Fees and Expenses

All fees are current as of December 1, 2023 and are subject to change.

Payment of Fees

All tuition, mandatory fees and other University charges are due at the beginning of the semester. Any means of payment, other than cash, requires the inclusion of the student’s name and ID number on the document. If a check, or electronic check is returned by the bank for any reason, a $15 service fee will be assessed to the student’s account. If a check, or electronic check, is returned that was written for payment of tuition and fees, the student for whom the payment is made will be placed on a “cash only basis” for all future transactions with the University. Returned paper checks will automatically be re-deposited once by the University’s fiscal agent (bank). Electronic checks will not be re-deposited.

The University reserves the right to withhold future services (registration, transcript, diploma, etc.), in accordance with state and federal regulations, to persons who have any outstanding obligation with the University.

Payments made at the Cashier’s Office must be in the form of cash, check, cashier’s check, or money order. Cash, cashier’s check, or money order payments cannot exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for security purposes. Loose or rolled coins will not be accepted for payment if the amount exceeds ten dollars ($10). All electronic check and credit card payments must be made via the student’s Workday account. Credit cards accepted for payment of fees are VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover via the online Southeastern web pay. If a student disputes a credit card payment to the University, it will result in an outstanding charge on their account and they will be put on restriction from all future credit card transactions. The University reserves the right to withhold future services, in accordance with state and federal regulations, to persons with outstanding obligations to the University. See Controller’s Office website for web pay instructions.

Fee Schedule

General Fees: Students who register at Southeastern Louisiana University pay fees determined by the number of semester hours scheduled, including hours taken for audit. It is the responsibility of the student to assure that fees are paid by the fee payment deadline. Non-resident fees are in addition to tuition for both undergraduate and graduate students.

If a student does not plan to attend the University once they have enrolled in courses, it is the student’s responsibility to drop all courses before the first day of classes. The student will be financially responsible for any courses that remain on their schedule once classes begin.

Classes may be canceled for students whose fees are not paid by the fee payment deadline. Fees are considered paid if the student’s outstanding balance is zero or if the current semester Anticipated (Pending) Financial Aid is greater or equal to the outstanding fees on the student’s account as of the fee payment deadline.

Please visit our website to view the tuition and fee schedule.

Other Registration Fees

Textbook Rental Fee: All students who register at Southeastern Louisiana University will be charged a mandatory textbook rental fee of $60 per class (no maximum) if a rental book is required for the course in which they are registered. This fee will appear as a separate line item on the student’s fee statement. The last day to return rental textbooks with no penalties is the first business day following the last day of finals. A fine will be assessed on books returned from the second business day through the fifth business day following final exams of a semester. A purchase fee on the student account will be assessed for books not returned by the fifth business day following the last day of finals. The textbook rental fee is non-refundable except for students who drop courses during the add/drop period. Students who resign will receive a refund of the rental fee based on the current refund schedule.

ID Fee: All students are assessed a mandatory, non-refundable fee to validate their ID card each semester the student is enrolled.

International Student Services Fee: All international students are required to pay, in addition to regular tuition and non-resident tuition, a $60 international student services fee each semester ($30, Summer).

Course Specific Fees: Some courses require additional course specific fees. See course descriptions for additional information.

Nursing Professional Degree Program: There is an additional fee per semester for students enrolled in the Nursing Degree Program to cover the costs associated with these programs. A $350 per semester fee will be charged for Graduate level students ($250 for Undergraduate) enrolled in the Nursing Degree Program.

Application Fee: For information on application fees, please refer to the Admissions Criteria section of this catalog and/or refer to our website at http://www.southeastern.edu/apply/index.html.

Orientation Fee: A fee is not required of students participating in Orientation Programs. However, charges may be assessed for housing and certain meals.

Room Rent and Cost of Meals Per Semester

Housing**

For information on housing fees, please call University Housing at 985-549-2118 and/or refer to the Housing website.
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**All fees are subject to change without notice.

