Tuition and Fee Schedule
- Payment Options
- Payment Plans
- Refund Process
- Tuition and Fee Schedule
- Financial Obligations
- Financial Agreement
- Tuition Refund Policy
- Returned Payments
- FERPA-Proxy Access
- 1098-T Information
In Person Payments
Payment can be made at any TVCC Cashier’s Office during normal business hours. Forms of payment accepted in person are:
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Cash
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Check
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Money Order
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Credit/Debit Cards (Mastercard, Visa, Discover)
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Apple Pay
Online Payments
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Credit Card or ACH payments are accepted 24/7 online (Mastercard, Discover, and Visa)
Mailed Payments
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Payments by mail must be received in the Cashier's Office before the payment deadline for the term
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Checks or money orders should be made payable to TVCC
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The mailed check or money order should include the student TVIN
Checks or money orders should be mailed to the address below
Trinity Valley Community College
Attn: Cashier’s Office
100 Cardinal Drive
Athens, TX 75751
Third Party Payee (Sponsorship)
If a third party (employer or government agency) will be paying tuition and fees on behalf of a student directly to TVCC, a letter of authorization to invoice the employer or agency must be received by the Business Office by the student's published payment due date. Any part of the tuition and fees not covered by the third party must also be paid by the published payment due date. The Business Office must have a letter of authorization to invoice the employer or agency for each semester.
The letter of authorization to invoice should contain the following:
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Student's Name
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Students ID number (TVIN)
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Third party name and address (letterhead is sufficent)
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Detail of covered expenses (tuition, fees, etc.)
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Maximum dollar amount
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Semester covered by third party
If the letter of authorization is not received by the published payment due date, the student will be responsible for the balance in full or will need to set up a payment plan. Any charges not approved or paid by the third party will be placed back onto the student account, as all charges are the responsibility of the student.
TVCC Sponsorship Agreement Form
External Donor Scholarship
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Scholarship checks must be received in the Cashier's Office before the payment deadline for the term
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Checks should be made payable to TVCC
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The mailed check or money order should include the student TVIN
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Scholarship check funds will not be posted to the student's account balance until the funds have been received by the Cashier's Office
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If the scholarship check is not received by the published payment due date, the student will be responsible for the balance in full or will need to set up a payment plan to prevent being dropped from course(s).
Payment Plan Information
You may pay your balance due in full when you register for classes, or you can elect to enroll in a payment plan and pay in installments over time.
The optional payment plan is designed to help you spread out your account balance over a series of regular installments!
General Information
- Making a partial payment does not automatically enroll you in a payment plan.
- Students and authorized users must be willing to allow automatic withdrawls from a personal checking account or scheduled charges to a debit/credit card.
- There is a $25 non-refundable fee that is due at enrollment.
- Payments are set to be drafted on a specific Bi-Weekly/Monthly schedule each month. These dates are set dates and cannot be adjusted.
- Payment plan enrollment must be completed prior to the payment deadlines for each semester to prevent possible registration cancellation.
- Once you are enrolled in a payment plan for the semester the payment plan may not be cancelled at any time there is a due balance on your student account.
- Students can have only one active payment plan per semester. Even if a student has more than one authorized user, they may only have one payment plan per semester.
- You cannot enroll in a payment plan with a cash payment. You must use a credit/debit card or bank account to enroll.
Payment Plan Recalculation
- Your payment plan balance will automatically recalculate to match your student account balance as you add/drop/change classes.
- The payment plan will stop recalculating 1 day prior to your installment due date.
- Recalculation also knows when your financial aid, scholarship, and other credits have posted and will reduce your payment plan balance accordingly.
- You will receive email notifications any time your payment plan installment amounts increase or decrease.
- If your payment plan for a term is paid off at any point in the term and then courses are added to your schedule you will have to enroll in a new payment plan for the new charges.
Payment Plans & Financial Aid
- If you have financial aid and your balance is not paid in full or you have not enrolled in a payment plan, your courses will be dropped without exception.
- Students who expect to receive financial aid and enroll in a payment plan need to make their payment plan payments when they are due.
