College Costs

Tuition and Fees

Tuition
The Board of Trustees sets tuition and fees and reserves the right to change them without notice. Tuition varies based on residency; Philadelphia residents pay $122 per credit hour; other Pennsylvanians pay $244 per credit hour plus a $10 nonresident capital fee per credit; and non-Pennsylvanians pay $366 per credit hour plus a $20 nonresident capital fee per credit. Some courses have additional fees; check the individual course descriptions for this information.

Tuition Deposit - $50
An applicant accepted or readmitted for full-time status by the College may be required to remit a $50 nonrefundable deposit within a specified timeframe for Allied Health Curricula. The applicant’s letter of acceptance will specify the date.

This deposit ensures the applicant a place at the College and will be credited to the initial semester’s tuition charge. If the student fails to register for that semester, the tuition deposit will not be refunded but may be applied to subsequent registrations within that academic year only.

Fees
Application Fee - $20
A fee of $20 must be paid by each applicant when applying for admission to the College’s credit program. This fee is required only once and is nonrefundable.

Identification Card Fee - $10
All credit students at the College are required to have a College photo identification card. There is a one-time $10 charge for the card. The cost of the card will be included in the first semester bill. Students who for religious or other reasons require a student identification card without a photo may make arrangements through the Security office.

Lost Identification Card Fee - $10
A replacement fee of $10 will be charged for each replacement of the identification card.

General College Fee - $4 per Credit
To fund the cost of student publications, intramural and intercollegiate athletics, commencement expenses and other special services and activities for students, there is a general College fee for credit courses. This fee is non-refundable as of the first day of the semester.

Technology Fee - $28 per credit
A fee of $28 per credit is charged to defray the institutional operating and equipment costs associated with providing student access to technology in academic and student support services and in instructional programs. This fee is nonrefundable as of the first day of the semester.

Course Fees
Some courses offered by the College are subject to course fees. These include courses with laboratory costs, clinical instruction costs or additional instructional hours. The course fees range from $66 to $264 per course. The applicable course fee, if any, is shown at the end of the course descriptions in the Course Descriptions section of the Catalog. Course fees are subject to the Refund Policy on pages 16-17.

Nonresident Capital Fee
$10 per credit for Pennsylvania residents outside Philadelphia.

$20 per credit for students who do not meet the State’s residency requirement.

The College’s capital costs are funded by the city and state. The capital fee is charged to students in circumstances where the student is a nonresident and therefore capital support from the city or state is not provided. This fee is nonrefundable as of the first day of the semester.

Distance Education Course Fee - $30
A fee of $30 will be assessed for any section of a course that is offered as an online course. Students should consult the course offerings listing for each semester to identify which courses are available in an online course delivery format. This fee is nonrefundable as of the first day of the semester.

Senior Citizen Registration Fee - $122
This fee is charged to students who take advantage of the tuition-free course (see page 11). This fee is nonrefundable as of the first day of the semester.

Returned Check Fee - $25
A penalty of $25 will be assessed for all checks issued to the College but not paid on presentation to the bank.

Late Registration Fee - $30
A $30 late registration fee will be charged to previously enrolled students who register after the payment deadline for credit courses during the fall and spring semesters.

Academic Transcript Fee
The transcript fee is payable in advance and requires the student’s written release. For normal mail service (allow 7-10 business days for processing), the fee is $3 for each transcript. For rush service, which includes same-day regular US mail service, fax service and pick-up, the fee is $10 for each transcript.

Credit by Examination Fee - $115
This fee is charged for each course in which a student has applied for credit on the basis of examination. The fee is based on the tuition rate for one credit hour. This fee is nonrefundable.

Credit for Life Experience Fee - $115
This fee is charged for each course in which a student has applied for credit on the basis of life experience. The fee is based on the tuition rate for one credit hour. This fee is nonrefundable.

