Dec 08, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Financial Information



Each year in May, as part of the annual budget process, the Chancellor shall present recommended tuition, fee, and room and board rates to the Board of Trustees for approval. (Tuition and fee rates become effective after the end of the summer term.) The Board may alter any of these rates at its discretion. A student acknowledges this reservation by applying for admission or registering for courses.

Tuition charges are calculated by multiplying the number of credit hours attempted by a rate established by the Board of Trustees. Courses being audited are included in this calculation. The type of tuition is determined by a student’s career/degree level and residency. Undergraduate students taking graduate courses will be charged at the undergraduate rate; graduate students taking undergraduate courses will be charged at the graduate rate. For current information about tuition and fees, visit: https://usm.maine.edu/student-financial-services.

Additional information about Law tuition and fees can be found at http://mainelaw.maine.edu/admissions/financing-your-education/tuition-and-fees/

Housing and Meals

For current information regarding housing rates and USM meal plans, visit: http://usm.maine.edu/residential-life.

Payment Policies and Procedures for all students

Billing

Students can access MaineStreet billing statements, specific semester due dates, and other important account information at https://usm.maine.edu/student-financial-services The University does not mail paper billing statements. Billing statements are available via MaineStreet Student Center.

The University has established specific dates payment is due for each semester (August 15, January 15, and May 15) and notifies students of these dates on electronic bills, through University publications, and at https://usm.maine.edu/student-financial-services.

All charges posted to student accounts after the posted semester or term payment due date must be paid no later than ten (10) calendar days from the date the charges were incurred.

A late fee is charged if payment is not received by the due date. Students with past due charges may not be allowed to re-register. Students who show a pattern of late payment may be required to pay all University charges before registration is allowed. The University reserves the right to cancel a current semester’s registration, preventing a student from receiving grades or credit for courses, if outstanding charges are not paid.

Under Maine law, the University must provide current and former students their official transcript or diploma upon request, regardless of a past due balance or debt owed to the institution. Students with a record hold due to a past due balance should contact the Student Accounts Office to request a temporary removal of the hold so the student can then request their official record(s) through the University Registrar’s Office or available self-service options. Those with past due balances of $2,500 or more must enter into a payment plan before the hold is temporarily removed and their record(s) can be requested. For more information please contact Student Accounts at 207-780-5250.

Financial Adjustments for Tuition, Fees, Room and Board

Adding courses, dropping some courses, and withdrawing from all courses may result in changes to the charges on the student’s account.

For detailed information about deadlines to drop and reductions in charges, visit: https://usm.maine.edu/student-financial-services.

Information regarding room and board adjustments can be found at http://usm.maine.edu/residential-life.

Determination of Attendance For purposes of calculating financial adjustments for students dropping from some or withdrawing from all courses, attendance includes weekends and holidays and ends on the student’s last date of attendance as determined when (s)he notifies the institution’s designated official office that (s)he has stopped attending. The length of a class is defined on the official class schedule. Changes in scheduled classes (beginning or ending) by the instructor are not considered when calculating adjustments.

Involuntary Withdrawals Consideration for financial adjustments of charges for involuntary withdrawals (e.g. extended illness, military service) will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The deadline for requesting an involuntary withdrawal is up to 90 days after the close of the term for which the student is requesting an exception to the withdrawal policy. The spring semester deadline is less than 90 days for students who have been awarded some types of financial aid. Charges will not be reduced for voluntary absence from classes. Contact Student Financial Services for additional information about this appeal process.

Administrative dismissals are not entitled to an adjustment of institutional charges.

Rules Governing In-State and Out-of-State Tuition

There are many factors that will be considered in determining residency for in-state tuition purposes. No one factor can be used to establish domicile; rather, all factors and circumstances must be considered on a case-by-case basis. A domicile or residency classification assigned by a public or private authority neither qualifies nor disqualifies a student for University of Maine System (UMS) in-state status.

Additional information, including the “Request for Change of Residence Status” application, is available at https://usm.maine.edu/student-financial-services or at the Student Financial Services Office, 101 Bailey Hall, Gorham, or the Student Financial Services Office, 136 Luther Bonney, Portland.