment is received by the end of the semester.  If billing information is not provided to the College in advance of the due date, the student is responsible for adhering to all stated due dates and should seek reimbursement directly from their employer.  Late fees will not be assessed for any unpaid balance related to the amount invoiced by the College.  If a student withdraws from the course after the add/drop period, or does not pass the course, it will be left to the student and their employer to work through any reimbursement owed to the employer.
• There is a fee of $30 per semester for either of these plans. Plans are available for graduate level studies only. Tuition payment due dates are: May 19-summer, August 25-fall, January 12-spring.

For more information, please contact: Lake Erie College Bursar 440.375.7022 or 800.533.4996 email: bursar@lec.edu

Veterans Benefits

Lake Erie College is approved by the State Approving Agency for Veterans’ Training. Veterans who are eligible for educational benefits should contact the VETS Office. Veterans receive the educational benefits from the Veteran Administration (VA) and eligibility and amounts are determined by the VA. Lake Erie College School Certifying Official is located in the Financial Aid Office. Students receiving veteran’s benefits will not be assessed any College late fees due to a delay in processing from the Veteran Administration.

Refund Policy

If registration is canceled prior to the start of classes, a full refund will be made with the exception of the admissions deposit. The student’s account will be credited only after the proper withdrawal forms have been filed with the Registrar’s office and the exit interview is completed. Students must contact the Registrar’s Office to officially withdraw from the school.

Refund dates are found on the website each semester. Refer to this information for the financial impact of dropping/withdrawing from classes. Students withdrawing and/or changing status between full-time and part-time should speak with both the Financial Aid and Bursar Offices to be sure they understand the full impact of their decision.

Students who discontinue class attendance without officially completing the withdrawal procedure will be responsible for the full   amount of applicable tuition and fees. A student receiving Title IV financial aid who does not officially complete the withdrawal procedure will have their aid eligibility recalculated based on the last documented date of attendance or academically-related activity.

Refunds for withdrawals after the official dates will not be made in cases of inability to attend classes due to changes in business or personal affairs. If extraordinary circumstances require a student to withdraw from classes after the refund period, the student will need to file an Exceptions Petition. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.

Refunds due to overpayment of tuition and fees will be processed in accordance with Title IV guidelines.

Refund Schedule

Tuition will be refunded according to the following schedules:

Summer Semester 2025- 2026

Tuition will be refunded according to the following schedule:

Session A May 19 - 100%  |  May 20 - 80%  |  May 21 - 0%

Session B June 30 - 100%  |  July 1 - 80%  |  July 2 - 0%

Session E May 19 - 100%  |  May 26 - 80%  |  June 2 - 60%*

****After June 2nd no refunds will be issued.

Fall Semester 2025 - 2026

Tuition will be refunded according to the following schedule:

Z - Schedule (Full Semester)

During the first week of the semester August 25 through August 31 100%
During the second week of the semester September 1 through September 7 80%
During the third week of the semester September 8 through September 14 60%
****After Sept 15th no refunds will be issued

X - Schedule (7 week courses)

During the first week: August 25 through August 31 100%
During the second week: September 1 through September 7 80%
****After Sept 7th no refunds will be issued

Y - Schedule (7 week courses)

During the first week: October 13 through Oct. 19 100%
During the second week: October 20  through Oct. 26 80%
****After Oct. 27th no refunds will be issued

Spring Semester 2025 - 2026

Tuition will be refunded according to the following schedule:

Z - Schedule (Full Semester)

         During the first week of the semester January 12 through January 18 100%
         During the second week of the semester January 19 through January 25 80%
         During the third week of the semester January 26 through February 1 60%
         ****After Feb. 2nd no refunds will be issued

X - Schedule (7 week courses)

During the first week: January 12 through January 18 100%
During the second week: January 19 through January 25 80%
****After Jan. 26th no refunds will be issued

Y - Schedule (7 week courses)

During the first week: March 2 through March 8 100%
During the second week: March 9 through March 15 80%
****After March 16th no refunds will be issued

Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP)

Federal regulations require that colleges monitor the academic progress of each applicant for federal financial aid and that the school certifies that the applicant is making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward earning a degree. Students must make satisfactory academic progress in their degree program to be eligible to receive financial aid from federal, state and institutional sources at Lake Erie College. This rule applies to all students applying for aid, whether aid has been previously received or not. The purpose of measuring and enforcing this regulation is to ensure the financial aid recipient’s progress toward graduation. The policy and terms described in this SAP policy is for financial aid purposes and is separate from academic probation policies for academic standing with the college.