Campus Dining Services

Southeastern Louisiana University has a continuing commitment to offer quality dining programs and facilities that reflect the lifestyles of today’s college student. There are several locations around campus to serve students. The Mane Dish features an all-you-care-to-eat menu with entrees freshly prepared upon order. Numerous choices range from a salad bar, home-style entrees, burgers, deli sandwiches, and fresh pasta dishes, to name a few. Retail options, such as Chick-fil-A, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Smoothie King, Panda Express, and Local Restaurant Row are offered in the Lion’s Den food court. Other dining locations include Subway, Starbucks, Java City and five convenience stores.

Dining Services has an extensive list of meal plans that cater to the needs of all students. The meal plans consist of a straight declining balance program (Cub Cash) or a meal plan that is utilized primarily for meals served in the Mane Dish. It is mandatory for students who live on campus to purchase a meal plan. For more information on Dining Services, please refer to the Dining Services website.

Other Expenses

Post Office Box Rental Fee: Mailboxes can be rented by non-resident students and the general public at a cost of $40 annually or $16 per fall and spring semesters and $8 for the summer semester. Mail services are included in the on-campus resident amenity package.

Graduation Fees

Transcript Fee: Students may request transcripts through a contracted third party (instructions to request a transcript). Students who have an outstanding obligation to the University must contact the Controller’s Office before a transcript may be issued.

Diploma Fee: Graduating students will pay a non-refundable diploma fee according to the following schedule.

Students who fail to complete graduation requirements must reapply by filing another application and paying fees according to the above schedule. Graduating students are expected to be present at Commencement Exercises. Students must obtain a cap and a gown from the University Bookstore for the Commencement Exercises. This cost must be paid separately.

Motor Vehicle Registration

Registration Fee: All students who drive automobiles, trucks, or motorcycles/motorbikes on the campus must register the vehicle and pay a motor vehicle registration fee based on the schedule below.

Students who register motor vehicles will be charged the following fees according to the semester in which the annual motor vehicle registration begins. *

Commuters and Resident Students

*Refund: Once a vehicle is registered, there are no refunds.

Refund of Fees

If a student does not plan to attend the University, it is the student’s responsibility to drop all courses before the first day of class. The student is financially responsible for any courses that remain on their schedule as of the first day of class.

Reduction of tuition and other course related fees will be made on the following basis:

For Students Dropping Courses: Students who decrease their course load (drop hours) resulting in a lower tuition cost through the add/drop period, as defined in the current University calendar, will receive a reduction in fees. Students who reduce their course load (withdraw) after the add/drop period are not eligible for a reduction of tuition and other course related fees.

For Students Resigning: A student who officially resigns (withdraws from all classes) from the University may obtain a reduction of fees according to the following schedule:

Fall and Spring Semesters Amount of Refund (Reduction of Fees)

Summer Semester Amount of Refund (Reduction of Fees)

Students receiving federal aid will also receive a reduction in fees according to the Institutional Refund Policy as stated above. Any unearned aid determined at the time of resignation/withdrawal will be returned to the provider and will be the responsibility of the student to reimburse the University. This includes students who officially resign and those who cease attending without officially resigning (Unofficial Withdrawal).

To receive a 100% refund of fees previously paid, the student must drop all of their classes prior to the first day of classes.

If a student resigns on or after the first day of class, the student must complete the resignation process through the Office of the Registrar no later than the eighth class day in a summer semester, or the fifteenth class day of a fall or spring semester, to receive any reduction of fees. For resignation procedures from the University, please refer to the Registrar’s website.  

If a student is resigned by the University for any reason, they will be refunded according to the above schedule. The effective date of the resignation will determine which category of reduction of fees will apply. Students considering a retro-active resignation should inquire about the implications affecting their financial aid (if any) before making the request.

The rules of refund for motor vehicle registration fees, room rent and meal ticket costs are included under the respective captions in this catalog.

