Navigating Broward College Tuition: Payment Plans and Financial Aid Options

For many, the dream of higher education can feel financially daunting. Broward College recognizes these challenges and offers various tuition payment plans and financial aid options to make education accessible and affordable. By understanding these options, students can effectively manage their tuition costs and focus on their academic success.

Tuition Payment Plans: An Affordable Path

Broward College, in partnership with Nelnet Business Solutions, provides tuition payment plans designed to break down tuition balances into manageable monthly installments. This allows students to pay for tuition and fees over time, rather than in a single lump sum.

Key Features of Broward College's Tuition Payment Plans

Monthly Payments: Tuition payment plans break down your tuition balance into affordable monthly payments. The exact amount varies depending on tuition fees and the down payment amount.
No Credit Check: Contact us to find out how you can get started in your career program today with no credit check and no interest.
Enrollment Fee: If an enrollment fee is due, the amount of the fee is indicated when setting up your agreement (typically $45). If applicable, the nonrefundable Nelnet enrollment fee will be automatically processed within 14 days of the agreement being posted to the Nelnet system.
0% Interest: NOTE: 0% interest payment plans are available to all students.
Down Payment: Plans range from a zero to 50% down payment with 2 to 4 monthly payments automatically processed on the 20th of each month.
Nominal Enrollment Fee: A nominal non-refundable enrollment fee is due at the time of enrollment in the tuition payment plan, $5 of the enrollment fee is being collected on behalf of the institution.
Payment Due Date: Payment is due by the 20th of each month.

Important Considerations

Enrollment Deadline: The tuition payment plan is only available until the day before the term starts. Enrollment periods are limited and typically close approximately one week prior to the start of Session I each term so enroll early!
Balance Adjustments: Please do not assume your balance will automatically be adjusted if financial aid is received, or a class is dropped or added. For balance adjustments to your payment plan, please follow the steps to sign-up above to review your agreement and review any changes to your agreement amount.
Agreement Adjustments: If you drop or add classes or receive financial aid or other tuition coverage, your tuition payment plan agreement amount will automatically be adjusted within the set enrollment dates scheduled by Nelnet Campus Commerce. The time frame in which increases may be made to plans are limited to the start of the enrollment period to the end of the enrollment period. Therefore, the very last day to increase the agreement amount is usually the day before the start of the term. However, the last day to decrease is approximately 30 days after the start of the term. Please be aware of these dates as you drop and add classes once the term starts.
Termination: You may request to terminate your agreement by contacting your institution directly.
Multiple Terms: Students may enroll in a tuition payment plan for any term at Broward College; however, a new plan is required each term.
Payment Processing: Payments are processed on the 20th of each month and will continue for the duration of the selected monthly option until the balance is paid in full.

How to Enroll

Broward College has partnered with Nelnet Business Solutions to offer a tuition installment plan to help students afford the cost of their education. Students may enroll in a tuition payment plan for any term at BC, however, a new plan is required each term.

Financial Aid: Grants, Loans, Work-Study, and Scholarships

Student Financial Services departments include the Financial Aid Office, Bursar, and Credit and Collections areas. These departments provide assistance to Broward College students who can benefit from furthering their education but cannot afford to attend school without financial support.

Types of Financial Aid

Broward College offers a range of financial aid options, including grants, loans, work-study programs, and scholarships.

Grants: Grants are funds provided by the federal and state government and are generally awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Pell Grants have a Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU). Students have the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters of Federal Pell Grant eligibility. The duration of a student’s eligibility includes all semesters that a student received Federal Pell Grant funding.
Loans: Loans are financial assistance that must be repaid with interest. Often repayment is deferred while students are enrolled in a minimum of six or more credit hours. In some cases, the federal government pays the interest while the student is in school. Eligibility for Federal Direct Subsidized Loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2021 is limited to 150 percent of the published length of the academic program.
Work-Study: Work-study programs provide on and off campus part-time jobs for students to earn part of their college expenses while gaining valuable job experience.
Scholarships: Scholarships are funded by Broward College, the Broward College Foundation or generous private donors or organizations. Each scholarship has its own criteria and does not require repayment. For more information, go online to Broward College Scholarships. Where applicable, students must have a completed financial aid file (FAFSA and all requested documents).

Applying for Financial Aid

To be considered for the maximum aid available, students must apply for financial aid as early as possible. Financial aid applications must be submitted each year.

