The Cost of Higher Education
Dakota Wesleyan University is focused on delivering a quality education at an affordable price. While DWU represents real value in private liberal arts education in the world today, the cost of education still represents a huge investment for students and families. However, an investment in higher education is guaranteed to last a lifetime. Dakota Wesleyan is committed to working with all students and families to make their dreams of higher education financially attainable.

Educational Expenses 
Cost of Education Charge
This comprehensive charge includes tuition, lab fees, course fees, general fees, student association fees, matriculation and parking. Items not included in the cost of education charge include board, room, books and educational supplies, fines, applied music lessons, student insurance, nursing course fees, and a graduation fee.

Residential Living Charge
All students who are required to live in the residence halls will be assessed the appropriate residential living charge, which includes the meal plan of their choice and room costs as determined by double or single room occupancy. Students who are not required to live in the residence halls, but opt to do so, will have the choice of a double or single room and meal plans. The telephone hook-up fee is included in the residential living charge, but students must provide their own phones and pay personal phone bills directly to the telephone company. A refundable damage deposit is required from all students living in the residence halls.

Other Expenses
Students will need additional funds for books, supplies and personal expenses. Students enrolled in certain programs may also have to pay for uniforms, professional liability insurance, travel, art supplies or other miscellaneous items. For the average student these costs may range from $800 to $1,000 each academic year. Students may charge books and educational supplies to their student account after financial arrangements have been made with the business office. They may charge these items at the campus bookstore with a validated identification card during the first month of classes.

Returned Check Policy
Insufficient funds checks submitted to the university are subject to a $20 fee, which will be applied directly to the student account. In certain circumstances the university may also use a collection agency for the recovery of returned checks.

Nontraditional Credit Charges
A per hour fee and a test fee are assessed for some types of nontraditional credit. Nontraditional credits that are assessed the course fee include credit by examination and credit for learning.

Finalizing Registration
The academic year is divided into two regular semesters (fall and spring), and three summer sessions (May, June and July). Student registrations are not complete until the student finalizes each semester or session’s registration. Finalizing involves paying or making acceptable arrangements to pay all costs incurred by the registration and meeting all other administrative requirements. A student must finalize with the business office at the beginning of each semester or session. The business office and financial aid office are available to help students secure various grants, loans and scholarships to help meet university expenses. In order to obtain such financial assistance, applications for any of these programs should be made a minimum of 60 calendar days before the beginning of the semester or session with no interest accruing during the payment of the account. A late fee will be charged to students who do not finalize by the second day of classes.

Terms of Payment
When students finalize registration, the process may include signing promissory notes, endorsing financial award letters and paying any remaining balance. If student expenses are not paid in full at finalization, students are eligible to enroll in the DWU Tuition Financing Plan that allows students and/or their families to spread payments over the course of the academic year, for a fee. Automated Clearing House (ACH) is also available for automated payments before and during a given semester. Contact the business office at (605) 995-2693 for more details on payment options.

Payment in Full Policy
The receipt or transmission of academic transcripts, the granting of degrees and participation in Commencement exercises are contingent upon the full payment of all financial commitments due to the university.

Financing Options
While the primary responsibility for financing an education lies with students and families, Dakota Wesleyan University is committed to providing the best in student financial assistance and services to help make the attainment of higher education affordable and accessible. The business office and financial aid office provide for a range of services, including helping families maximize their financial resources; providing guidance in obtaining federally sponsored loans, as well as alternative loans; and facilitating an understanding of the eligibility requirements and processes for receiving need or merit-based scholarships and grants.

Dakota Wesleyan has two primary sources of funding for students: federal financial aid and institutional aid. DWU prides itself on having one of the largest endowment and institutional aid pools for students in the state. All academic, activity and need-based grant awards require a minimum enrollment of 12 credits for each term the award is appropriated (e.g., $1,000/year requires 12 credits for fall – $500 appropriation and 12 credits for spring – $500 appropriation).

Institutional awards will be revoked when a student’s enrollment falls below the enrolled credit minimum eligibility standard. Under no circumstance may the total of institutionally funded academic, athletic, activity and need-based grant awards exceed the full-time tuition.

Other Information
Identification Card
New students will receive a permanent identification card from the campus life office. Identification cards are required at the business office when students finalize registration. Students must have valid ID cards in order to use the library, to use the dining hall, to charge books and educational supplies at the bookstore, and to attend athletic or other university events. Replacement ID cards are available from the campus life office.

Drop and Withdrawal
If students decide not to attend classes after finalizing their registration at the business office, they must follow the drop procedures outlined in "Academic Regulations." All remaining amounts due to the university are payable immediately and subject to normal collection procedures.

Refund Policy for Withdrawals from All Courses
Students who withdraw from all courses during the semester should initiate the withdrawal process at the campus life office, where an appropriate form for honorable dismissal is issued and an exit interview held. In order for the withdrawal to be official, the form must be completed, approved by the business office and financial aid office, and submitted to the registrar’s office. Failure to withdraw officially results in grades of F being issued and no refunds being made.

An administrative withdrawal fee will be assessed to students who withdraw. The fee will not exceed the lesser of 5 percent of the cost of education charge, residential living charge and fees, or $100.

Institutional Refund Policy
First-time Student Refund
Dakota Wesleyan University has established a pro rata refund policy for students who are attending DWU for the first time, regardless of their grade level. Only students who withdraw after the 60 percent point in time are exempt from the policy. The refund will not be less than the portion of institutional charges assessed equal to the attendance (rounded down to the nearest 10 percent); minus the unpaid student charges and a reasonable administrative fee (the lesser of 5 percent of the institutional charges or $100). The remaining enrollment period is calculated as:

Refunds of cost of education charges, residential living charges and other fees (based on a 16- or 17-week semester) are calculated as shown below:

Continuing Student Refund Policy
All Other Student Refunds
Refunds of cost of education charges, residential living charges and other fees are calculated as shown below:

Summer Session Refund
This applies to the same costs as during the academic year:

If a student is a first-time student during the summer, Dakota Wesleyan University will calculate the refund according to the first-time student refund policy listed previously.

Return of Title IV Funds
Students who have withdrawn from Dakota Wesleyan University who are receiving Title IV and non-Title IV Financial Aid funds for payment of their institutional charges are subject to a review to determine if there has been an overpayment. If an overpayment exists, a repayment of financial aid funds is required. The student withdrawal date is determined using one of the following: 1) initiation of the institutional withdrawal procedure; or 2) the date the institution determines the student withdrew (i.e., last date of attendance). Once the date of withdrawal is determined, the amount of earned Title IV aid is calculated using the completion rate for the enrollment period, multiplied by the total aid that was disbursed or could have been disbursed (aid “could have been disbursed” if the student was eligible to receive it at the time he/she withdrew and may receive it under late disbursement rules in 668.164 [g]). Students who withdraw after completing 60 percent of the enrollment period will be considered to have earned 100 percent of their Title IV aid. A period of enrollment is the academic period established by the school for which institutional charges are generally assessed, excluding breaks of five days or more. Title IV Financial Aid that a student has earned can be applied toward institutional charges.

Institutional Refund Calculations
All institutional grants, scholarships, and activity and athletic awards will be prorated upon withdrawal in direct proportion to the percentage charged as outlined in the refund policy. Check with the financial aid office and business office.