- When financial aid is anticipated (ready to pay) or paid to the student account, it will be applied subsequently to remaining installments due.
- If financial aid does not pay the payment plan in full, remaining payments due will be adjusted subsequently.
- If financial aid creates a credit balance on the student account, a refund will be processed.
Changing Your Payment Method
- Changes to your payment method must be done two days prior to the next scheduled installment date.
- Only the payment plan owner has the ability to change the payment method.
- View the instructions for updating your payment plan payment method.
Failed Payments
- If your down payment/enrollment fee returns you will be removed from the payment plan
- You will receive multiple notifications before any installment is processed to give you an opportunity to make sure sufficent funds are available to process each upcoming installment.
- Your returned payment will be added back to your student account and your remaining installments will be recalculated.
- You will be assessed a $25 return/late payment fee by TVCC, and your financial institution may also charge NSF fees on your bank account.
- If the card associated with your payment plan is expired or the bank account is closed please update your payment plan payment method.
- TVCC has the right to deny enrollment in a payment plan if payments are frequently late/returned.
- If you have any late/returned payments on your payment plan a Business Office Hold will be placed on your student account which will prevent registration in future terms.
- Once the late/returned payment is paid and your account is current the hold can be removed by emailing cashier@tvcc.edu and informing the office that your account is current.
Summer 2024 Payment Plan Schedule
For Payment Plan Assistance Contact:
TVCC CASHIER’S OFFICE
Orvil Pirtle Administration Building, First Floor
Phone: 903-675-6269
Email: cashier@tvcc.edu
100 Cardinal Dr. Athens, Texas 75751
Refund Information
- Based on the refund schedule, credit balances are automatically reflected on the student's account upon withdrawal or course cancellation.
- A credit created from Anticipated Activity (aid that has not yet disbursed) does not qualify for a refund.
- Financial Aid students withdrawing before the 60% refund point in the term may be required to repay funds unearned due to requirements for the return of Title IV funds (R2T4)
- Refunds are calculated based on invoiced amounts, not payments made
- If your account shows a credit balance but you have not been charged all of your fees, you may not be eligible for a refund. This might happen if you recently enrolled for housing or a meal plan, and these fees have not been posted to your account yet.
- Students who have opted for the payment plan and are dropping course(s) and/or withdrawing are responsible for the full payment plan balance. Refunds will be applied to any balance due on the note.
- Any Charges incurred after a refund is mailed will be charged to the student's account and is the responsibility of the student to pay TVCC any balance due. It is important to check your student account to verify charges and refund transactions!
Credit/Debit Card
- Refunds will be made to the credit/debit card used for payment if the refund is processed within 180 days of the original payment date.
- Refunds for cash, check, ACH, credit/debit after the 180 days of the original payment, will be processed using the student's preferred refund method selected with the contracted third-party refunding company.
Direct Deposit
- Students can enter their banking information in the MyCardinalConnect Payment Center to receive any refund to their student account via direct deposit
- Direct deposit can take 3 to 5 business days to appear in your bank account
- Apps such as Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, etc. are not eligible for eRefunds
- You must enter a bank account and routing number to set up direct deposit
- Directions to set up direct deposit
Paper Check
- Checks are processed and mailed once weekly
- Checks are mailed via USPS
- You must verify that your mailing address on file is correct, or the check will be mailed to the incorrect address
- College holidays, scheduled system maintenance or system process issues can cause mailing delays
- If you do not receive your check in the mail after 15 Business days contact the cashier’s office for assistance by emailing cashier@tvcc.edu
Note: Refund of tuition is subject to change by legislative and/or TVCC Board of Trustees action without notice
Tuition: $39 per semester hour
General Fee: $49 per semester hour, maximum $999
(The following school districts are considered within the tax-paying district: Athens, Brownsboro, Chandler, Crandall, Cross Roads, Eustace, Frankston, Kaufman, Kemp, La Poynor, Mabank, Malakoff, Murchison, Scurry-Rosser, Terrell, and Trinidad.)
