Financial Aid and Student Accounts Policies

At Pacific Oaks College we appreciate the challenges students may face when determining how to fund their college education. The College is committed to helping students understand and manage the financial aspects of their education. With this in mind, the Pacific Oaks College Financial Aid Office and its experienced staff are dedicated to serving our students by assisting them in establishing an individual funding plan designed specifically to fit their educational financial needs.

Pacific Oaks College participates in a variety of federal financial assistance programs and offers awards to admitted students in accordance with federal Title IV (financial aid) regulations. In addition, students may also apply for state, private and institutional aid to further assist in the funding of their educational goals.

Financial Aid Professional Code of Conduct

The following Code of Conduct was last updated by a vote from NASFAA’s Board of Directors in November 2020, and published in January 2021. Subject to enforcement procedures that went into effect July 1, 2015, NASFAA institutional members of NASFAA will ensure that:

1. No action will be taken by financial aid staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.

1. Employees within the financial aid office will not award aid to themselves or their immediate family members. Staff will reserve this task to an institutionally designated person, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
2. If a preferred lender list is provided, it will be compiled without prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students attending the institution. The information included about lenders and loan terms will be transparent, complete, and accurate. The complete process through which preferred lenders are selected will be fully and publicly disclosed. Borrowers will not be auto-assigned to any particular lender.
3. A borrower’s choice of a lender will not be denied, impeded, or unnecessarily delayed by the institution, even if that lender is not included on the institution’s preferred lender list.
4. No amount of cash, gift, or benefit in excess of a de minimis amount shall be accepted by a financial aid staff member from any financial aid applicant (or his/her family), or from any entity doing business with or seeking to do business with the institution (including service on advisory committees or boards beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses directly associated with such service).

2. Information provided by the financial aid office is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.

3. Institutional financial aid offers and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:

• Breakdown of estimated individual Cost of Attendance components, including which are direct (billed by the institution) costs vs. indirect (not billed by the institution) costs
• Clear identification and proper grouping of each type of aid offered indicating whether the aid is a grant/scholarship, loan, or work program
• Estimated net price 
• Standard terminology and definitions, using NASFAA’s glossary of terms
• Renewal requirements for each aid type being offered as well as next steps and financial aid office contact information

4. All required consumer information is displayed in a prominent location on the institutional web site(s) and in any printed materials, easily identified and found, and labeled as “Consumer Information.”

5. Financial aid professionals will disclose to their institution any involvement, interest in, or potential conflict of interest with any entity with which the institution has a business relationship.

Financial Aid Recipients

Financial aid recipients must review their most recent award letter or check with the Financial Aid Office to ensure that the staff has an accurate count of credits. For additional information visit the Pacific Oaks Costs & Financial Aid webpage.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are subject to change without prior notice; however, students will not be charged retroactively for tuition and fee increases for coursework already completed, or for coursework the student was in the process of completing.

Tuition per Credit Hour

Fee Schedule for 2021-2022 Academic Year:

^{* Online and/or expedited transcript requests will carry additional fees}

CLE Fees

Military and Veteran Tuition Rate

Active duty personnel of the U.S. Military or National Guard and their spouses and dependents and Veterans of the U.S. Military or National Guard and their spouses and dependents may be eligible for the Military Tuition Rate. This rate has been established to support individuals who have dedicated themselves to serving in the United States armed forces.

Active duty personnel: A student should identify membership to one of the aforementioned categories at the time of application. The Military Tuition Rate is applied to future terms only and is not retroactive for current or prior terms. Military personnel must submit a copy of the most recent leave and earnings statement (LES) and a statement from the commanding officer on official letterhead. A student may be required to resubmit documentation annually.

Veterans: A student should identify membership to one of the aforementioned categories at the time of application. The Veteran Tuition Rate is applied to future terms only and is not retroactive for current or prior terms. A student receiving this benefit must submit a copy of the Veteran’s DD-214.

A student utilizing VA benefits must work closely with School Certifying Officials in Student Accounts to make sure that all necessary documents are on file prior to the certification of enrollment with the Veterans Administration.

