Charges

Tuition pays for considerably less than the true cost of a Whitman education, with the remainder provided by income from the college’s endowment and by gifts from alumni and other friends of the college. In effect, then, these revenue sources provide a partial scholarship to all students, regardless of whether they receive financial aid.

Whitman reserves the right to adjust its charges, though charges effective at the beginning of a semester will not be changed during that semester.

Summary of Charges

Charges for a two-semester year at Whitman, for a student living in a residence hall, are:

Additional course fees, the cost of private music lessons, and personal expenses will vary from student to student. At Whitman and in the Walla Walla community, costs of social, recreational, and extracurricular activities tend to be relatively modest. The inclusive budget — that is, a typical budget for a student taking advantage of all customary types of college activity — is about $54,086 a year.

Payment of Charges

Charges are due and payable prior to the beginning of each semester; mid-August for the fall semester and early January for the spring semester. Charges must be paid in full or arrangements completed for a deferred payment plan before students may officially enroll in classes at the college.

Full Payment: All charges, net of financial aid, must be paid by cash or check to the Business Office. Beginning in July of 2012, we hope to add an online electronic payment option, as well as a pay-by-phone option. Please see the Business Office website for current information.

Deferred payment plan: You may choose the deferred payment plan if you maintain a good payment history with the college. Each semester you may defer your tuition, room, and board charges, making four deferred payments. There is a $25 per semester enrollment fee. All unpaid balances, covered by the deferred payment agreements, will be assessed finance charges equivalent to 7 percent per year. Failure to make deferred payments on a timely basis may result in the loss of the opportunity to establish a payment plan in future semesters. For more information, contact the Business Office — Student Accounts.

Student Account: Whitman College issues statements monthly on the charges and credits to the student’s account. All unpaid balances will be assessed finance charges equivalent to 1 percent per month. It is the student’s responsibility to be knowledgeable about and to remain current in payment for charges to his or her account. Enrollment in classes may be denied for failure to keep current on college or Greek organization accounts.

Transcripts for academic work done at Whitman will not be provided if there is an account balance owed to the college or a Greek organization. Whitman College uses a collection agency to collect delinquent accounts and these costs may be added to the debt at the time it is referred to the collection agency. When appropriate, information concerning such past due accounts will be provided to credit bureaus.

Tuition

Regular full tuition charges will be applied to all students unless they are auditing classes or have been granted special student status by the Dean of Students. Tuition charges include benefits such as access to the Health Center and other student programs but does not include course fees or other class specific charges as indicated elsewhere.

Full tuition (per semester): $20,895

Special tuition (per credit, up to 8 credits per semester): $1,741. This does not provide for regular student programs, course fees, etc. (see “Special students” and “Nondegree-seeking students” under Classification of Students in the Academics section of the Catalog).

Auditor’s tuition; per credit: $871

Resident Meal Plan Options

Whitman College has contracted with Bon Appétit to oversee campus food service. Bon Appétit’s staff, including an executive chef, serve healthy high-quality food and beverages in a warm, friendly environment. Students may make changes to their meal plans until the first Friday after classes start each semester.

At Whitman, living in a residence hall also creates a requirement that a student be on a meal plan. Only residents of Community Service House, College House, and juniors or seniors living in Marcus House are permitted to live in campus housing and not be on a meal plan. Four semesters of on-campus living are required.

Meal plans start when students are first allowed into their rooms and are not active when college is not in session.

Plans A, B, and C are each designed to provide more than enough meals and food for the typical college student. Any plan may be enhanced with extra Flex dollars for those who expect to want more meals during hours that the dining halls are closed, are accustomed to late-night snacking, or anticipate heavy use of the Espresso Carts. Please note for meal planning purposes that the fall semester usually has 111 board days, and the spring semester usually has 112. Meal plans may only be changed through the first week of classes.

Plan A: The Ultimate Flex Block Plan

160 meals plus $500 Flex dollars per semester, available to all students, designed especially for athletes, debaters, choir members, and other students with commitments during regular meal hours ($2,950 per semester). The Ultimate Flex Block Plan allows you to eat any 160 dining hall meals (Prentiss, Jewett, and Lyman dining halls) out of the approximately 330 meals offered over the course of the semester. This averages out to about 10 dining hall meals per week. In addition, the plan includes $500 Flex dollars, which may be spent in the dining halls, Café ’66, Café ’41 in the library, or the Espresso Cart.

Meals may only be used for the benefit of the cardholder and are not transferable to others. Flex dollars, but not meals, remaining at the end of the fall semester will carry over to spring, but both meals and Flex dollars remaining at the end of spring will not carry over to the next semester and are not refundable. Students who wish to eat more meals or buy more food in the Café may add additional Flex dollars in increments of $50.

Two optional additions to the Ultimate Flex Block Plan are:

Plan A with $650 Flex: 160 meals per semester plus $650 Flex dollars per semester ($3,100 per semester).

Plan A with $800 Flex: 160 meals per semester plus $800 Flex dollars per semester ($3,250 per semester).