Graduation Fee - $30
A fee of $30, payable in advance, is charged to defray costs associated with graduation eligibility processing and commencement activities. This fee will be charged for each semester/session for which a student applies for graduation. This fee is nonrefundable.

Other Costs
Although the tuition for Philadelphia residents is relatively low, students should be aware of the need to plan ahead and anticipate all costs for the period of enrollment. The basic budget for one semester at the College should include, in addition to the appropriate tuition and fees, the following estimates*:

• Books and Supplies $1,100
• Transportation $1,500
• Meals $1,300

*Actual cost will vary by student and by program of study.

Making Payments
A Community College of Philadelphia bill listing the tuition and fees will be mailed to each student approximately four weeks before the beginning of each semester. If the bill is not received in the mail, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain it from the Cashier’s Office.

It is suggested that payments be made by check or money order, payable to Community College of Philadelphia, and addressed to the Cashier, Community College of Philadelphia, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Cash payments may be made at the Cashier’s Office, BG-2. To request a receipt or to pay by credit card using MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover, log on to MyCCP. To pay by phone using your credit card, call 215-751-8130.

Checks in payment of tuition and fees that are returned to the College by the bank must be repaid immediately or the student will be administratively withdrawn from the College.

Payment Plan
The College offers a monthly payment plan to those students taking 6 or more credit hours. The cost is $35 and the plan is only available during the fall and spring semesters. Students interested in the plan should contact the Cashier’s Office at 215-751-8987 or pick up information in Room BG-2 at the Main Campus or any Regional Center. The application is also available on the Web at www.ccp.edu.

Fulfillment of Financial Obligations
If any student has not met his or her full financial obligations, the College reserves the right to withhold any of its services from the student until the obligations are met. These include, but are not restricted to, transcripts, library services, letters of recommendation, registration, counseling and additional services.

Refunds
Students who submit official withdrawal forms during the equivalent first week of classes in a term for which they are registered will receive a 75 percent refund of their tuition. For those withdrawing during the equivalent second week, the refund will be 50 percent; during the equivalent third week, 25 percent. No refund will be granted to a student withdrawing during the equivalent fourth week and thereafter.

Students who receive financial aid are subject to federal refund policies and calculations as described in the provisions of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. Recipients of grants and loans who fully withdraw or drop on or before the 60 percent point of the term will be required to return all or a portion of their financial aid proceeds to the College and/or the Federal Government. Read Financial Aid Withdrawals, Refunds and Repayment Policy under the Financial Aid section (see page 18).

Important: A student who drops a 15-week course during the 15-week refund period will not be permitted to apply full tuition to a 10-week course. The difference between the partial tuition refund for the 15-week course and the full tuition for the 10-week course must be paid by the student. This does not apply if the 15-week course is dropped prior to the start of the 15-week semester and is replaced by a 10-week course.

Refund policies are in keeping with the regulations of the State Board of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Section 35.30).

General College, Technology, Distance Education, Nonresident Capital, Senior Citizen and registration fees are not refundable as of the first day of the semester except in the case of course cancellation by the College.

Tax Incentives
Federal tax laws provide special benefits to help students and parents pay for college. For example, a tax credit allows you to subtract an amount from the taxes you owe:
Taxes owed $6,000
Less tax credit - $1,000
Taxes owed $5,000

A tax deduction allows you to subtract an amount from the income on which you must pay taxes:

Gross income	$25,000
Less tax deduction	- $1,000
Taxable income	$24,000

Below are brief summaries of the tax incentives most likely to benefit adult, nontraditional students. Not all students or parents will qualify for these tax credits. Be sure to obtain a complete explanation of these tax incentives and consult with your tax advisor before you make financial decisions or use them in filing your federal income taxes.

American Opportunity Tax Credit
At present, the American Opportunity tax credit will be in effect for 2009 and 2010. It amends the current Hope Scholarship tax credit and will provide a credit of up to $2,500 per tax year. Course materials, including textbooks, are now covered. In addition, up to 40 percent or $1,000 will be a refundable credit.