FAFSA: Do not let filing the FAFSA overwhelm you. Get assistance from a Financial Aid Specialist. We are here to help current and future students.
Red Flags: Any required documents are reflected as a “Red Flag,” and it is the responsibility of the student to confirm exactly which forms/documents need to be submitted to complete the financial aid process. In such instances, the student would have to pay out of pocket and await reimbursement (if eligible) or risk being withdrawn from their classes.
SAI: Your Student Aid Index (SAI) will be included in the FSS. Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based index number ranging from -1500 to 999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need.
Application Status: Before your financial aid can be processed, students must fulfill all outstanding requirements. Log in to myBC and check the Financial Aid 'Application Status' page to review your red flags and how to resolve them. Once your financial aid is processed, you will be able to see your awards on your myBC account under the 'Awards' page.
Enrollment Status: Student aid is based on hours of enrollment: 1 to 5 credits (less than half time), 6 to 8 credits (half time), 9 to 11 credits (three-quarter time), or 12 credits or more (full-time). You should only enroll in classes necessary to complete your degree and only enroll in the number of credits that you can successfully complete for the term. If you are uncertain about your desired major or classes, you should see a Broward College academic advisor.

Bright Futures Scholarship

Florida Bright Futures Scholarships are merit-based funds available to students seeking postsecondary education in Florida. Students must meet eligibility requirements while in high school and must also notify the state at which school they would like to receive their funding. Students must apply during their last year in high school (after December 1 and before graduation) for Bright Futures eligibility. Students who received a Bright Futures award and drop or withdraw from courses will be responsible for reimbursing the postsecondary institution for the cost of the course(s) dropped or withdrawn. The minimum GPA to remain eligible to receive Bright Futures is determined by the State and is based on the Bright Futures program from which funds have been awarded. If a student does not meet annual renewal requirements, they can appeal in cases of a verifiable illness or circumstances beyond the student’s control. The student must provide an explanation along with documentation related to the mitigating circumstances for the term(s) in question. An appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the ineligibility notice sent to the student or by the institution’s deadline which is April 30th of the year following the loss of eligibility.

Program Objective Enrollment Compliance (POEC)

A Program Objective Enrollment Compliance (POEC) review is required for every student seeking federal student aid. Classes that are identified as not required to fulfill the degree requirements for graduation, or not part of the degree program, will be flagged as such, and excluded from financial aid coverage, i.e. any coursework that is not recognized as being required will be excluded when calculating eligibility for Title IV funds (Pell Grant, Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, etc.). Students who qualify for aid, which exceeds the actual cost of their compliant coursework, may be able to apply that difference to non-compliant classes.

Refunds

If there are excess funds after a student’s tuition, fees, books, and supplies for a term have been covered, a refund will be generated and sent to the student. These excess funds are disbursed to the student via direct deposit through Bank Mobile once the 100 Percent Refund Date has passed and attendance is confirmed by the instructor(s). Students must ensure they sign up for direct deposit with Bank Mobile through their myBC portal. If a student is enrolled in multiple sessions, their refund amount may be split into multiple checks and disbursed after the 100 percent refund period has passed for each session.

Additional Financial Considerations

Beyond payment plans and financial aid, several other factors can influence the overall cost of attending Broward College.

Textbook Costs

The campus bookstores are owned and operated by Barnes & Noble. To be successful, it is important to plan to have your textbooks and materials by the first day of class. You may visit your campus’s bookstore to purchase your materials or use Barnes & Noble's online ordering platform. If you have financial aid in excess of your tuition and fees after you have been awarded, you will be provided $60 per credit hour to use at the bookstore. Course registration is required before you can use financial aid at the bookstore and students who would like to use Federal Financial Aid must submit authorization prior to visiting the campus bookstore. To submit the bookstore authorization, please log in to your myBC account and locate my financial tab. Select financial authorization and answer the questions. Please allow 3-4 hours after course registration or after completing the bookstore authorization before using your Financial Aid funds to purchase your coursework materials. Broward College has partnered with Barnes & Noble to offer the First Day Access Textbook Saving Program providing digital course materials included as an additional course charge for a particular course or program. If you have financial aid in excess of your tuition, fees, and other Bookstore purchases, your charges will be covered.