The above refund (reduction of fees) policy and drop dates apply to off-campus courses as well as on-campus courses.

Workshops and Institutes

The rules for refunding fees applicable at any time during an academic year, intersession, or summer semester are on a proportionate time basis for workshops and institutes. The refund should be requested through the appropriate department.

Issuance of Refunds

Southeastern Louisiana University delivers refunds with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. 

A current mailing address is necessary since it is used for all correspondence from the Controller’s Office. If there is a reason that a refund cannot be sent to BMTX, Inc., an email will be sent to the student’s official university student email address.

Student refunds are sent according to the refund preference selected at BMTX, Inc. The student indicates their refund preference via Workday. For more information visit Student Refunds on the Controller’s website. For more information about BankMobile Disbursements, visit the link: https://disbursements.bmtx.com/refundchoicessso/

Financial Aid Authorization

Students are also encouraged to acknowledge the Financial Aid Authorization statement. This authorization is necessary if the student expects financial aid to pay any non-institutional charges. Such charges include but are not limited to parking tags, parking fines, library fines or books, Lion’s Lagniappe, Southeastern Payment Plan, Emergency Loan, textbook rental fines or textbooks sold. If a student chooses not to accept the authorization, he or she will be obligated to pay any non-institutional charges out of pocket. This authorization must be completed on-line through the student’s Workday account. This authorization may be rescinded at any time in writing by certified mail to the Controller’s Office or through the business process in Workday.

Installment Plan

Southeastern is pleased to offer a financial planning option, the Southeastern Payment Plan (SPP), which allows students to pay their semester fees in multiple equal payments rather than in one lump sum. The SPP program is managed by the Controller’s Office.

Students with prior semester debts may not be allowed to enroll in the Southeastern Payment Plan until such debts are paid. 

Because the SPP is not a loan, there will be no interest charged. The SPP requires payment of a $75 non-refundable processing fee and any outstanding balances are due by the fee payment deadline. Delinquent account balances and/or fines cannot be deferred. Examples of delinquencies are traffic fines, library fines, or any prior semester debts. These fees must be paid in addition to the down payment by the fee payment deadline.

The remaining balance is deferred into equal installment(s). It is the student’s responsibility to make the designated payments on the SPP. However, the student authorizes the University to apply any prepayment, credit (i.e. Financial Aid), student/parent loan, and/or payroll check (employee or student employee) to any outstanding debt to the University before these funds are issued to the student. Any funds remaining after the debt is satisfied will be refunded to the student or parent (depending upon the type of loan check) as appropriate.

Students may enroll in the plan online during registration through their Workday student account. Please refer to our website for instructions. 

For any questions regarding the SPP, students may contact the Accounts Receivable section of the Controller’s Office or e-mail: studentaccounts@southeastern.edu.

Students must follow University procedures when desiring to drop classes or to resign from the University. All published deadlines will apply. If the student moves from housing, discontinues use of meal plan, resigns or withdraws from the University, the student remains obligated to pay the remainder of any balance under this plan.

Any unpaid balance is subject to the same policy as any delinquent account.

Check Policy

For the convenience of students, the Controller’s Office will accept personal checks in payment of fees, room rent, etc. Two-party checks will not be honored except those from parent to student or legal guardian to student.

Before presenting a check to the Controller’s Office, the student should be certain that it is negotiable, displaying the student’s I.D. number (“W” number), properly signed, drawn on the bank in which the student has funds, and is properly endorsed. Paper checks returned from the payees’ bank will be presented twice by Southeastern’s fiscal agent (bank) before being returned to the University. Electronic checks are not presented twice before being returned to the University. If a student’s check is returned to the University for any reason, a handling charge of $15 will be assessed to the student’s account. If a student stops payment on a check presented to the Controller’s Office for any reason, the account will be assessed the $15 service fee and is subject to the same policy as any delinquent account.