The Military and Veteran Tuition Rate may not be combined with other special tuition rates. Information on the Military and Veteran Tuition Rate is available from the Student Accounts Department and the Pacific Oaks Military and Veteran Tuition Rate webpage.

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

The Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018 permits any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

• The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
• 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

The Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018 ensures that your educational institution will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33

Tuition and Fee Payment

Tuition and fees are posted annually on the Pacific Oaks College Tuition and Fees website. Completion of the registration process at Pacific Oaks College constitutes a contract and obligates the student for full payment. The student must complete the appropriate process to withdraw from the institution (see Withdrawal from the College policy section).

Tuition is due in full on the Monday following the Add/Drop period of each semester. Tuition can be paid directly by the student or through various financial aid programs offered by Pacific Oaks College. All financial aid documentation, tuition payment and payment plan arrangements must be submitted prior to the end of the Add/Drop period. Payment plans may be made available by contacting the Student Accounts Department.

All fees are non-refundable. Tuition and fees owed Pacific Oaks College must be paid when due. Any student with a delinquent account is subject to a registration hold until the delinquent account is resolved. Diplomas will not be released to students with delinquent accounts.

Students having difficulty making payments or with questions about their account should contact the Student Accounts Department or Student Finance Coordinator to discuss payment arrangements.

Late Payment fees

A Late Payment fee is charged for all payments received after the due date. No student is eligible to register for courses until any and all outstanding balances owed to the institution from a previous semester have been paid in full. The Student Accounts Department must also verify that payment in full has been received.

This policy does not exclude students on payment plans. Students on payment plans can only register after their last payment is made. Payment plans should be completed on or before the last day of the semester.

Payment Plans

Students with outstanding balances may be eligible for student payment plans. These plans are created for students with balances not covered by financial aid and/or other funding sources.

Arrangements to participate in this plan must be made with the Student Accounts Department, prior to the end of the Add/Drop period for each semester, or as soon as an account balances occurs during any phase of the student’s program. Students with a delinquent account balance are subject to registration holds for subsequent semesters and may not be able to attend classes, begin/attend practicums, begin internships, or work with faculty on their thesis until approved arrangements are made for all outstanding tuition and fees balances.

Student Refund Checks (Stipends)

A federal student aid credit balance can be created when the total of all federal student aid funds that are credited to the student’s account exceeds the amount of current and prior year (up to $200) tuition, fees, and any other educationally related charges the institution assessed the student. For students who have an institutional balance within the same academic year, subsequent disbursements will be held to cover the institutional charges. Unless the student authorizes the institution to hold a credit balance, the credit balance must be paid to the student as soon as possible, but not later than 14 days after the credit balance occurs (or 14 days after the first day of class if the credit balance occurred before the first day of class of that payment period). If a student elects to authorize the College to hold any federal student aid credit balance beyond the 14-day period, the College will release any remaining credit balance to the student by the end of the loan period.

NSLDS Consumer Information Disclosure

When the College processes federal student aid, the loan information will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) when the funds have been processed and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.

Financial Aid Eligibility Factors

Enrollment status
Students must maintain a minimum half time status to be eligible for federal and state financial aid. Half time status is 3 credits for graduate students and 6 credits for undergraduate students.

Types of Aid
Pacific Oaks College offers a variety of scholarship, grant, loan, student employment and fellowship programs to students seeking financial assistance as a means to help fund their education. Students can review a list of available funding programs on the Pacific Oaks College Funding Your Education website.

In addition to federal and state funding programs, Pacific Oaks College also offers an internal aid program which consists of scholarships, student assistantships and fellowships. Detailed information on the programs offered in the internal aid program can also be found on the Pacific Oaks Funding Your Education website.

Federal Financial Aid

Direct Unsubsidized: This loan is non-need based. Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students to help pay for the cost of a student’s education when attending post-secondary education. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education. Students may borrow directly from the federal government through the Direct Loan servicer. To be eligible for a Direct Loan, a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree program on at least a half-time basis. The Direct Loan Program offers a lower interest rate than most commercial loans. Undergraduate and graduate students can apply for an Unsubsidized Direct Loan, which begins to accrue interest while the student is in school. An origination/guarantee fee may be deducted from the student’s loan amount that is disbursed. Please refer to the Federal Direct Annual Loan Limits and Federal Direct Aggregate Loan Limits tables at http://www.direct.ed.gov/applying.html. The standard repayment plan begins six months after the student graduates or is no longer enrolled at least half-time, and up to 10 years may be allowed to repay the loan(s).

Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need.  Pacific Oaks determines the amount you can borrow, and the amount may not exceed your financial need which is calculated based on information provided by a student’s FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on a Direct Subsidized Loan while you’re in school at least half-time, for the first six months after you drop below halftime, leave school (referred to as a grade period*), and during an optional period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments).

Students who meet eligibility requirements may request a deferment or forbearance of their loan payment. The following are circumstances under which a student may qualify for a deferment: currently enrolled in school on at least a half-time basis; graduate fellowship; rehabilitation training; unemployment; economic hardship; military service; or post-active duty student.

Please refer to www.studentaid.ed.gov for additional information.

Direct Graduate PLUS Loan: This is a long-term, low-interest loan for graduate students. The student may borrow up to the cost of attendance, minus all other financial aid received, and after all Direct loan eligibility has been exhausted. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education. These loans are non-need-based and are subject to credit approval. If denied, a student may apply using a co-signer. Repayment begins 60 days from the date the loan is fully disbursed. The student is responsible for paying the interest on this loan starting from the time of the first disbursement. However, this student loan will be placed in deferment while you are enrolled at least half-time.

Please refer to www.studentaid.ed.gov for more information.

Disbursement of Aid
Students are notified when loan funds have been received and applied to their student ledger via their personal Pacific Oaks College online student portal account. Disbursements to students begin to post two weeks after the semester has begun. From the date of disbursement, students have 14 days to notify the school to cancel and/or return any funds.

Entrance and Exit Counseling
Entrance Counseling must be given to all financial aid students before aid is disbursed and Exit Counseling must be given to all financial aid students within 30 days of separation from the school. The entrance and exit counseling is available on https://studentloans.gov.

Return to Title IV Funding

A Return of Title IV Funds calculation is when a Title IV recipient drops all classes in the current semester or withdraws from his or her program. This process ensures that the institution correctly calculates the amount of federal student financial aid earned by the student and returns any unearned funds back to the federal student financial aid programs. In some cases, the school is required to return unearned Title IV funds; the student is also responsible for returning any unearned aid. In addition, the Return of Title IV process may result in the student owing the school for unpaid tuition and fees. A student may withdraw from the College at any time by notifying the Office of the Registrar, either verbally or in writing, of their decision to withdraw, but it is highly recommended that the student speaks with a Financial Aid Advisor prior to withdrawing.

For Return of Title IV calculation purposes, the payment period is defined as a semester. For official or administrative withdrawals, a student’s last date of attendance is the last day in which a student attended class (for online students this is any academic related activity for their class). If a student completes a course and receives a passing grade, the last date of attendance will be recorded as the end date of the session/semester.

The portion of Title IV funds a student is allowed to receive is calculated on a percentage basis by comparing the total number of days completed before the student withdrew from the program to the total number of days in the payment period. An official withdrawal date is determined when a student requests to be dropped from their program or does not meet attendance requirements to remain eligible for Title IV funding. A student earns 100% of the aid once he or she has completed more than 60% of the term.

If the amount of aid disbursed to the student is greater than the amount of aid earned by the student, the unearned portion must be returned to the federal account; this may include the student, the institution, or both. In returning unearned funds, the institution is responsible for returning the portion of the unearned funds equal to the lesser of the institutional charges for the payment period multiplied by the unearned percentage of funds, or the entire amount of unearned funds. If the student is required to return any of the unearned funds, then the student must repay those funds. If the unearned funds consist of Title IV loans, then the student repays the loan in accordance with the terms and conditions of the promissory note.

If the amount of aid disbursed to the student is less than the amount of aid earned by the student, a post-withdrawal disbursement may be available to assist the payment of any outstanding tuition and fee charges on the student’s account. If a student is eligible to receive a post-withdrawal disbursement from Title IV loan funds, the student will be asked for his or her permission to disburse the loan funds on the student’s account to reduce the balance owed to the institution or disburse the excess loan funds directly to the student. The College has 30 days from the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew to offer the post-withdrawal disbursement of a loan to the student. The student has 14 days from the date the institution sends the notification to accept the post-withdrawal disbursement in writing. The Return of Title IV process will determine whether the funds will be allocated to the school or the student.