Lifetime Learning Credit
Up to $2,000 per year per return may be claimed for qualified educational expenses.

Student Loan Interest Deduction
The maximum interest deduction is $2,500. The loans must have been used to pay qualified costs of attendance, including room and board.

Loan Forgiveness
For certain curricula, there are loan forgiveness programs available. Students need to research these programs carefully, as there are often strict criteria associated with loan forgiveness programs. A good starting point is www.aesSuccess.org.

Financial Aid
Community College of Philadelphia participates in the following federal and state-funded programs: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study Program, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) State Grant, Federal Stafford Loan, and Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS).

Financial Aid Eligibility
Students must be enrolled for at least 6 credits to be eligible for loans and the PHEAA State Grant. Students may receive a Federal Pell Grant for fewer than 6 credits. In addition, to be eligible for financial aid, students must have earned either a high school diploma or GED®. If not, they will be required to take a computer-administered examination on which they must achieve a specified score (see the following section on Ability to Benefit Requirement). To maintain financial aid eligibility, students must make academic progress as outlined in the College’s Policy on Academic Standards and Progress (Normal Progress, Academic Probation, and Dropped for Poor Scholarship), on pages 23-26 of this Catalog.

Read all the provisions of this policy carefully before registering for classes. If you have any questions, please contact the Counseling Center, W2-2, at 215-751-8169.

Ability to Benefit Requirement
This test is required of persons who have applied for Federal Student Financial Aid and who have not earned a high school diploma or GED®. An ability to benefit test is one of any on an approved list of commonly administered standardized tests which an individual who has not earned a high school diploma or GED® can take to demonstrate that she or he has the ability to benefit from a college education. Each test has an established minimum passing score. Potential students who achieve scores above the minimum passing score demonstrate that they have the potential to succeed in college. The College’s Assessment Center administers this test. To schedule an appointment for testing, please contact the Assessment Center at 215-751-8221.

Applying for Financial Aid
Students applying for financial aid must do so for each academic year. Students should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (2009-2010 school year) via the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This application is used to apply for the Federal Pell Grant, the PHEAA State Grant and the Federal Stafford Loan. Use Community College of Philadelphia School Code 003249 when filing your FAFSA. In addition to completing the FAFSA (2009-2010 school year), students applying for the Federal Stafford Loan must also complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and an entrance counseling session at www.aesSuccess.org.

Since the application process for all of the above grants and loans takes about four to eight weeks, students are advised to file early rather than merely by the deadlines listed below. Students needing assistance completing the financial aid application should call the Office of Financial Aid at 215-751-8271 or e-mail financialaid@ccp.edu.

Filing Deadlines for 2009-2010
Note: Regarding application for any and all of the grants listed below, be sure to refer to the previous paragraphs for required use of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA 2009-2010 school year) forms.

Federal Pell Grant:
All applicants - June 30, 2010

PHEAA State Grant:
All applicants - May 1, 2009

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and Federal Work-Study:
All applicants - April 15, 2009

These deadlines are for applications that are complete. All required documentation must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid by the above-listed deadlines.

We cannot guarantee that there will be funds available for students applying after these dates, but we will continue to review late applications until all funds have been awarded.

Federal Stafford Loan
In addition to accepting the awarded loans online in MyCCP, a student must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and an entrance counseling session at www.aesSuccess.org. This must be done at least two weeks before payment deadline. You may be required to re-submit a new MPN if the lender of your choice is no longer participating. The Office of Financial Aid does not maintain a preferred lender list. Students and parents are encouraged to compare the different loan products that are available. Community College of Philadelphia will process loans from any lender and guarantor of your choice.

Summer Aid
Information concerning summer aid is available at the Office of Financial Aid in early spring.

Study abroad students who need loans should consider taking the loans during the spring semester.

For detailed information and applications, please contact the Office of Financial Aid, BG-3, at 215-751-8271.