Returned checks should be redeemed immediately. Returned checks must be redeemed by cash, credit card, cashier’s check or money order for the full amount. No partial payments shall be accepted for returned checks. Failure to redeem a returned check, plus a handling charge, after receiving notice will be considered a violation of rules 14 - “Violation of other published University policies, rules or regulations,” 15 - “Violation of federal, state, and/or local laws,” and 16 - “Failure to comply” of the Standards of Student Conduct. Students disciplined by the University for violating its Standards of Student Conduct may be required to answer to civil authorities for the same act. Any returned check not redeemed promptly will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office and will be charged an additional $10 fee plus any collection costs imposed by the District Attorney’s Office.

Students who submit one check for tuition and fees or three checks for cash which are returned to the University or who fail to redeem returned checks promptly will be denied check cashing privileges and be placed on a “cash only” basis for future transactions with the University. 

Delinquent Student Accounts

The University reserves the right to withhold services from anyone with a delinquent account in accordance with state and federal regulations. Services that are discontinued may include, but are not limited to, the following: transcripts, student grades, diplomas, registration, and deferment plans. This policy will be administered by the Controller’s Office and will include delinquent loans, delinquent receivables, NSF checks, etc., maintained within the Controller’s Office.

This policy will not prevent the student from receiving a priority registration appointment, but may block participation in the actual class selection process until the delinquent account is brought to a current status. In the event that priority registration is blocked, students will have to register during the open registration phase which normally starts the week following priority registration when the account is paid and the block has been removed.

The Controller’s Office is on a quarterly billing cycle in order to bill those students who have delinquent accounts. Cash, credit card, check electronic check, cashier’s check, or money order are acceptable forms of payment for these balances. 

Any student who has any questions about his or her outstanding accounts and/or delinquent accounts may contact the Accounts Receivables section of the Controller’s Office, or email studentaccounts@southeastern.edu.

Financial Responsibility Statement

Before registering for classes at Southeastern Louisiana University, all students are required to acknowledge the University’s Financial Responsibility Statement. This statement confirms that by registering for classes at Southeastern, the student becomes a party to a contract with Southeastern Louisiana University and expresses agreement to the terms and conditions set forth by this catalog.

The Financial Responsibility Statement reads as follows:

By registering for courses at Southeastern Louisiana University (“Southeastern”), you hereby acknowledge that you are entering into a contractual arrangement with Southeastern, whereby you agree to comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to your registration, payment of fees, enrollment and attendance. Included in the rules and regulations that comprise the terms and conditions of this contract are those contained in any Southeastern General Catalog in effect during the years of your enrollment.

In addition to reading, agreeing with and accepting all of the terms and conditions set forth in the Southeastern General Catalog, you must specifically acknowledge the following:

• All fees and other University expenses are due before classes begin.
• It is the student’s responsibility to cancel their registration by dropping all courses before classes begin if proper financial arrangements have not been made.
• The University reserves the right to withhold future services (registration, transcript request, diploma, etc.) to persons who have any outstanding obligations with the University.
• In the event that financial aid is reduced or canceled, or in the event the student has not met the specified requirements for receiving such aid, the student will become responsible for the full balance of outstanding charges.
• If payment is in the form of a check and the check is returned by the bank for any reason, a $15 service charge will be assessed to the student’s account. If the check is not redeemed promptly, the returned check may be submitted to the District Attorney’s office for collection. Upon transmittal for collection, the student will be responsible for a $10 fee in addition to any other collection costs imposed by the District Attorney’s office based on a percentage of the amount of the check.
• Students leaving Southeastern prior to the 60% point, officially or unofficially, in the semester are obligated to return the federal aid received for that semester proportionate to the student’s attendance. Failure to return that portion of federal aid received upon demand may result in the amount owed being transferred to the State of Louisiana Attorney General’s Office or other outside collection agency, for collection. Upon transmittal for collection, the student is responsible for collection/attorney’s fees in the amount of twenty-five per-cent (25%) of the unpaid debt, and all court costs.
• Any debt owed to the university as a result of the student’s failure to make required payments or failure to comply with the terms of the applicable program as governed by the Southeastern General Catalog will result in a violation of the terms and conditions of this contract. Failure to respond to demands for payment made by Southeastern may result in such debts being transferred to the State of Louisiana Attorney General’s Office or other outside collection agency, for collection. Upon transmittal for collection, the student is responsible for collection/attorney’s fees in the amount of thirty-three and one-third per-cent (33 1/3%) of the unpaid debt, and all court costs.