Once the College’s portion of the return of funds has been calculated, the Financial Aid Office must return the aid within 45 days to the appropriate federal student financial aid program(s) in the order specified below. If this creates a balance on the student’s account, the student will be responsible for full payment to the institution. A student will not be allowed to re-enter or register until the outstanding balance has been paid in full. If loan funds are required to be returned by the student, the student may pay these funds back under the original terms of the loan.

The College will return the unearned Title IV funds in the following order:

Unsubsidized Direct Loan
Subsidized Direct Loan
Direct Graduate or Parent PLUS
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

For information regarding the determination of withdrawal date, please see the Withdrawal from the College policy in the General Academic Policies section of this Catalog.

Statements

1098-T Tuition Statements are made available to eligible students every year no later than January 31 as required by law.  If a student does not elect paperless delivery, the statement will be mailed to the address on file. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their contact information is up to date.

Military/Veterans

Pacific Oaks College is strongly committed to supporting men and women who have served our nation through military service.  POC serves veterans, service members and their families, who are accessing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits, often referred to as VA benefits.

Students at POC who are eligible to receive VA Educational Benefits may qualify for one of the following Chapters of the VA benefits of Educational Assistance:  Eligibility for VA Educational Benefits is determined by the Department of Veteran Affairs. If you are not sure which benefit may apply to you contact the VA Regional Office in Muskogee, Oklahoma at (888) 442-4551 (888) 442-4551 FREE

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

• CHAPTER 30: Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
• CHAPTER 31: Veteran Readiness and Employment
• CHAPTER 33: The Post-9/11 GI Bill®
• CHAPTER 35: Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
• CHAPTER 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
• CHAPTER 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Pacific Oaks College is proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program allows additional funding for students who are 100% eligible for Chapter 33 Post 9/11 VA benefits education benefits. Pacific Oaks College will pay a certain dollar amount and the VA will match PO payment, not to exceed total cost. Each year, there are a limited number of slots available in the program and they are given on a first come, first served basis.

VA students would need to submit a Pacific Oaks VA Student Responsibility Form and a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility stating that you are 100% eligible for the Chapter 33 Post 9/11 VA benefits once you are an accepted student at Pacific Oaks College. In order for Yellow Ribbon benefits to be processed, the annual cap for tuition and fees must be reached.

Once a Veteran student has been admitted to Pacific Oaks College:

1. All official transcripts must be submitted from all institutions previously attended at the time of admission.
2. If you haven’t done so already, apply to use VA Educational Benefits at Pacific Oaks College with the VA. You can apply through the VONAPP website.
3. Submit a copy of your DD214. (Dependents should submit a copy of the service member whose benefits they qualify under.)
4. A Pacific Oaks VA Student Responsibility Form must be completed each semester in order to have your benefits certified.  Along with your PO VA Student Responsibility Form, attach your certificate of eligibility (COE).  An updated printed copy of your certificate of eligibility can be obtained from e-Benefits.  Connect with your faculty advisor to assist you with determining your course schedule.
5. Your enrollment counselor or Student Support Advisor can assist you with registering for classes each semester.
6. Make plans with the Student Accounts Department for the payment of any tuition and fees that will not be covered by VA benefits, Financial Aid, or that will not be paid directly to Pacific Oaks College.
7. Any changes in your enrollment must be communicated to the Pacific Oaks School Certifying Official immediately. You will be responsible for any and all charges owed the VA and/or the school for any changes to certifications.