Tuition: $39 per semester hour
General Fee: $49 per semester hour, maximum $999
Out of District –Palestine ISD Fee: $22 per semester hour
(Palestine)
Tuition: $39 per semester hour
General Fee: $49 per semester hour, maximum $999
Out-of-District Fee: $76 per semester hour, maximum of $999
Tuition: $150 per semester hour
General Fee: $49 per semester hour, maximum $999
| Hours | Regular Tax- Paying District | Branch Campus Tax-Paying District | Out of Tax Paying District | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $88 | $110 | $164 | $199 |
| 2 | 176 | 220 | 328 | 398 |
| 3 | 264 | 330 | 492 | 597 |
| 4 | 352 | 440 | 656 | 796 |
| 5 | 440 | 550 | 820 | 995 |
| 6 | 528 | 660 | 984 | 1194 |
| 7 | 616 | 770 | 1148 | 1393 |
| 8 | 704 | 880 | 1312 | 1592 |
| 9 | 792 | 990 | 1476 | 1791 |
| 10 | 880 | 1100 | 1640 | 1990 |
| 11 | 968 | 1210 | 1804 | 2189 |
| 12 | 1056 | 1320 | 1968 | 2388 |
| 13 | 1144 | 1430 | 2132 | 2587 |
| 14 | 1232 | 1540 | 2231 | 2786 |
| 15 | 1320 | 1650 | 2319 | 2985 |
| 16 | 1408 | 1760 | 2407 | 3184 |
| 17 | 1496 | 1870 | 2495 | 3383 |
| 18 | 1584 | 1980 | 2583 | 3582 |
| 19 | 1672 | 2090 | 2671 | 3781 |
| 20 | 1760 | 2200 | 2759 | 3980 |
| 21 | 1818 | 2280 | 2817 | 4149 |
| 22 | 1857 | 2341 | 2856 | 4299 |
*The above charges include the statutory tuition and all required fees except those specific to courses. To be eligible for in-state tuition rates, an individual must provide proof of Texas residency for the year prior to enrollment. To be eligible for in-district tuition rates, an individual must be a Texas resident and have lived in the TVCC tax district for the six months prior to enrollment.
TVCC’s general fee is collected to cover the costs related to serving TVCC students outside of the classroom. Specifically, the general fee supports student life, learning resource services, facilities and technology resources, enrollment and advising services, and campus security.
The following additional fees also apply:
$50 late fee for students registering after the scheduled registration date
$40 internet fee for each distance learning course (online fee)
$100 reinstatement fee for students reinstated after the official census date
$117 per credit hour fee for courses taken the third time and each time thereafter (Non Funded Course Fee)
$25 payment plan fee if tuition and fees are paid using the college’s payment plan
$35 standard lab fee. Some designated individual courses with labs contain fees higher than $35. Refer to the course descriptions in this catalog for these standard and designated lab fees.
State law requires Trinity Valley Community College to set aside a portion of every students’ tuition to fund assistance for qualifying students. Authority for these mandatory set-asides is found in Texas Education Code, Sections 56.011, 56.012, and 56.465.
Financial responsibility applies to all financial transactions that may result from enrollment at the College during the semester and academic year. Financial obligations include tuition, fees, room, board, and other additional fees. The term "financial obligations" shall include the return of all properties of the college on student assignment, for example, library books, athletic equipment, or uniforms.
Payment Deadlines
Payment deadlines are posted in the academic calendar. Payment or payment arrangements not received by payment deadlines will result in the student being dropped for non-payment. If expenses exceed any financial aid awarded to the student, the student is obligated to pay the balance of the account. In the event a student registers for future term(s) because current semester charges are not past due, these current-term charges must be paid prior to the start date of any future term(s) to prevent dis-enrollment from those future terms(s). Students who do not pay, or make satisfactory arrangements to pay, all financial obligations to the college will not be allowed to register for classes.