Failure to meet any SAP measurement may result in loss of all financial aid.  The Financial Aid Office evaluates SAP after the completion of each semester or term. All terms of enrollment, including summer, will be considered in the determination of SAP, including periods in which the student did not receive federal student aid funds.

The measure of SAP is threefold:

1. GPA: Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.  Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
2. Completion Rate (Pace): Students must earn a minimum of 67% of attempted hours in a semester.  The percentage is determined by dividing cumulative earned hours by cumulative attempted hours.

• Attempted credit hours: Courses with grades and with marks of “W” withdrawn, “WF” withdrawal failure, “WP” withdrawal passing, “I” incomplete or “F” failure are counted as courses attempted, as do course repetitions and remedial coursework.  Transfer hours are included in the attempted credit hours. Hours enrolled are counted after the add/drop period of the semester.
• Earned credit hours: Credit hours recorded as earned on the student’s academic transcript at the end of each semester in which a student received a passing grade. All other grades, including “F” failing, “W” withdrawal, “I” incomplete or no credit will not be counted as a successful completion or earned. Credits excluded from the credit completion calculation include audit credits, CLEP, and prior learning credits.
• Transfer credit hours are included in cumulative number of hours attempted and earned

1. Maximum Timeframe: Federal regulations require that a student complete their degree program by the time they have attempted 150% of the hours normally required for the completion of the degree. Students who have reached the maximum timeframe limit and who have completed coursework to graduate but have not yet received their degree cannot continue to receive further financial aid.

• Undergraduate programs require 120 credit hours for graduation. The maximum timeframe for these students is 180 hours (120 x 150%).  If it is determined at any point that the student will not be able to complete the program within 180 credits, financial aid eligibility will cease.
• The maximum time frame is not increased for dual-degree students or students with minors. All institutional hours attempted are included, even if a second major is added, or a student’s major changes. Coursework forgiven for academic amnesty is included in attempted and earned counts for SAP.
• Periods of enrollment when a student does not receive federal aid are counted toward the maximum timeframe.
• A graduate student cannot exceed 150% of the published length of time of the program measured in attempted credit hours.

Outcomes: SAP Warning, Financial Aid Suspension, SAP Probations, Loss of Financial Aid

Student’s progress is monitored after grades are finalized each semester to determine if a student is eligible to receive financial aid for subsequent enrollment periods. The Lake Erie College Office of Financial Aid will notify any student not meeting SAP after the end of each semester via their LEC email. Notification will include an explanation of the failed measurement, if an academic plan is required, and the timeframe to appeal.

It is the student’s responsibility to monitor their own SAP progress. A subsequent term may be in progress by the time a SAP notification is received. Students with concerns should contact the financial aid office.

1. SAP Warning: A student who fails a SAP measurement for the first time will be placed on SAP Warning status.  The student will be notified via LEC email of their status; no action is required by the student at this time.  SAP will be measured at the end of the warning period.

2. Financial Aid Suspension/Appeal Process/SAP Probation/Loss of Financial Aid: A student on SAP Warning who fails a SAP measurement for a second time becomes ineligible for financial aid. 

If extenuating circumstances contributed to the student not meeting SAP requirements, an appeal may be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid. The purpose of the appeal is to document extenuating circumstances that occurred during the semester that led to the failure of meeting the SAP measurement.  The appeal must include:
 

• Explanation of extenuating circumstances.

• An explanation as to why those circumstances no longer exist and will not affect academic performance moving forward.

• Specific steps that will be taken during subsequent enrollment to ensure academic success.

• Statement or documentation from a third-party source that can support your circumstance and confirm that your situation has been resolved to ensure successful future performance.

• If Maximum Timeframe has been exceeded, a signed statement from an academic advisor indicating the hours remaining for degree completion.

Examples of extenuating circumstances include serious illness or injury, death of a family member or other extreme hardship or personal situation. The appeal letter must be submitted to the financial aid office within 14 days of receiving notification. Include supporting documentation if indicated.

