Understanding Lone Star College Tuition and Fees

Lone Star College (LSC) is a large public institution committed to providing accessible and affordable education. This article breaks down the complexities of LSC's tuition and fees, covering residency requirements, payment options, refunds, and available financial aid. Understanding these aspects can help students effectively plan and manage their college expenses.

Tuition Setting and Residency

The Lone Star College System Board of Trustees is responsible for setting tuition and fees for all courses offered by the college. Tuition rates vary depending on a student's residency status, with Texas residents generally paying less than out-of-state residents or international students. Furthermore, a distinction is made between in-district and out-of-district Texas residents, with those residing outside the college's taxing district boundaries facing higher tuition and fees.

Defining Texas Residency

Determining residency is crucial for tuition purposes. Lone Star College considers several factors when classifying a student as a Texas resident:

Domicile and Graduation: A non-citizen who graduated from a Texas public or accredited private high school, home school program, or a Texas high school diploma-equivalent program, and established a domicile in Texas for at least 36 months prior to graduating or receiving a diploma-equivalent can be eligible for resident tuition.
Texas Employment Incentive: A nonresident of Texas employed by a business or organization established in Texas under a Texas Economic Development and Diversification In-State Tuition Incentive, along with their spouse and children, are eligible to pay resident tuition, regardless of how long they have been domiciled in Texas.
Establishment of Domicile: A person who established a domicile in Texas no less than 12 consecutive months before the semester’s 12th day in which the person enrolls may qualify.
Pending Permanent Resident Status: A person who has filed a Petition for Permanent Resident Status (I-130 or I-140) may be considered a Texas resident for tuition purposes.
Affidavit: A person, regardless of immigration status, who satisfies the domicile requirements and provides the College an affidavit may also qualify.
Military Personnel: An officer, enlisted, selectee, or draftee of the United States Army, Army National Guard, Air Force, Air National Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or a commissioned officer in the Public Health Service stationed in Texas, along with their spouse and dependent children, are considered Texas residents.
Military Home of Record: A member of the United States Armed Services whose Home of Record with the military is Texas is presumed to be a Texas resident, as are his or her spouse and dependent children.
Dependents of Military Personnel: A service member’s spouse or child may be considered a Texas resident under certain circumstances: the service member is stationed outside Texas, the member’s spouse or child resides in Texas, and the spouse or child gives the College a letter of intent to establish Texas residency.

In-District vs. Out-of-District Residency

Within Texas, residency is further defined by whether a student lives within the Lone Star College taxing district:

In-District Texas Resident: This includes an adult Texas resident living within the College's taxing district boundaries on the census date of the semester in which the student enrolls. It also encompasses non-adult Texas residents whose parents or guardians reside within those boundaries on the census date. Property owners (and their dependents) who pay the College's property taxes and are Texas residents also qualify, as do immediate family members of the College's full-time employees. Finally, a Texas resident of the Acres Home Super Neighborhood attending the College's Victory Center is considered an in-district resident.
Out-of-District Texas Resident: This refers to an adult Texas resident living outside the College's taxing district boundaries on the official enrollment reporting date. It also includes non-adult Texas residents whose parents or guardians live outside those boundaries on the official enrollment reporting date.

Establishing and Maintaining Residency

Lone Star College uses a questionnaire as part of the admissions process to determine an applicant's residency. The College may request additional information to clarify responses. Students are required to notify the admissions office of any changes in their residence. Current and returning students may be asked to provide documentation to prove their residency. Failure to inform the admissions office of a change in residency can result in disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.

Residency for ACP Participants

The College generally does not require ACP (Accelerated College Program) Participants to disclose their physical addresses. To establish residency and district status, ACP Participants must submit a completed ACP Participant Affidavit and a valid authorization card to their college’s Chief Student Services Officer.

Addressing Misclassification

The College acknowledges the possibility of unintentionally misclassifying a student's residency status.

Out-of-State Resident Misclassified as Texas Resident: The College will charge out-of-state tuition and fees to a misclassified person starting with the first semester after the error’s discovery.
Texas Resident Misclassified as Out-of-State Resident: The College will immediately charge Texas resident tuition and fees to the misclassified person starting the very semester during the error’s discovery. The College shall refund the person the sums the person paid over Texas resident tuition.

A student may file any grievance or objection with their Chief Student Services Officer.

Tuition and Fee Policies

Lone Star College has several specific policies regarding tuition and fees:

Repeated Courses and Excess Hours: To encourage timely completion of programs, the College may charge higher tuition for repeated courses or for students carrying excess hours beyond those allowed for in-state tuition and fees.
Third-Party Payments: Tuition and fees may be set in a contract when a third party pays the full cost, or a significant portion, of a continuing education or training program. The tuition waiver in this section can never apply where the third party’s payment does not cover at least instructional salaries.
Dual Credit Courses: Lone Star College charges a reduced tuition rate for dual credit courses.