Plan B: The Flex Block Plan

220 meals plus $150 Flex dollars per semester, available to all students ($2,840 per semester). The Flex Block Plan allows you to eat any 220 dining hall meals (Prentiss, Jewett, and Lyman dining halls) out of the approximately 330 meals offered over the course of the semester. This averages out to about two meals per day, or about 14 dining hall meals per week. In addition, the plan includes $150 Flex dollars, which may be spent in the dining halls, Café ’66, Café ’41 in the library, or the Espresso Cart.

Meals may only be used for the benefit of the cardholder and are not transferable to others. Flex dollars, but not meals, remaining at the end of the fall semester will carry over to spring, but both meals and Flex dollars remaining at the end of spring will not carry over to the next semester and are not refundable. Students who wish to eat more meals or buy more food in the Café may add additional Flex dollars in increments of $50.

Two optional additions to the Flex Block Plan are:

Plan B with $300 Flex: 220 meals per semester plus $300 Flex dollars per semester ($2,990 per semester).

Plan B with $450 Flex: 220 meals per semester plus $450 Flex dollars per semester ($3,140 per semester).

Plan C: The Traditional Plan

21 meals per week, available to all students ($2,840 per semester). The Traditional Plan provides you with access to 21 meals per week in Prentiss, Jewett, and Lyman dining halls (about 330 meals per semester). While the plan’s 21 meals per week may be used only in these locations, the Traditional Plan may be supplemented with Flex dollars in $50 increments. A student may eat at other campus locations, such as Café ’66 or enter a dining hall more than once during the same period only if Flex dollars are added to the Traditional Plan. Meals may only be used for the benefit of the cardholder and are not transferable to others.

Two optional additions to the Traditional Plan are:

Plan C with $150 Flex: 21 meals per week plus $150 Flex dollars ($2,990 per semester).

Plan C with $300 Flex: 21 meals per week plus $300 Flex dollars ($3,140 per semester).

Plan D: The North Hall Block Plan

160 meals per semester, available only to third- and fourth-year students and to residents of North Hall ($2,190 per semester). The North Hall Block Plan is restricted to students living in North Hall, or those who have already completed their college residency requirements and choose to remain in campus housing where a meal plan is required. This plan allows you to eat any 160 dining hall meals (Prentiss, Jewett, and Lyman dining halls) out of the approximately 330 meals offered over the course of the semester.

Meals may only be used for the benefit of the cardholder and are not transferable to others. Flex dollars, but not meals, remaining at the end of the fall semester will carry over to spring, but both meals and Flex dollars remaining at the end of spring will not carry over to the next semester and are not refundable. Students who wish to eat more meals or buy more food in the Café may add additional Flex dollars in increments of $50.

Two optional additions to the North Hall Block Plan are:

Plan D with $150 Flex: 160 meals per semester plus $150 Flex dollars ($2,340 per semester).

Plan D with $300 Flex: 160 meals per semester plus $300 Flex dollars ($2,490 per semester).

Plan E: The Tamarac House Flex Plan

A minimum of $1,100 Flex dollars per semester available only to Tamarac House residents. This is the base meal plan required for all residents of Tamarac House. All other resident meal plans also are available.

Nonresident Meal Options

Nonresident students may purchase any of the resident meal plans and also have the additional option which follows:

Flex Dollars

A minimum of $50 Flex dollars, available only to off-campus students.

A Flex-dollar-only plan is only for students who are not required to purchase any of the plans above (and choose not to do so). Flex dollars are charged to your student account. The Flex dollars from this plan may be used at any dining hall, Café ’66, Café ’41 in the library, and the Espresso Cart. Additional Flex dollars may be purchased in increments of $50. Flex dollars may be purchased at: www.whitman.edu/bon_appetit. Flex dollars remaining at the end of fall semester will carry over to spring, but Flex dollars remaining at the end of spring will not carry over and are not refundable.

Flex Dollars and Discounts

A major benefit of Flex dollars is that they are not subject to the 8.7 percent Washington State sales tax. In addition, if you use Flex dollars to purchase “all you can eat” meals in Prentiss, Jewett, and Lyman dining halls, you will be charged a special discounted Flex dollar price:

Breakfast:

• Retail Cash or Student Charge price $8 (including tax)
• Flex dollar discount price $7— You save $1

Lunch:

• Retail Cash or Student Charge price $10.50 (including tax)
• Flex dollar discount price $8.50 — You save $2

Dinner:

• Retail Cash or Student Charge price $12.50 (including tax)
• Flex dollar discount price $9.50 — You save $3

Adding Flex Dollars to Existing Meal Plans

If you subscribe to any of the meal plans, you may make additional deposits of Flex dollars anytime during the semester. Additional deposits, in $50 increments, will be charged to your student account. Flex dollars may be purchased at: www.whitman.edu/bon_appetit. Flex dollars remaining at the end of fall semester will carry over to spring, but Flex dollars remaining at the end of spring will not carry over to the next semester and are not refundable.

Room

Due to the nature of our residential college, all single undergraduate students who are under 21 years of age at the start of each semester or have not yet lived on campus for four semesters are required to live on campus.

