Fees and Expenses Policy

General Fee Policy

The university reserves the right to change tuition and any other charges at the beginning of any term if such a change is judged necessary by the Board of Trustees. In recent years, Furman has seen a rapid increase in expenses. While every effort is made to keep operating costs low, it is probable fees for academic years subsequent to this year will be increased as costs rise. A Student Financial Agreement form must be acknowledged by students every semester.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of $50 must accompany the student’s application for admission.

Enrollment Deposit

To reserve a place in the university, all new students who plan to enroll at Furman must submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit of $500. This payment is not covered by scholarship or financial aid.

First year students will see their $500 enrollment deposit applied to fall semester charges.  

Applicants being considered via early decision and transfer students enrolling in the spring semester must submit the deposit no later than January 5. Early action and regular decision applicants and transfer students for the fall must submit the deposit by May 1.

Enrollment deposits are not refundable to students who decide not to enroll or who withdraw from the university prior to the conclusion of the add-drop period during their first semester of enrollment.

Basic Fees

An arrangement to pay fees in full is required to begin enrollment each term.

Special Fees

A late enrollment fee of $100 can be assessed to students not registering during designated periods. 

A study away fee of $500 will be assessed to all students participating in faculty-led travel study programs or exchange programs. An administrative fee is assessed to all students participating in affiliate programs. Consult the Study Away and International Education website at www.furman.edu/international for more information.

Summer session undergraduate tuition for 2023 is $850 per credit.

Room and Board Fees

All students, except those married or living at home with a parent or guardian, must live in university housing throughout their entire undergraduate career at Furman.

The basic double room rate is the most affordable university housing option. Other housing options, such as single rooms and apartment style living, cost more depending on a student’s specific housing assignment. Students are responsible for paying the rate that coincides with a specific housing assignment, regardless of the origin of the assignment.

All resident students are required to subscribe to a meal plan. Furman offers five different meal plans. First year students are required to subscribe to the unlimited plan which provides unlimited access to the dining hall and 300 food points. Students entering their second year must subscribe to at least the 160 meals per semester plan, while students in their third or fourth year are required to choose at least the 110 meals per semester plan. Vinings residents are required to purchase at least a 75 meal plan. Commuting students may purchase a meal plan, but are not required to do so.

Food points are also offered and may be used on a $1 per point basis to purchase items sold in the dining hall, PalaDen Food Court, or the Paddock. Food Points, which are stored on the student ID card, expire at the end of the academic year and are not refundable for cash.

Get Funds accounts may be established as well. These accounts operate as a declining balance debit card.  Students may add funds to their accounts in any amount and the balance is reduced by the amount of each purchase. Money added to a Get Funds account can be used for on-campus purchases in all Dining Services locations and the Furman Bookstore Cafe.

Payment of Fees

Fees must be paid in full to begin enrollment. For all students, fees are payable prior to the start of each term for all students:

An account statement notification will be delivered to the student’s Furman email address and to designated authorized parties in July and November each year. 

Comprehensive Fee Policy

Furman assesses a comprehensive tuition fee for degree-seeking, undergraduate students who are enrolled for up to 20 credits in the fall or spring semesters. An exemption to the comprehensive fee, allowing tuition charges to be assessed on a per credit basis, will be granted for students determined to be financially independent according to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Student Office of Accessibility Resources (SOAR) may also direct an exemption for students with documented medical or learning difficulties requiring a reduced course load.

Students considered fifth-year seniors for billing purposes, typically already having completed eight or more semesters as a degree-seeking student on a full-time basis, will be deemed eligible for a comprehensive fee exemption as well. Students qualifying on this basis must be enrolled on a part-time basis (less than 12 credits) and Furman-based financial aid is not typically available for these students. 

To request a comprehensive fee exemption, the student should email Enrollment Services at enroll@furman.edu by the end of restricted drop/add date for the semester.

Students permitted to register for an overload while on study away will be assessed tuition for any credits beyond the standard course load expected for the specific study away experience consistent with the per-credit charge in effect for the term in question.

MayX Fees

Students charged the comprehensive tuition fee in either the fall or spring semester may enroll for MayX tuition-free. The tuition discount applies to faculty-led study away programs as well, but travel costs are the responsibility of the student and vary depending on program location. Need-based scholarships are typically available to address these travel costs for MayX study away programs, consult with the Office of Study Away and International Education for more information.

Students charged on a per credit basis during the academic year or not enrolled as a degree-seeking student, will be charged on a per credit basis for MayX.

Students failing to register for MayX by the established deadline are subject to a $100 late registration fee.

Students choosing to live in university-affiliated housing during the MayX will pay a discounted all-inclusive room and board rate determined each year prior to MayX registration.

Refund Policy

The university is committed to expenses based upon the enrollment anticipated at the beginning of each term. Refunds are granted in certain circumstances as set forth in this section; however, tuition will not be reduced or refunded regardless of the mode of instruction, including in the event that instruction occurs remotely for any part of the academic year. 

Withdrawal from the University

Students who withdraw from the university may receive a partial refund in accordance with the schedule below. The date of withdrawal is established by the Associate Academic Dean.

