Tuition and Fees - Traditional Graduate and Doctoral Students

The following pages include information on these topics:

• Tuition and Fees
• Enrollment Deposit
• Housing
• Pride Card
• Health Insurance
• Research Expense
• Credit Balance Refund Policies
• Tuition Payment Policy
• Payment Options
• Past Due Account Policy

The cost of attendance at Springfield College during two semesters varies with the individual’s graduate program and personal expenditures such as entertainment, travel, and personal goods. The 2023-2024 cost per credit hour is $1,138. The following table gives the estimated cost for a student who takes 30 semester hours during the 2023-2024 academic year:

A non-refundable deposit of $300 is required upon acceptance for admission.  This deposit will be applied toward tuition charges for the first semester.

The College encourages graduate students to live in College-owned housing in an effort to create a strong, vibrant campus community.

There are housing opportunities for graduate students both on campus and in College-owned apartments off campus. On campus apartments for graduate students can be found at the Grad Annex and the Living Center. The campus apartments are air-conditioned and the bedrooms feature a computer network connection, cable television hookup and local phone service with voice mail.

College-owned apartments are located within easy walking distance of the campus. Each offers two to four private bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. The apartments are furnished with beds, desks, dressers, chairs, sofas, and appliances. Residents are expected to provide other furnishings. Laundry facilities are also available nearby. The rent for the academic year includes heat and utilities. Students wishing to rent these units are required to sign a nine-month or twelve-month lease and to pay a non-refundable $600 room deposit. Applications for graduate housing are processed through the Office of Residence Life and assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, please visit our web site at http://springfield.edu/student-life/housing-and-residence-life or contact the Springfield College, Office of Residence Life, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109-3797, (413) 748-3102, E-mail: reslife@springfieldcollege.edu.

The Pride Card allows students and employees to use their Springfield College ID to make purchases across campus. Utilizing a debit-like account setup and Pride Dollars, cardholders will enjoy the convenience of being able to make purchases on campus, including purchasing books for the semester, grabbing a bite to eat, or buying a Springfield College sweatshirt. Unused Pride Dollars will carry over into the next academic year.  Unused Pride Dollars will be refunded upon departure from the College.  For more information, go to PrideNET and then click on the “Pride Card” tab.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that health insurance coverage be provided to all students attending Massachusetts colleges and universities who are registered for 75% of full-time curriculum. If a student is registered for 75% of full-time curriculum, they will be automatically enrolled in, and billed for the Springfield College Health Insurance Plan for the 2023-2024 academic year. The schedule of fees and charges described herein is neither intended to indicate that charges have been finally determined for the current academic year. The insurance rate for the 2023- 2024 academic year is $4,339 for graduate students. Students are billed each fall for the full academic year. If a student begins in the spring or summer semester, the waiver/enrollment form must still be completed by the bill due date and moving forward, the student will complete this process again in the fall.

If a student already has health insurance coverage, issued by a US-based insurance carrier that meets coverage limits mandated by the Commonwealth, they will be required to complete a Springfield College Health Insurance waiver form online by going to www.gallagherstudent.com/springfield to enroll or waive coverage. Each fall, (unless it’s a spring/summer start) the online waiver must be completed prior to the bill due date (to avoid late fees), and no later than October 1st for the insurance charge to be credited.

Graduate students must pay the cost of preparing their research reports, including such expenses as thesis paper, typing the final report, and other special expenses that might be involved in some programs of research. Students may apply for prior authorization of expenses to be incurred during the conduct of research as well as for reimbursement of fundable expenses (e.g., mailing costs) via the Graduate Student Research Fund. Application deadlines are April 1 and December 1. Application forms are available in the Office of the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Per the College policy, students are required to set up an electronic refund account (eRefund).  Refunds will be direct deposited into the bank account the student sets up.  To enroll, students can log into their PrideNET account, click the ‘My Profile’ tab, click ‘My Student Financial Portal’, then click ‘View eBill / Payment Plan’ and then click ‘view eBill’. At the bottom of the eBill, click the ‘set up eRefund’ button, and follow the steps. This is the most secure and quickest method for receiving a refund.

Students not enrolled in eRefund will be issued a check within 14 days, unless the student authorizes the College in writing to hold the credit balance for a future semester. Click here for the Credit Balance Form (PDF).  Refund checks will be mailed to the home address on file, and may take up to 12 to 14 days to receive. 

Per the College policy, students are required to eSign their Financial Agreement each academic year prior to registration. The Financial Agreement is located in PrideNET; “My Profile”; “My Financial Obligation Agreements”.

Students registered for classes and/or receive any service at Springfield College are responsible for paying all tuition and fees and other associated costs assessed as a result of registration and/or receipt of services. Students will receive email notifications each semester when the eBill is ready to view. eBills for tuition, housing, and fees will be generated in July for the fall term, in late November for the spring and intersession terms, and in April for the summer term. Semester statements are not mailed.  Payments not received by the due date for the respective term, will be subject to a late fee of $75 for each month a balance is past due.

Term Due Dates:

• Fall Term                 August 1

• Intersession Term     December 31

• Spring Term             December 31

• Summer Term          May 1

Registered students are considered enrolled at the College unless they complete a withdrawal request form at the Registrar’s Office. Not attending classes does not constitute withdrawing or dropping a class. Students will be held responsible for all charges on their account. Please refer to the college’s withdrawal refund policy for additional information. 

Students are responsible for payment to Springfield College of all charges incurred on their student account as a result of their registrations and other activities or services received on the campus.

Students should do one or a combination of the following:

• Pay the balance in full (net of estimated financial aid) by the bill due date. Students can make their payment on our secure online portal.  Online payments using an ACH checking or savings account will not be assessed a fee.  Online credit/ debit card payments of $20 or more will be charged a fee of $3 or 2.75% of the total (whichever is greater). Payments under $20 will be charged a 2.75% fee.

• Payments mailed to the Students Account Office may take up to 14 days to be received and posted.

• Enroll in the Monthly Payment Plan 

• Apply for an alternative or Grad Plus loan to cover the total net cost for the year.  Loans should be approved prior to the bill due date.

• If you are anticipating a federal loan, please be sure your FAFSA and financial aid file are complete

Payment Plans can be set up online through PrideNET by students or authorized Parent Portal users by viewing the student eBill and selecting ‘View Create a Payment Plan.’

Students whose accounts are not paid in full by the tuition due date are not able to participate in residence hall room selection, receive transcripts, or a diploma and are not permitted to register for a new semester until the balance is paid in full. Payments not received by the due date will be subject to a late fee of $75 for each month a balance is past due.

Students are allowed the removal of one late fee per semester here at Springfield College for up to a max of four semesters or up to the max of four late fees over the course of their college career, whichever comes first.

Any request for additional late fees to be removed will need to go through an official appeal process where a written letter of appeal, as well as documentation, must be submitted. Students may only appeal once over the course of their educational career at Springfield College. All appeal decisions are final.

Accounts with a past due balance of 30 days or more may be placed with an outside collection agency. If such action is taken, the student will be responsible for paying any and all collection agency fees which may be based on a percent at a maximum of fifty (50) percent of my delinquent account, in addition to all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees. The account may be reported to one or more of the national credit bureaus. Additional action may include the requirement of upfront payment for any future registration.

Additional information is available on the Student Accounts Office webpage.