Billing Information
Billing information will be communicated to students through MyCardinalConnect student portal and the student's College e-mail account. The College accepts payment via student financial aid and third-party sponsorship, but the responsibility for payment remains with the student. It is the student's responsibility to keep track of their account balance and any funding sources. If financial aid is not granted or if third-party sponsors do not pay within a reasonable period, the student is required to pay the full amount due.
Consequences of Withdrawing after Refund Period
Students withdrawing after the stated refund dates have passed remain liable for full tuition and fee charges. Failure to attend classes does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal. Students must drop or withdraw by the appropriate deadline date(s) to receive a tuition refund. If a student fails to drop by posted deadlines in the academic calendar, the student is obligated to pay the balance of the account.
Consequences of Unpaid Balances
Any unpaid balance may be reported to a billing service and then to a collection agency retained by Trinity Valley Community College. If an unpaid balance has been reported to a collection’s agency retained by Trinity Valley Community College, the student will pay any collection and/or attorney fees associated with the collection’s effort, including, but not limited, to collection fees that are assessed as a percentage of the debt owed to Trinity Valley Community College.
When logging into the payment center you will be asked to consent to the following agreement.
- I understand that my student account balance is my responsibility. By enrolling in courses at Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC), I am making a financial commitment to pay the charges associated with this enrollment, in exchange for the education and other benefits provided by TVCC. I further understand that tuition, fees, room, board, and any other charges to my account (including but not limited to bookstore charges, parking permits, and citations) reflect a balance I owe for educational benefit.
- I agree that I have a legally binding obligation to pay Trinity Valley Community College all tuition, room, and board (if applicable), and other applicable fees by the due date established by the College. I understand that these expenses may exceed the amount of any financial aid awarded to me and that I am obligated to pay these expenses to the College. I agree that non-payment may result in my course registration being dropped. In the event I cannot register for future term(s) because my current semester charges are not past due, I understand that these current-term charges must be paid prior to the start date of any future term(s) to prevent disenrollment from those future terms(s). Students withdrawing after the stated refund dates have passed remain liable for full tuition and fee charges. I understand that failure to attend classes does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal. If I decide not to attend any of my classes at TVCC, I must drop or withdraw by the appropriate deadline date(s) to receive a tuition refund. If I fail to drop by these deadlines, I understand that I will be charged.
- I understand that the billing information will be communicated to me through MyCardinalConnect and TVCC e-mail account. I understand that my payment obligation is binding on me regardless of whether I access my electronic billing information. I also understand that the payment obligation is binding on me regardless of whether my account is being paid by me or another person. TVCC accepts payment via student financial aid and third-party sponsorship, but the responsibility for payment remains with the student. It is your responsibility to keep track of your account balance and any funding sources. If you are enrolled in a payment plan and the plan is paid off at any time during the term a new payment plan will need to be set up for any new charges incurred on the student account. If financial aid is not granted or if third-party sponsors do not pay within a reasonable period, the student is required to pay the full amount due.
- I agree that any unpaid balance may be reported to a billing servicer and then to a collection agency retained by Trinity Valley Community College.
- I agree that if I have an unpaid balance and have been reported to a collections agency retained by Trinity Valley Community College, I will pay any collection and/or attorney fees associated with the collections effort, including, but not limited, to collection fees that are assessed as a percentage of the debt owed to Trinity Valley Community College.
- I authorize Trinity Valley Community College and the collections agencies retained by Trinity Valley Community College to contact me on the phone number that I have provided Trinity Valley Community College.
- I confirm that the address that I have provided Trinity Valley Community College is accurate and if my address changes, I am responsible to update Trinity Valley Community College with my new address.
- I understand that my acceptance of the Agreement of Financial Responsibility applies to all financial transactions that may result from my enrollment at the College during the semester and academic year.
