How will semester conversion affect tuition?

Will annual tuition be higher because of semesters?

What will tuition be for the 2012-2013 academic year?

How will the transition to semesters affect tuition billing?

Will semester conversion affect the billing cycle?

Will there be a change in the payment plan option for semesters?

How do I get on a monthly payment plan?

How do I check my bill?

Will the amount of annual financial aid provided change due to the change to a semester calendar?

How will financial aid be distributed in the semester system?

Will semester conversion affect the availability or eligibility for financial aid for a student?

How many credits are necessary to be considered a full-time student under semesters?

What will be the credit-hour overload policy for the semester system?

How many hours must a student have to be eligible for a student loan under the semester system?

Will the Satisfactory Academic Progress review timeline (necessary to receive financial aid) change?

Will lock-in dates for financial aid change?

How can I find more information on Financial Aid and Scholorships?

What will my bill look like under semesters?

How can I summarize financial matters and semester conversion easily for myself or to someone else with questions? 

How will semester conversion affect tuition?

While the annual amount of tuition will not increase due to semester conversion, the billing amount will generally be divided into two semester payments rather than three quarter payments.  Currently, tuition payments are due ten days before the start of each quarter term.  Under the semester system, tuition payments will be due ten days before the start of the semester term.  Financial-aid distribution dates will remain as they are now - ten days prior to the start of the term.  This is the case on quarters and will remain the case under semesters.  Thus, billing and finacial-aid distribution dates will remain in sync, as is the case now. 

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Will annual tuition be higher because of semesters?

No, annual tuition costs will not rise due to conversion to a semester calendar.  (The university however, may implement annual tuition increases as deemed necessary and authorized by the Board of Trustees.)

However, the billing and payment cycles will change.

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What will the tuition be for the 2012-2013 academic year?

No one can answer what annual tuition costs will be in future years.  The university Board of Trustees typically votes in the spring of each year, setting the tuition for the following academic year.  So, UC's board would be expected to vote in spring 2012 on annual tuition for the 2012-13 academic year. 

Some years, there is no annual tuition increase.  In other years, tuition increases are required, often due to cuts in state support for education in Ohio when university cost containment (layoffs, hiring freezes, etc.) are not sufficient to absorb state cuts. 

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How will the transition to semesters affect tuition billing?

While the annual amount of tuition will not increase due to semester conversion, the annual amount will generally be divided into two semester payments rather than three quarter payments. 

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Will semester conversion affect the billing cycle?

Currently tuition payments are due ten days before the start of the quarter term.  Under the semester system, tuition payments will also be due ten days before the semester term.  Again, there will be two annual billing transactions for most students under semesters vs. three for quarters.

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Will there be a change in the payment plan option for semesters?

Currently, in quarters, payment plans spread your payments over three months.  Once semesters begin, the payment plan will spread over four months as seen here. 

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How to I get on a monthly payment plan?

If you are interested in a monthly payment plan, please go to:  www.uc.edu/af/bursar/paying_your_bill/payment_plans.html

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How do I check my bill?

You can check your bill online at onestop.uc.edu/click My Bill, View/Pay.

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Will the amount of annual financial aid provided change due to the change to a semester calendar? 

No.  Annual financial aid will continue to be awarded based on Expected Family Contribution (EF) as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student air (FAFSA).  It will be distributed according to the semester calendar vs. the quarter calendar.  See Below.

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How will financial aid be distributed in the semester system?

On the quarter system, financial aid awards are made three times a year, typically in fall, winter and spring terms, with federal, state and institutional aid distributed ten days prior to the first day of the quarter.  In the semester system, financial aid awards will be distributed twice a year, typically the fall and spring terms, again ten days prior to the start of the semester. 

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Will semester conversion affect the availability or eligibility for financial aid for a student? 

No, the availability of financial aid is dependent on Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the Free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

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How many credits are necessary to be considered a full-time student under semesters?

An undergraduate student must be registered for 12 semester credit hours to be considered a full-time student. 

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What will the credit-hour overload policy for the semester system be?

The present course overload policy for quarters will remain in effect under semesters.  An additional per-credit-hour fee will be assessed for enrolled hours that exceed eighteen (18) semester hours.

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How many hours must a student have to be eligible for a student loan under the semester system?

As is already the case under quarters, a student must be enrolled for at least six semester credit hours per term to be eligible for several types of students loans.  To see how part-time status affect student loan and other eligibility, vist http://financialaid.uc.edu/fees/part-time.html.  Some aid programs are available only to students who are full time.  This is the case, whether a school follows a quarter or a semester calendar system.  

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Will the Satisfactory Academic Progress review timeline (necessary to recieve financial aid) change?

The policy will remain the same, at the end of the spring quarter of each year, the academic records of all students who are receiving financial aid will be reviewed.  The only difference is that the spring semester will end earlier, so that the review will take place approximately a month earlier, or in early June (instead of late June/early July).

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Will lock in dates for financial aid change? 

No.  The financial aid lock-in date, based on the student's registration, will continue to take place on the 15th day of the term.  This is the case currently on quarters and will remain the case under semesters. 

•  See more on  semester conversion and money matters on page 24 of the Semester Conversion Student guide (link to: http://www.uc.edu/conversion)
  

• See other FAQs related to semester conversion at:  http://www.uc.edu/conversion/faqs.html
  

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How can I find more information on Financial Aid and Scholarships?

http://financialaid.uc.edu/eligibility/semesters.html

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What will my bill look like under semesters?

To calculate the semester tuition, annual tuition fees will generally be divided into two semester payments rather than three quarter payments. 

Below are samples of a semester bill.  The sample bills do not reflect actual 2012-13 tuition and fees. The listed figures were calculated using the 2011-12 annual tuition costs plus a possible tuition increase for the 2012-13 year of 3.5%. In spring 2012, the UC Board of Trustees will determine the actual tuition costs for the 2012-13 academic year.  

• Blue Ash Campus Sample Bill
• Clermont College Sample Bill
• Uptown Campus Undergraduate Sample Bill
• Undergraduate Distance Learning Sample Bill
• Graduate Program Sample Bill
• Special Fee Program (MBA) Sample Bill
  

Currently, tuition payments are due 10 days before the start of each quarter term. Under the semester system, tuition payments will also be due 10 days before the start of the semester term.

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How can I summarize financial matters and semester conversion easily for myself or to someone else with questions? 

http://www.uc.edu/conversion/current_students/money.html