Third Attempt Courses

A higher education course attempted three or more times is considered a third attempt (3rd attempt). Broward College charges a higher tuition rate for 3rd attempt courses. In-state on-campus or online tuition fees are charged at a rate of $245.17 per credit hour for courses taken three or more times (3rd attempt). However, the on-campus out-of-state tuition fee per credit hour remains unchanged for courses taken less than or more than three times. Third attempt tuition for out-of-state online courses includes the per credit hour 'Out-of-State Tuition Fee,' which is the difference between the in-state 3rd attempt per credit hour fee and the total of the in-state per credit hour tuition fee plus the differential per credit hour tuition fee.

Residency Status

Resident status, for tuition purposes, is defined by Florida Statutes 1009.21 and determined by the Registrar's Office upon admission to the College. Students who qualify for a new resident status can apply for a change before the first day of the term.

Special Fees

Additional special fees are charged for some courses and laboratories. Health Science students: There are additional costs related to the Health Science programs which include but are not limited to the cost of medical/physical examinations, liability insurance, a background check, a drug screening test, uniform purchases, etc. The College, through Continuing Education and other academic departments, offers noncredit courses, seminars, and workshops designed to meet the needs of citizens of all ages who reside in Broward County. Special brochures and bulletins are developed and distributed covering the specifics of each course. These documents become supplements to the official catalog and contain special fees and special charges associated with each course.

Parking & Transportation Fee

All students will be assessed a parking and transportation access fee as part of their schedule which will allow them to receive a parking decal for use at any BC campus or center for the term paid. Students who receive the following 100% fee exemptions are eligible to receive a parking decal (Foster Child, High School Dual enrollee, Early Admission, Child of Deceased Fire Fighter, Homeless, India Program, Singapore Program, Child of Deceased Law Enforcement Personnel).

Read also: Funding Your Education in Broward

Florida Prepaid Program

Students who are plan participants in good standing may apply for their Florida Prepaid coverage via the web. The first time a student logs on each term, a web screen will alert the student that Florida Prepaid coverage is available. From this screen, the student may opt to apply for Florida Prepaid or continue without applying for coverage for the term. The student will receive credit for the maximum amount that can be billed. Florida Prepaid credit is limited to the number of credit hours remaining on the student's plan. Students are responsible for paying any remaining balance by the fee payment deadline. Florida Prepaid will not pay for any Third Attempt fees.

Third-Party Sponsorship

You can submit your voucher at your campus Cashier Office or online via Third-Party Voucher Submission Form - This form is for a student to submit tuition payment coverage from an approved Third-Party Sponsor. Many organizations provide funding to our students through vouchers or tuition assistance. Department of Veterans Affairs / Ch31 (Vocational Rehab.

State Employee Waiver

Full-time employees of the executive, the legislative or judicial branches of Florida’s government are eligible for a State Employee Waiver. Eligible employees may have tuition and course fees waived for a maximum of 6 credit hours per term and are required to register on a space-available basis as noted in the online Academic Calendar and College catalog. State employees must complete Broward’s Application process and pay the $35.00 application fee prior to presenting the State Tuition Waiver request at any campus Registration Office.

Refund Policies

Broward College has specific refund policies in place to address various circumstances.

General Refund Policy

Students are entitled to a refund of course fees when classes are dropped by the applicable 100% refund deadline published in the Academic Calendar. Students do not have to contact a campus Cashier's Office to receive a refund. Payments made by credit card will be refunded to the most recent credit card used. When students drop their courses before the 100% refund date, the College will refund all fees paid, except application fees, before the 100% refund date if student drops their courses. The registration will be canceled and no academic term record will be created. When students remain enrolled in those covered courses and do not withdraw, they will be obligated for the tuition charges for all courses, no refunds will be approved in this circumstance. Students who have dropped their courses within the drop period do not have to contact the Cashier’s Office to receive a refund. Through an automated process, refunds will be processed approximately two weeks after the final drop/add date, which is generally seven (7) days after the start of each session. Payments made by credit card will be refunded to the credit card.

Withdrawal Refund Petition

A student may submit a petition for a refund for a withdrawal after the published 100% refund deadline only when non-academic extenuating circumstances prohibit a student's ability to withdraw. We cannot process a petition if any grade other than a 'W' has been given. Attach a detailed personal statement explaining your situation. The maximum refund of tuition is 50% if the withdrawal was prior to 60% of the course or 25% if after 60% of the course point unless otherwise outlined in the procedure. A student who can demonstrate that extenuating non-academic circumstances impacted her or his ability to drop by the published deadline for 100% refund or meet another exception as outlined in this policy may petition for a refund for a withdrawal after the published 100% refund date. Such non-academic circumstances may include, but are not limited to, serious illness of self or of an immediate family member, death in the immediate family, and other emergency circumstances or extraordinary situations. If a petition is approved, the College will refund tuition according to the schedule in this procedure. All fees are non-refundable after the published deadline for 100% refund. All petitions shall include any and all relevant documentation to support the extenuating non-academic circumstances.