Adjustments to Financial Aid
Attendance is required in all classes for which a student is registered. If a student never attends a class, the financial aid award will be adjusted to reflect only those classes the student attends. This adjustment could affect a student’s current and future financial aid eligibility. Students will also have to repay any overpayments.

Furthermore, the federal regulations state that students may receive federal funds for the maximum of 30 semester credits of developmental classes, except for English as a Second Language courses. Therefore, if a student has registered for 30 credits of developmental course work, the student will not be able to receive federal funds for additional developmental courses.

Financial Aid Withdrawals, Refunds And Repayment Policy
Financial aid is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of aid that the student was paid or scheduled to receive. The Office of Financial Aid is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed or take a leave of absence. Up through the 60 percent point in each payment period or period of enrollment, a pro-rata schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. After the 60 percent point in the payment period or period of enrollment, a student has earned 100 percent of the federal aid he or she was scheduled to receive during the period.

Unearned aid is returned in the following order:
• Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
• Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans
• Federal Parent (PLUS) Loans
• Federal Pell Grants for which a return of funds is required
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants for which a return of funds is required
• Other assistance under this Title for which a return of funds is required (e.g., LEAP)

Cautionary Note: Withdrawals may have a negative impact on students’ academic progress standing and future aid eligibility.

Alternative Funding Sources
Many business enterprises, labor union locals, churches and faith-based organizations, and community groups award scholarships for collegiate studies. Parents of prospective students are encouraged to ascertain from employers and union offices what benefits may be available for their dependents. Students who are employed are sometimes eligible for financial assistance by their employers.

For information on scholarships and awards presented by an employer, contact the employer’s Human Resources Office.

Veterans
Scholarships for Veterans, Spouses and Dependents
A $3,000 scholarship toward tuition and fees is available for National Guard and Reserve Troops called to serve under Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Post-9/11 GI Bill
Effective August 1, 2009, veterans may be eligible for new benefits under this bill if they served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and are still on active duty or were honorably discharged or released. Veterans may also be eligible if they were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001. Basic benefits may include cost of tuition and fees, monthly housing allowance, and books and supplies. Since the new law contains many major differences from the current Montgomery GI Bill, veterans are advised to visit the Web site (www.gibill2.va.gov) for additional information about the major changes contained in the law.

Other programs and benefits are also available for veterans, spouses and dependents. Please visit the Veterans Resource Office located at the Career Services Center in the Center for Business and Industry, Room C1-34; e-mail vro@ccp.edu; or visit the College’s Web site at www.ccp.edu/current/registration/veterans/.

Community College of Philadelphia complies with all regulations established by the Veterans Administration for students enrolled under VA programs, as required by Title 38, United States Code, Section 3675. Men or women eligible for assistance under the GI Bill or other VA programs should apply directly to the nearest VA office.

Scholarships and Awards
Community College of Philadelphia supports commitment to community college education through the development of a viable student award and scholarship program. Individuals, organizations and corporate donors are invited to establish awards or scholarships, in accordance with applicable College policies for students enrolled at the College or for use by the College’s students upon transfer to other colleges and universities. For more information regarding scholarships, please call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 215-751-8042.

The Community College of Philadelphia Foundation has established many student scholarship programs to recognize the accomplishments of our students and encourage lifelong learning for all who may benefit. These scholarship programs support students by providing financial assistance for tuition, books or other costs associated with attending college. There are also scholarships and awards available to high school students who will begin their studies at the College.

Currently, the College Foundation and the Office of Institutional Advancement administer more than 120 student scholarship and award programs. There are scholarships and awards available based on a student’s program of study, academic achievement, community/volunteer service and leadership.

To find a complete listing of the scholarships and awards for which Community College of Philadelphia students are eligible, please visit http://www.ccp.edu/site/current/scholarships/listing.php.

For more information on Community College of Philadelphia scholarships and awards, please contact the scholarship manager in the Office of Institutional Advancement, Annex–7th Floor, or 215-751-8214.

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