Time frames and amounts of pro-ration for tuition refunds are based on the percentage of the term elapsed. Full tuition refunds are available only prior to the first day of the term.

Veterans Administration benefits will be reported as required by the approved agency.

Furman offers tuition insurance through GradGuard’s™ Tuition Protection Plan from Allianz Global Assistance. The coverage expands the scope of our refund policy by ensuring reimbursement for tuition, room and board and other fees for covered withdrawals at any time during the semester.  Students and their families must elect coverage prior to the first class day of each semester.

Course Withdrawal

Because tuition is normally assessed on a comprehensive basis, no refunds are issued when a student withdraws from one or more courses while remaining enrolled at the university. A student who has been granted an exception from the comprehensive fee structure in a given term will receive a prorated refund for withdrawal from a course.

Room and Board

If the student for any reason un-enrolls or is un-enrolled from the University (e.g., leave of absence, withdrawal, suspension), room and/or board fees will be refunded, if applicable, according to the schedule set forth above for tuition.

In addition, if the University is prevented in whole or in part, as determined by the University in its sole discretion, from providing room and board to students as a result of a cause beyond its reasonable control, which may include but is not limited to an act of god, fire, flood, war, riot, civil disturbance, epidemic, pandemic including without limitation COVID-19, or federal, state, or local government law, regulation, or order, it may cease providing room and board to students; should it do so, room and/or board fees will be refunded, if applicable, according to the schedule set forth above for tuition.  For circumstances not addressed in such schedule (e.g., if the cessation occurs after more than 22 class days have elapsed), the University maintains sole discretion as to whether and to what extent to issue a pro-rated refund for room and board fees to the student.

Student Government Association Fee

A fee of $190 per major term is assessed and is non-refundable.

Financial Aid Returns

If a recipient of federal (Title IV) student aid should extend an approved leave of absence beyond 180 calendar days, fail to return from an approved leave of absence, or withdraw from the university, the student’s unearned portion of federal aid will be returned to the federal government.  Title IV funds that would be returned include the Pell Grant, Direct Loans, Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (funds part of the South Carolina Tuition Grant).

The unearned portion of federal Title IV funds is determined by dividing the number of days in the term that have passed as of the date of withdrawal by the total number of days in the term. If the withdrawal occurs after 60% of the term has elapsed, no return of Title IV funds is required. Financial Aid staff members will calculate the return of Title IV funds using a federally-prescribed formula.

Funds will be returned in the following order: Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct Subsidized Loans, and PLUS Loans. If funds remain after repaying all loan amounts, the remaining funds are repaid to the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs.

Students and their families should be aware that the requirement to return federal Title IV assistance may result in a balance due to the university; the student and/or his or her family is responsible for paying any balance resulting from the return of Title IV aid.

For non-federal funds, the institutional refund policy is applied to all other aid received by the student unless the university is instructed to do otherwise by the donor or sponsor of the award.

A student’s withdrawal date is defined as the earliest of three dates which include the actual date the student began the withdrawal process, the student’s last date of recorded attendance, or the mid-term date for a student who leaves without notifying the university.

Students withdrawing at any time during a term due to required active military service will receive a refund in accordance with stated policy. Any student in this situation who re-enrolls within the following five years will receive a credit against the expense of the first term in an amount equal to fees for the last term enrolled, less the amount of any refund paid at the time of entry into the military service.

All questions about refunds or other financial matters should be directed to Enrollment Services at enroll@furman.edu.

Personal Expenses

Books and Supplies

Students should plan to purchase books and supplies. First year students should allow $1,230 per year. Students are permitted to charge required books and supplies to their student accounts, regardless of financial aid status. While this option to charge books and supplies to the student account is not a requirement, it can help provide flexibility for students with financial need to purchase these items prior to the start of classes.

Membership Fees

Students have various organizations that operate on small budgets of their own. Membership in the departmental, honorary and social clubs, which is voluntary, frequently involve nominal fees.

Group Medical Insurance

Furman does not provide medical insurance for its students. Please check with your family insurance provider to ensure that the student will be adequately covered throughout the enrollment period. However, Furman does provide all students with a supplementary Student Sickness Benefits Plan (at no added cost) which will generally cover insurance co-payments.

Miscellaneous Expenses

Most recreational facilities on-campus are for use without charge. A small fee is assessed to students for use of the golf course and indoor tennis courts.

Campus Housing Furnishings

Student rooms are generally furnished with beds, desks, dressers, chairs, and a microfridge unit. Students in apartment-style units also have a living room couch, chair, and bar stools. Students supply pillows, bed linens, blankets, bedspreads, towels, laundry bags, study lamps and similar items.

Laundry

The cost to use this service is included in the housing charge.

Campus Housing Fines and Special Fees

Students are expected to preserve good order in buildings on campus and to pay damages, if necessary, as determined by Housing and Residence Life. A financial penalty will be assessed for improper room changes, late check-outs, or other related violations outlined in the Student Housing Agreement. 

Additional Fees and Expenses to Consider