For new students, rooms are reserved at the time the enrollment deposit is paid. There is no housing deposit. A student who moves off campus in violation of the college residential living policy will be charged a minimum of 60 percent of the applicable semester’s room and board rate plus any other appropriate charges.

Returning students who have reserved a room during housing selection for the following semester and who do not accept their housing assignment, will be charged $300. The only exceptions to this charge are those students who will not be enrolled at the college for the semester; e.g., transferring, study abroad, leave of absence.

Students who will be gone from campus fall semester need to notify the Residence Life Office by June 23.

The charge made for rooms does not permit the student the use of room accommodations during the recesses of the college year when the buildings are closed.

Standard room rate in Anderson, Douglas, North, Marcus, Jewett, Lyman, Prentiss, and the Interest Houses, each student, per semester: $2,440

Single occupancy of a room in any residence hall, per semester: $3,080

Room rate in College House each student, per semester: $2,820

Premium Rooms: When available, students may select double rooms as singles. When this occurs, the student will be charged $150 above the single room rate. If the college finds it necessary to use the additional space in such a room, the student will be refunded, on a prorated basis, any charges above the standard room rate.

Deposits and Application Fees

Application Fee (see Admission Credentials in the Admission section of the Catalog): $50. Due when application is made and nonrefundable.

Enrollment Deposit (see Admission Provisions in the Admission section of the Catalog): $300. Due from new students upon notice of acceptance by the Admission Committee and refundable upon graduation or withdrawal from Whitman. Failure to pay the deposit by the date stipulated in the letter of admission will result in the cancellation of the student’s offer of admission to the college.

I.D. Card (on replacement): $15

Health Center Fees (see Health Service)

There is no charge to students for basic medical, nursing, or overnight care at the Health Center. However, laboratory studies, X-rays, and physician visits made at outside facilities are the student’s responsibility. The Health Center services are available to all degree-seeking students. The college will charge for all physical examinations for overseas study, Peace Corps, or other institutions. The college will charge for prescription medicines, laboratory tests done in the center, and services provided above those normally available.

There is a separate fee for the Whitman College student insurance plan that can be waived once proof of insurance has been provided to the Health Center (see “Accident and Health Insurance”).

Associated Student Government Fee (Mandatory)

Full-time, on-campus student, per semester: $168

Off-Campus Study Fee

Off-Campus Study Fee (per semester): $500

Fee is applicable to both study abroad and U.S.-based Partner Programs and is due upon submission of application for off-campus study. The fee is nonrefundable, unless the student is denied admission into the off-campus program.

In 2012-13 students attending off-campus studies programs pay the fees of the program they are attending in addition to Whitman’s $500 per semester Off-Campus Studies Fee. Please note that the fees for study abroad/off-campus studies will be changing effective Fall 2013 and will be based on Whitman tuition plus the off-campus study program’s room and board fees. For details, please see the OCS website at www.whitman.edu/content/ocs/2013.

Institutional Refund Policy

Refunds will be awarded only in the case of approved withdrawals (described in the Academics, Withdrawals section of the catalog) from the college. The refund schedule below applies to tuition and fee charges, applied music, and other fee courses. A student who moves from a residence hall after the semester begins, or fails to move into a room reserved for second semester, will be refunded room charges for the smaller of 40 percent or that determined by the refund schedule below. Board charges will be prorated on a weekly basis as of the date of withdrawal, except for a minimum charge of $100 per semester.

The percentage of charges refunded is based on the passage of total days of instruction commencing with the official first day of classes for the semester on through to the date of official withdrawal.

• The first day of instruction: 100%
• Day two through day 11: 80%
• Day 12 through day 16: 60%
• Day 17 through day 21: 40%
• Day 22 through day 26: 20%
• After day 26: No refund

Federal Student Aid Refund Policy

To determine the amount of funds that must be refunded to federal student aid programs, the institution must determine the percentage of time the student has been in attendance during the semester. The maximum amount of time a student may attend classes and have funds returned to any of the federal programs is 60 percent.

The calculation for the return of federal student aid funds to the programs is completely separate from the calculation of charges and refunds with regard to Whitman scholarship. The following is an example of how the college would calculate the percentage of refund and the amounts to be returned to each program.

Jane, a sophomore, last attended class on October 21. She has attended 52 days of classes, and the percentage of her charges will be 52 percent (total number of days attended, 52, divided by the total number of days in the semester, 100). The amount of the refund (total costs for the semester less actual charges) is then 48 percent.

The funds that are to be returned to the various programs must be returned in a certain order. The following is a list of federal programs, in order of refund.

1.  Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
2.  Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
3.  Federal Perkins Loan
4.  Federal PLUS Loan
5.  Federal Pell Grants
6.  Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
7.  Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
8.  Other federal, state, private, or institutional sources of aid
9.  The student

For students who receive Washington State Need Grant, refunds are calculated independently of federal aid. If the last date of attendance occurs after 50 percent of the term, the state grant award is considered 100 percent earned and no refund is necessary. Grant refunds are prorated according to the state’s Grant Repayment Calculator for withdraws occurring before the 50 percent mark.

In this example, the college would not reduce the amount of the student’s nonfederal scholarship. The college’s Institutional Refund Policy would govern the return of nonfederal funds.