Veterans

Students eligible for Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) education benefits and Tuition Assistance may not be paid by both Tuition Assistance and Chapter 33 benefits at the same time. Tuition Assistance may only be used to pay tuition and other costs that are not paid by Chapter 33 benefits first. Veteran students must adhere to the withdrawal policies as outlined in the college catalog. Students receiving Veterans benefits must complete all coursework each term to avoid being billed for withdrawing or dropping classes. If a Veteran student does not attend class after the drop and add period in each session, the student will be withdrawn from classes or receive a failing grade for non-attendance. Withdrawing or dropping courses could result in termination of benefits and/or owing money to VA and Broward College. It is the Veteran’s responsibility to notify the Veterans Services about withdrawing from any class at any point during the term. Veterans should register only for the courses which can be successfully completed. Dropping courses can affect a student’s enrollment and change the award resulting in an overpayment. Veterans who receive financial aid must adhere to the withdrawal policies affecting all financial aid students, including the Federal Return of Title IV Funds. This policy applies to any student who officially or unofficially withdraws from all Broward College classes during a term in which the student is receiving any form of Title IV aid.

Return of Title IV Funds Policy

As reauthorized and signed into law on October 7, 1998, the Higher Education Act established the Return of Title IV Funds Policy. The revised Return of Title IV Funds policy reflects the changes to the regulations as of July 1, 2021. Withdrawing could result in a debt to the school, the federal government, or both. Students should register for only the classes that they can successfully complete. By withdrawing from classes, the enrollment will change, and the financial aid award may be adjusted. If a student completes 60 percent or more of a term/payment period, the student earns all eligible aid during that term/payment period, and a Return to Title IV calculation is not required. The 60 percent point of any term is usually a day or two before the last day to withdraw from classes.

Other Important Information

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

All students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to maintain financial aid eligibility. Academic progress is calculated after each term. Be on track to complete their degree requirements within 150 percent of the required number of credit hours for the program. Be at a 67 percent completion rate or higher for college-level coursework attempted. For example, if a student completed 35 credit hours, but has attempted 62, the student would be at a 56 percent completion rate (35/62). If you are in a Failed SAP status, you may request an appeal. Filing an appeal does not mean you are eligible to receive federal financial aid. Any institutional costs incurred will need to be paid by the student while in Failed SAP status. An appeal will only be reviewed if you have completed the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form and have submitted all required documents.

Financial Holds

In accordance with Florida Statutes, 832.07 Chapter 1010.03, 1001.64(24), the College is authorized to restrict the release of transcripts, the awarding of diplomas and access to other resources and services of the College. As of the 2023-24 Academic Year, Broward College does not restrict the release of transcripts or the awarding of diplomas due to balances owed. When a receivable or obligation balance is due, a financial hold is immediately generated on the student’s record. This financial hold may prevent future registration. Examples of debt that will block registration include, but are not limited to, returned checks and the associated check fees and fines, credit card chargebacks, tuition fee deficiencies, financial aid overpayments, bookstore charges, collection fees, and delinquent debt that is written off. Students will not be able to register until the debt is paid in full.

Attendance

Each faculty member sets the guidelines for attendance (physical presence) and participation (academic-related activities either online or in person), which are outlined in the faculty’s syllabus. It is the student’s responsibility to attend classes and participate throughout the term. By remaining enrolled in the class, students are agreeing to abide by that attendance policy.

1098-T Form

The 1098-T is a tuition statement furnished by eligible educational institutions in accordance with IRS regulations. It reports payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses and financial aid amounts paid for students. It is used to assist in determining a student's eligibility for the American Opportunity Tax Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit. Generally, if you are a student and your payments and classes meet certain IRS criteria, you will receive a 1098-T for the Calendar Year. Electronic 1098-T forms are available for viewing and printing via the student One Access login.

Returned Checks

A returned check is a check that is not honored when presented for payment and is returned to the College for insufficient funds, closed account, or any other reason. The College does not redeposit paper checks. In accordance with Florida Statutes, Chapter 832.07, the College is authorized to bill the individual for the original amount of the check in addition to a check fine and bank fee. If the account remains unpaid, it will be sent to a collection agency.

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