For the purpose of the refund policy, a class day is defined as a day during which college classes are conducted. Class days are computed beginning the first day of classes for the semester, not according to the number of times a particular class has met. It is the student’s responsibility to drop courses. Students enrolled in semester credit hour courses who officially withdraw or drop their semester credit hour load at Trinity Valley Community College shall have tuition and mandatory fees refunded according to the following schedule. (Refer to the Academic Calendar for semester-length)
Fall or Spring Semester (16 week)
- Prior to the first-class day: 100%
- Day 1-15: 70%
- Day 16-20: 25%
- Thereafter: None
Fall or Spring Semester (8-week)
- Prior to the first-class day: 100%
- Day 1-8: 70%
- Day 9-10: 25%
- Thereafter: None
Summer Semester (12-week)
- Prior to the first-class day: 100%
- Day 1-12: 70%
- Day 13-15: 25%
- Thereafter: None
Summer Semester (6-week)
- Prior to the first-class day: 100%
- Day 1-5: 70%
- Day 6-7: 25%
- Thereafter: None
Refunds for courses with unique scheduling will be processed according to the table below:
| Date | Refund % | |
|---|---|---|
| Prior to the first-class day of the semester | 100% | |
| Length of Term in Weeks | Last day for 70% refund | Last day for 25% refund |
| 2 or less | 2 | N/A |
| 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | 5 | 7 |
| 7 | 7 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 | 11 |
| 10 | 9 | 12 |
| 11 | 10 | 14 |
| 12 | 12 | 15 |
| 13 | 13 | 16 |
| 14 | 13 | 17 |
| 15 | 14 | 19 |
| 16 or longer | 15 | 20 |
Refunds will be applied to outstanding debts owed to Trinity Valley Community College. Then, any remaining amount will be deposited into the account from which payment was made through TVCC's secure payment portal or mailed to the student’s address on file approximately four weeks after the end of the applicable refund period.
Tuition Refund Appeal Process
Students may request a review of their refund eligibility through the end of the next long semester for which the refund is requested. Students who meet the Tuition Appeal Guidelines may complete and submit the Tuition Appeal Form found on the TVCC website.
Returned Checks or eCheck Payments
When TVCC is notified by the bank or our third party payment processor of a returned check or eCheck payment, (usually 7 to 10 days after a payment was made) a charge will be posted to your student account for the full amount of the returned payment. An electronic notification will be sent to your TVCC email address, and a $25 non-refundable returned check fee will be charged to your student account.
Students must meet all financial responsibilities due to TVCC. Financial irresponsibility may subject the student to additional fees, fines, suspension of check writing, denial, or cancellation of registration. The writing of checks, both paper and electronic, on accounts with insufficient funds, as well as the issuance of stop pays, or fraudulent credit card chargebacks is considered a lack of financial responsibility.
Generally, failure to meet financial obligations to TVCC may result in:
- Cancellation of the student's registration if tuition and registration fees are not paid by the dates provided by the Business Office or if a returned check, canceled check, or disputed credit card charge is given in payment of tuition and fees is not redeemed by that time.
- A "stop payment order" on a check does not consitiute an official withdrawal from a course, nor does it relieve you from the financial obligation for fees incurred by registering for courses.
- Possible criminal prosecution for writing insufficient fund checks.
- A hold preventing future registration placed on a student's academic records.
- A hold on receiving official TVCC transcripts until the obligation is paid.
- A $25.00 returned payment fee will be applied for each returned payment
If a student has had three or more checks returned the Business Office will place a hold on the student account that restricts the student from making payment via personal check or web-check for all future payments. Payments will need to be made via cashier's checks, money orders, credit cards, or cash.
Repayment
Repayment of a returned check or echeck must be made with secure funds (cashier's check, money order, cash or debit/credit card). You can pay online through your MyCardinalConnect account or at the Cashier's Office. A personal check will not be accepted as repayment for a returned check.
Business Office Hold
Your access to registration for a future term will be blocked until payment is made with secure funds and your account balance is current. Students with multiple returned checks or eChecks are subject to a permanent NSF Check Hold. The NSF Hold prevents a student from paying their account with a check or eCheck. Only cash, credit card, money order, or cashier's check are accepted as forms of payment.
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age.)
Students can give proxy access to another individual to access certain areas of their student account through MyCardinalConnect. Proxy access can be given through the payment portal within MyCardinalConnect to give access to others to make payments on your student account.