SAP Probation: An appeal will be approved if the financial aid office can determine the student will be able to make SAP standards by the end of the next term.  Students with approved appeals are on SAP Probation status and regain eligibility for financial aid for the next term.

Academic Plan: If the financial aid office determines that a student cannot regain SAP standards by the end of the next enrollment period, the student must include an Academic Plan of action with their appeal.  Their academic advisor can assist them in devising a plan to restore their SAP standards by a specific point in time. The student must adhere to the requirements specified in their academic plan to be eligible for financial aid.

Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility: Students who do not appeal, or do not meet the terms of their academic plan, lose financial aid eligibility.  Students in this status may enroll at LEC at their own expense while attempting to regain financial aid eligibility

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility

Students may regain full eligibility for financial aid by successfully completing coursework that raises their cumulative GPA to meet or exceed the minimum requirement and/or raise their completion rate percentage to 67%+.

Refund of Student Account Credit Balances

Federal law requires the college to automatically refund any credit balance from a student account that was created by Federal Title IV financial aid. Title IV aid, as defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965, includes the following programs: Federal Pell Grant

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Federal TEACH Grant
Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Federal PLUS Loans
Federal GRAD PLUS Loan
Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

Any credit balance created by federal funds will be refunded to the student (or parent for PLUS loan if indicated on their application) within 14 days.

A credit may remain on a student account to be applied to next semester charges if the student indicates so in writing to the Bursar’s office. However, this credit can only be held on the account during the academic year in which the aid was awarded. A student may withdraw this authorization at any time. Upon receipt of such notice in writing, the college will refund any excess within 14 days.

Return of Federal Title IV Funds for Withdrawal

A student who withdraws from the college and is a recipient of Title IV (federal) financial aid is subject to the following policy regarding refund and repayment of federal funds to the Department of Education.

An R2T4 calculation must be processed when a student withdraws from the College, officially or unofficially through non-attendance.  It does not apply to students who cancel their registration prior to the first day of class or who drop some, but not all their classes.  (However, students who make changes to their enrollment status are advised to speak with the financial aid office to see if their aid eligibility is affected.)

When a student withdraws, the financial aid office must calculate how much federal aid has been earned prior to withdrawing.  Any federal aid exceeding the earned amount is considered unearned and must be returned to the respective federal aid program within 45 days.  Federal work study students are no longer eligible to receive federal work study payment.

Other financial aid funds, such as state or institutional grants, are not part of the R2T4 calculation, but may be subject to reduction in case of a withdrawal.

Calculating Earned Funds

The amount of federal Title IV aid earned is based on the percentage of the semester completed.  The number of days the student attended is divided by the number of days in the semester.   The unearned aid percentage is calculated by subtracting the earned percentage from 100%.  A student who withdraws at the 60% point of the semester is considered to have earned 100% of their aid and will not have to return funds to federal Title IV programs.

Students who withdraw from the College once classes begin must file a withdrawal form, which may be obtained from the Director of Retention or the Registrar’s office.  A student’s withdrawal date is determined by Lake Erie College to be: 

1. The date the student began the withdrawal process (as outlined in the catalog) or notified the school of the intent to withdraw. 

2. Unofficial withdrawals utilize the last day of an academically related activity as the withdrawal date in the calculation.  If no date can be determined, the financial aid office will use the midpoint of the term as the withdrawal date.

Calculating the Return of Title IV Aid Amount

Once the earned and unearned percentages are determined, the financial aid office calculates the dollar amount of the total unearned aid that must be returned.  The return of aid amount is determined by multiplying the unearned aid percentage by the total of all Title IV aid received.

Example:

An undergraduate student withdraws during week 4- day 19 of

the fall semester. Total of all Federal aid received $5,686

105 days in the fall semester Student withdrew on day 19

Percentage completed: 19/105 = 18.1% ; percentage unearned

= 81.9% Total unearned aid = $4,656

Funds will be returned to the programs in the order specified by federal guidelines, up to the net amount disbursed from each source: (1) Unsubsidized Direct Loans, (2) Subsidized Direct Loans, (3) Direct PLUS Loans/Direct GRAD PLUS Loans, (4) Federal Pell Grants, (5) Federal SEOG, (6) TEACH Grants, (7) Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.