The Solomon Amendment

(10 USC §983, effective January 2000) is a federal law that mandates colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid funding to provide student-recruiting information upon request to military recruiting organizations. The request and information released by the College is limited to military recruiting purposes only. The request for information must be in writing on letterhead that clearly identifies the military recruiting organization. Military recruiters must be from one of the following military organizations:

1. Air Force
2. Air Force Reserve
3. Air Force National Guard
4. Army
5. Army Reserve
6. Army National Guard
7. Coast Guard
8. Coast Guard Reserve
9. Navy
10. Navy Reserve
11. Marine Corps
12. Marine Corps Reserve

The release of student recruiting information follows the FERPA guidelines defining student directory information. Students are not permitted under federal law to restrict the release of this information specifically to military organizations, but if students withhold the release of directory information generally, then Pacific Oaks may not release this information to military organizations.

Return of Military Tuition Assistance

Students using military Tuition Assistance (TA) to pay for course(s) will have any unearned TA funds returned on a proportional basis through at least the 60 percent portion of the period for which the funds were provided.  TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student is withdrawn, dismissed, or otherwise stops attending the University. The Department of Defense requires the University to return any unearned TA funds to the department based on how much of the course students have attended.

The University will calculate TA eligibility for students who fail to attend, drop out, withdraw (officially or unofficially), or are dismissed prior to completing more than 60 percent of the enrollment period. The enrollment period encompasses the semester/session start and end dates for applicable courses.  

Your TA eligibility is determined based on the following formula:

Students will still be liable for the cost of their Tuition and Fees based on the applicable refund schedule, regardless of the amount of TA funds that have to be refunded to the Department of Defense.

Students who withdraw due to a military service obligation may be entitled to receive a full refund of tuition and fees. All refunds are subject to the presentation of official documentation.

Drop/Withdrawal Refund Schedule

Pacific Oaks courses are offered in 16-week semesters and 8-week sessions.  Students follow the refund schedule based on registration in 16-week semesters and/or 8-week sessions. 

16-WEEK SEMESTER SPRING AND FALL

8-WEEK SESSION 

Maryland Resident Tuition Refund Policy Disclosure Statement (Online Students Only)

Tuition refunds for Maryland-resident students enrolled in online programs at Pacific Oaks College will be issued in accordance with the following schedule as required by the regulations of the Maryland Higher Education Commission. However, if Pacific Oaks College’s refund policy is more beneficial to Maryland students, it will follow its refund policy and provide for refunds of tuition to Maryland students as provided in that policy.

1. As required by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the minimum refund that Pacific Oaks College will pay to a Maryland student who withdraws or is terminated after completing only a portion of a course, program, or term within the applicable billing period is as follows:

2. A refund due to a Maryland student will be based on the date of withdrawal or termination and paid within 60 days from the date of withdrawal or termination.
3. This refund policy must be disclosed to students upon enrollment, and documentation verifying student refunds in accordance with this policy must be maintained.

Oregon Refund Policy

The first week of every semester/session is the Add/Drop week for students. Prior to the semester/session start: Students should add and drop courses online through the Student Gateway prior to the start of the semester/session. During the first week of the semester/session: Students may also change their course schedules during Add/Drop week and will not be charged a late registration fee. For students who have yet to register for any courses prior to Add/Drop and choose to add courses during this time, they will be assessed a late registration fee. Students must submit any changes to their schedule through an Add/Drop form to the Registrar’s Office by the add/drop deadline. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for specific registration dates and add/drop deadlines. Drops that are officially processed by the add/drop deadline will not appear on the student’s transcripts. After the first week of the semester/session: Students who wish to withdraw from a course after the add/drop deadline must submit an Add/Drop form to the Registrar’s Office. Students who drop or are administratively dropped after the first week of class will receive a grade of “W” or “WX.” Students who drop after the first week of class may be eligible for a partial refund. Please see the Drop/Withdrawal Refund Schedule in the Financial Aid & Student Accounts section of the Catalog to determine whether a “W” or “WX” will be issued and if a tuition adjustment is necessary.

 Drop/Withdrawal Refund Schedule

Online School of Human Development, Online School of Education, and Ground School of Education are broken up into two separate 8-week Sessions for Spring and Fall. The 8-Week refund schedules are followed by all online students and ground School of Education students.

8-WEEK SESSION SPRING AND FALL

Online School of Human Development, Online School of Education, and Ground School of Education are broken up into two separate 6-week Sessions for Summer. The 6 Week refund schedules are followed by all online students and ground School of Education students.

6-WEEK SESSION SUMMER