A student must accept this agreement by logging on to their Workday account. If a student has not accepted this statement before registering classes through their Workday account, the Financial Agreement page will automatically appear and must be accepted before registering classes. Any questions regarding the Financial Responsibility Statement should be directed to the Controller’s Office.

Student Residence Regulations

Because residence classification is an important part of fee determination, admission regulations, and other policies of the University, it is important that the University have fair and equitable regulations which can be administered consistently, respecting the interests of both the students and the taxpayers of Louisiana. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the University with such evidence as deemed necessary to establish his residence status.

The residence status shall be determined in accordance with board rules and shall be based upon evidence provided in the application for admission and related documents. Residence status shall be determined by the Admissions Office after the completed application for admission has been submitted. The rules shall be based primarily on the location of the home and the place of employment. Residence status may not be acquired by an applicant or student while residing in Louisiana for the primary purpose of attending school. Residence status, for fee purposes only, will be granted to non-resident graduate students registered for three semester hours or less and undergraduate students registered for six semester hours or less in any session, or all non-resident students enrolled in up to six semester hours of graduate or undergraduate courses offered through web-based instruction or other electronic instruction, when domiciled outside of the state of Louisiana and not enrolled in any other courses at the university. The following conditions may be used in determining residence status.

Definition of a Resident Student

A resident student for tuition purposes is defined as one who has abandoned all prior domiciles and has been domiciled in the State of Louisiana continuously for at least one full year (365 days) immediately preceding the first day of classes for the term for which residence classification is sought.

“Domicile,” as the term is used in the context of residence regulations, is defined as an individual’s true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation at which the individual remains when not called elsewhere for labor, studies, or for special or temporary purposes, and the place to which the individual returns after an absence. A non-resident student for tuition purposes is a student not eligible for classification as a resident.

The individual’s physical presence within this state for one year prior to admission must be associated with the substantial evidence that such presence was with the intent to maintain a Louisiana domicile. Physical presence within the state solely for educational purposes without substantial evidence of the intent to remain in Louisiana will not be sufficient for resident classification regardless of the length of time within the state.

The residence status shall be determined in accordance with Board rules and shall be based upon evidence provided in the application for admission and related documents. The Office of Admissions shall determine residence status after the completed application for admission has been submitted.

The rules shall be based primarily on the location of the home and place of employment. Residence status may not be acquired by an applicant or student while residing in Louisiana for the primary purpose of attending school. Residence status, for fee purposes only, will be granted to non- resident graduate students registered for three semester hours or less and undergraduate students registered for six semester hours or less in any session, or all non-resident students enrolled in up to six semester hours of graduate or undergraduate courses offered through web-based or other electronic instruction, when domiciled outside of the state of Louisiana and not enrolled in any other courses at the university.