The return of Title IV aid may create a balance on the student’s account that is owed to the College.  Students who owe a balance must contact the Bursar’s office to make payment arrangements. 

In the event of a credit balance, a refund check will be generated within 14 days and mailed to the student’s home address. 

Post -Withdrawal Disbursements

A student who withdraws from a semester and has received less federal aid than the amount earned, may be entitled to a post-withdrawal disbursement.  The student must have met all the conditions for a late disbursement prior to the date the student became ineligible (date of withdrawal).  If the student or parent is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement from Title IV loan funds, the financial aid office will notify the student or parent in writing prior to making any post-withdrawal disbursement. The written notification must be made within 30 days to confirm in writing that the student or parent wants the post-withdrawal disbursement.  If no confirmation is received, the loan will be canceled.  

Future Aid Eligibility

Withdrawing may affect a student’s eligibility to receive financial aid in future terms.  Please review the LEC Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and contact the financial aid office with questions.  

Scholarships

Any student participating in extra- or co-curricular activities who wishes to cease the extra- or co-curricular activity but remain at Lake Erie College will retain all Lake Erie College Merit and need-based scholarships in accordance with their academic performance.

Military Veterans

Lake Erie College will assist eligible students to receive education benefits under various state and federal programs. All incoming veterans or eligible dependents should contact an Admissions Counselor who will assist with all the aspects of the enrollment process at Lake Erie College. Lake Erie College is proud to be a “Yellow Ribbon” college in agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Program Mission

The mission of the Veteran Education and Transition Support Program (V.E.T.S.) at Lake Erie College is to facilitate the successful enrollment, registration, advising, retention, and graduation of our Military Student Veterans by assisting them in transitioning from the military to the college and civilian world successfully. The V.E.T.S. Program provides academic support, benefit and education counseling, program information, and referrals to appropriate resources through a personalized approach that emphasizes individual attention and care.

Drilling Reservist/Military Duty Policy

This policy is designed to assist those students who, due to national, local, or state military duty, have received a written order to report for active-duty in the Armed Services of the United States. Included under this policy are current and former members of the United States Armed Forces, Reserve Units, National Guard and other such military organizations.

Students who are called to active-duty or transferred during the semester must contact the Registrar’s Office and the VETS Coordinator to discuss procedures related to their enrollment as soon as possible after their orders have been received. Spouses and/or dependent impacted by new orders should contact the VETS Coordinator to discuss options. A copy of the order will be required for the official student academic file. Each student’s circumstances will be evaluated individually by the VETS Coordinator, who will work with the Registrar’s Office, the Bursar, Financial Aid Office, and the instructors to determine the most beneficial action for the student.

Options include:

• Complete withdrawal, backdated to start of term, with 100% refund
• Subject to the approval of the appropriate faculty member, continued enrollment with special grading options of Pass-Fail, Non-Credit, audit, or awarding of a grade of I (incomplete)
• Subject to the approval of the appropriate faculty member, continued enrollment through electronic participation, which may or may not require an adjustment of course assignments
• Any other action deemed appropriate

Students who are called to active-duty and are away from Lake Erie College for more than four consecutive semesters will be grandfathered into the academic catalog in force on their academic record at the time of departure for duty. Students must resume classes within 12 months of their return from active-duty in order to qualify for this exception.

Lake Erie College requires academic residency of a minimum twenty-five percent of the degree requirements for all degrees for active-duty service members. Academic residency can be completed at any time while active-duty service members are enrolled. All active-duty members of the Armed Services of the United States are covered under this policy.

LEC Evaluation of Military Training/Service

Lake Erie College recognizes and uses the ACE Guide to evaluate educational experiences in the Armed Services for the purpose of determining the value of learning acquired during military service. Credit is awarded consistent with ACE Guide recommendations and/or those transcripted by the Community College of the Air Force, when applicable to a service member’s program. Official transcripts are required to receive credit. Official transcripts may be requested online at jst.doded.mil for all branches of the military except the US Air Force; USAF must follow AU transcript procedures and submit a request directly to the Community College of the Air Force. Visit www.au.af.mil/au/barnes/ccaf/transcripts.asp for detailed instructions.