1098-T FAQ's
This information is provided for general assistance related to the 1098-T tax form but should not be construed as tax advice.
What is IRS Form 1098-T?
The Form 1098-T is a statement that colleges and universities are required to issue to certain students. It provides the total dollar amount paid by the student for what is referred to as qualified tuition and related expenses (or “QTRE”) in a single tax year.
Why did I receive a Form 1098-T?
You may be able to take either the tuition and fees deduction or claim an education credit on Form1040 or 1040A for the qualified tuition and related expenses that were actually paid during the calendar year.
What am I supposed to do with the Form 1098-T?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with tax advice, so we suggest that you contact your accountant or tax advisor if you have specific questions related to your tax requirements and responsibilities. However, we can inform you that you are not required to attach IRS Form 1098-T to your tax return, but it would be wise to keep it for your records.
If I do not file taxes in the United States, do I need to do anything with this information?
This form is only relevant to students who intend to file taxes. Students without Social Security Number (SSN) numbers do not need to do anything regarding this form, it is informational only.
What is Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses (QTRE)? Aren’t all the charges on our Student Account Qualified?
Unfortunately, not. The IRS has a strict definition as to how Qualified is defined. This can be found in IRS Publication 970, but summarized it says “Qualified education expenses are tuition and certain related expenses required for enrollment or attendance”
The IRS also goes as far as to list specific items that are NOT qualified, which include:
- Insurance
- Medical expenses (including student health fees)
- Dorm charges
- Meal plans
- Transportation
- Other Non-Qualified charges include but are not limited to:
- Payment plan fees
- Late/Penalty fees o ID replacement fees
- Parking fines
Why don’t the numbers on Form 1098-T equal the amounts I paid to TVCC during the year?
There are potentially many reasons for this.
- First, the amount in Box 1 only represents amounts paid for qualified tuition and related expenses (QTRE) and does not include payments made for room and board, insurance, health service fees, or parking which, though important, are not considered mandatory education expenses for tax purposes.
- Secondly, Form 1098-T reports amounts that the student paid in a certain year, and the pay date does not necessarily correspond to the dates that the classes were attended.
What semesters are included in my Form 1098-T?
Typically, charges are posted to a student’s account beginning in November for the Spring semester and in June for the Fall semester. Charges will appear on the date you register for classes. Box 1 of Form 1098-T reflects payments made during the calendar year for qualified tuition and related expenses and it is not based on when the classes were attended or billed to the student account.
My address listed on the 1098-T is incorrect. Will this affect me?
The address shown on Form 1098T is irrelevant for IRS income tax filing purposes. However, students should update their address by contacting the registrar’s office for TVCC to have their updated information.
Do I have to send a copy of the 1098-T form to the IRS?
No. You are not required to include the 1098-T form when filing your taxes. The information has been provided electronically to the IRS by TVCC. We recommend that you keep this information for your tax records.
What if I have questions about my taxes and if I can use this form or not?
1098T is furnished to students based upon the student activity in the student record. TVCC is prohibited from answering questions related to tax preparation. We encourage you to contact your tax preparer.
What are the Exceptions, if any?
1098T is furnished to students based upon the student activity in the student record. TVCC is prohibited from answering questions related to tax preparation. We encourage you to contact your tax preparer.
- Courses for which no academic credit is offered, even if the student is otherwise enrolled in a degree program.
- Nonresident alien students, unless requested by the student.
- Students whose qualified tuition and related expenses are entirely waived or paid entirely with scholarships.
Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
If you have additional questions or concerns about your 1098-T, you can email our Business Office at businessoffice@tvcc.edu. In the email, please provide your full name, TVIN, and exactly what your questions or concerns are.
Please be advised, TVCC is prohibited from providing legal, tax, or accounting advice to students and is not responsible for any use you make of this information.
SIGN UP FOR E-DELIVERY FOR YOUR 1098-T
- Log in to your “My Cardinal Connect” student account
- Click on Tax Information
- Select the option for “Receive my 1098 only in electronic format”. Then click Save.
- Your 1098-T will be available by January 31st of the current tax year.