1. An applicant living with his parents is classified as a resident if the parents have established a bona fide residence in Louisiana. Ordinarily, a parent is considered to have established a residence in Louisiana if he actually resides and is employed full-time in the State. A parent who is unable to be employed or who is a housewife may be considered to have established a residence in Louisiana if there is convincing evidence that the person continuously resides in Louisiana. If only one parent qualifies as a resident of Louisiana, the student shall be classified as a resident provided that student resides with the parent who is a resident of Louisiana. An individual, who resides in Louisiana and is employed full-time in another state, may be classified as a resident. In such case, appropriate documentary evidence shall be presented.
2. A student residing with his parents who enrolls as a nonresident shall be classified as a resident if his parents move to Louisiana and acquire residence as defined in these regulations.
3. A student may be declared a resident if either parent is a graduate of Southeastern. A student who graduates with an associate or higher degree may be classified as a resident for subsequent enrollment at Southeastern. (Applicable only to U.S. citizens).
4. A person may be classified as a resident of Louisiana at the end of twelve consecutive months of residence if he has been employed in Louisiana and if during that period he has not been registered in an educational institution for more than six semester hours or its equivalent in any semester. A person who is unable to be employed and who has not been registered in any educational institution for more than six semester hours or its equivalent in any semester may acquire residence in Louisiana if there is convincing evidence that he continuously resided in Louisiana for twelve consecutive months immediately preceding registration.
5. A student who is married to a Louisiana resident may acquire the residence status of his or her spouse.
6. A person who resides in Louisiana for at least two years, exclusive of military service, and then moves to another state or foreign country shall retain the right to enroll himself or any of his dependents as a resident for a period equal to the number of years he resided in Louisiana, but the right shall expire upon the person’s residing for a period of two years in another state or foreign country.
7. A member of the full-time armed forces (not reserve or guard) currently stationed in Louisiana and their dependents shall be classified as Louisiana residents. A serviceman who was stationed in Louisiana immediately prior to his release from active duty may enroll himself or his dependents as residents during a period not to exceed six months after the date of release provided that his term of active duty shall have been no less than 12 consecutive months.
8. A member of the full-time armed forces who was a resident of Louisiana immediately prior to entering the armed forces shall retain the right for himself or any of his dependents to be classified as a resident as long as he is in the armed forces and for a two-year period after leaving the armed forces.
9. A resident of Louisiana shall not lose the right to be classified as a resident during periods of employment in a foreign country.
10. An alien who has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence as an immigrant (proof of such status shall be possession of his Form I-151-Alien Registration Receipt Card or passport officially stamped “approved as resident alien”) and who has established residence under any of the foregoing provisions shall be declared a resident of the State.
11. Non-resident students who hold graduate assistantships may be classified as residents for fee purposes only and only for the duration of the graduate assistantship.

The University has a Residence Appeal process. Any student classified as a non-resident may appeal the classification to the Office of Admissions. The student should be prepared to supply documentation to substantiate any appeal.

Appeals Committee

A student’s residence status does not change automatically, and the burden rests with the student to file the appropriate documentation with the Director of Admissions, who is the chairman of the Residence Regulations Appeals Committee. To ensure completion of the reclassification action prior to fee payment deadline, the appropriate documentation should be filed with the Director of Admissions no later than three weeks prior to the fee payment deadline for that semester. Information received after that time may not be completed in time to ensure reclassification as a legal resident for fee payment purposes. Also, to be eligible for a refund of non-resident fees paid for a given semester, the documentation for non-resident reclassification must be filed no later than sixty (60) days into the semester for which the fees are applicable. Refund of non-resident fees will not be retroactively applied to prior semesters.

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. 38 U.S.C.3679(c)

Effective January 1, 2016, the following individuals shall be charged the in-state rate, or otherwise considered a resident, for tuition and fees purposes:

• A Veteran using educational assistance under either chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty Program) or chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill), of title 38, United States Code, who lives in the State of Louisiana while attending a school located in the State of Louisiana (regardless of their formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge or release from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the State of Louisiana while attending a school located in the State of Louisiana (regardless of their formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the transferor’s discharge or release from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in the State of Louisiana while attending school in the State of Louisiana (regardless of their formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L.116-315) Southeastern Louisiana University abides by Provision 1005 and provides in-state tuition to all Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, CH 30, CH 31,CH 33, and CH 35 recipients.

Title 38 Policy

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), Southeastern adopts the following provisions for students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits. To qualify for this provision, students may be required to:

• Produce the VA Certificate for Eligibility (COE) by the fee payment deadline;
• Provide a written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

While payment to the institution is pending from the VA, Southeastern will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.