Payment Options

Lone Star College offers several payment options to help students manage their tuition costs:

Installment Payment Plans: The College may offer installment payment plans, as specified in the Tuition and Fees Procedures. Payment plans require a student’s first payment prior to the Official Day of Record for each session in a term and final payment by the last week of class. A student who uses a payment plan will pay an extra enrollment fee at enrollment for each semester the student has a payment plan. The College requires students to enroll and complete necessary paperwork online for a tuition payment plan. A student may appeal denial of an installment plan to the College. The following statement in bold-faced type must be included in any student’s signed promissory note: A student who fails to make full payment of tuition and fees, including any incidental fees, by the due date may be prohibited from registering for classes until full payment is made." The College will inform a student about any overdue tuition or fees.
Financial Aid: The College applies a student’s financial aid award to pay a semester’s tuition and fees. The College will refund the balance after financial aid pays the student’s tuition and fees.
Payment Deadline: If financial obligations are not paid in full by their due dates, these debts may be referred to an outside collection agency and to the appropriate credit bureaus. Resulting collection agency fees, not to exceed 30% of an account balance, may be added to the original debt. The student must pay these costs, as well as applicable interest, litigation costs, or attorney fees.

Tuition and Fee Refunds

Lone Star College has a refund schedule for students who drop courses or withdraw from the college:

General Refunds: The College generally refunds tuition and fees as soon as practical via a refund schedule appearing in this section. The College will provide a partial refund when a student drops a course or withdraws before the first day of classes. The College will provide a partial refund when a student drops a course or withdraws after the classes first calendar day during the fall or spring semester.
Title IV Financial Aid Refunds: Students receiving Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Direct Loans are subject to this section. Federal law requires that such students stay enrolled in classes at least 60 percent of the course schedule. The class schedule’s percentage that the student completed before withdrawing will be the percent of the Title IV assistance that the student earned and will not return. A student that does not repay the sum owed faces serious action if no valid repayment plan is agreed to by the College and student. First, the College may deny the student future course registration, transcripts, or grades. Repayments will be returned to the Title IV programs in the following order: (1) unsubsidized Stafford Student Loans, then (2) Subsidized Stafford Student Loans, then (3) Plus Loan Program, then (4) Pell Grant Program, then (5) SEOG Grant Program, and finally, (6) Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. The College will inform the student of the percent completed and the balance owed to the College and the federal government.
Military Withdrawals: The College provides a withdrawing, active military service student three options: (a) refunding the tuition and fees the student paid for the semester in which the student withdraws; or (b) granting the student an incomplete grade in all courses by designating withdrawn-military on the student’s transcript; or (c) assigning an appropriate final grade or credit to a student who has satisfactorily completed substantial coursework and has demonstrated sufficient course-material mastery determined by the student’s instructor.

A student that believes an error has occurred regarding a refund should contact the appropriate Vice President of Administrative Services. The only available appeal from a Vice President of Administrative Services’ determination is to the college President or Lone Star College-Online's Chief Executive Officer.

Special Fees

The College may set and collect special fees. The College will exempt students from tuition, dues, fees or charges as required by law.

Continuing Education Course Fees: Continuing Education Course Fees are charged to each person registered in Continuing Education (CE) courses. The Board shall set the fee in an amount sufficient permitting the College to recover the costs of providing the course. CE fees only apply to the College’s courses that do not collect tuition or receive formula fundingincluding an extension course, correspondence course, or other self-supporting course.
Incidental Fees: Incidental fees include, without limitation, late registration fees, library fines, payment plan late fees, bad check charges, application processing fees, infrastructure fees, and laboratory breakage charge. The Board may fix the rate current and prospective students pay in incidental fees. Incidental fee rates shall reflect the College’s actual costs for materials and services.
Joint Enrollment Waivers: Joint Enrollment Waivers arise when a student registers at two colleges under a joint or cooperative program at the same time. The student must pay all required student services fees to the college designated as the home college under the joint or cooperative program agreement.
Laboratory Fees: Laboratory Fees include, without limitation, a sum sufficient to cover the general laboratory material and supply costs a laboratory student uses. Dual credit courses taught off-site will not be assessed a lab fee.
Student Activity Fees: Student Activity Fees include an every-semester fee per credit hour used to support student activities distinct from the College’s regularly scheduled academic functions and that involve or benefit students. All money collected as student activity fees shall be reserved and accounted for in a distinct account separate from other revenue sources.

Students that believe an error occurred regarding a fee should contact their Vice President of Administrative Services. The only available appeal from a Vice President of Administrative Services’ determination is to the college President or Lone Star College-Online's Chief Executive Officer.

Financial Aid and Affordability

Attending Lone Star College is an affordable option for most students. LSC tuition rates are based on residency and you can get an estimate of your costs by using the chart below. Note: Minimum tuition rates are set by the state legislature and are subject to change by legislative action. Student tuition and fees are subject to change by the Lone Star College Board of Trustees.

Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA. At Lone Star College System, 27 percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid and the average scholarship or grant award is $3,885.

The average net price is $10,188 per year. The net price you pay for a particular college is specific to you because it’s based on your personal circumstances and the college’s financial aid policies. Use the college’s Net Price calculator for the most accurate estimate of your net price.

The Financial Aid Application Due is January 15.

FAST Program

Great news for Lone Star College dual credit students! What does FAST mean for you? If you qualify, you'll receive free dual credit education at Lone Star College System. Free textbooks and course materials through the STAR Bundle package.

Who qualifies for FAST? The student is enrolled in an eligible dual credit course at Lone Star College System. Upon completion of all campus dual credit enrollments, Lone Star College System will work with the State Agencies to confirm your eligibility.

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