Cost + Aid

Tuition and Fees
Financial Aid

TUITION and FEES

• Tuition
• Program and Activity Based Fees
• Adjustments for Tuition Charges

The deposits, tuition, room, board and fees noted in the following sections are in effect for the 2009-2010 academic year and are subject to change without prior notice by The Sage Colleges' Board of Trustees. All policy statements and other information detailed in the following sections reflect information current at the time of this publication.

Payments

Payments can be made at the Office of Student Services on either campus or online through SageAdvisor using the following payment options:

Electronic Check
There is no fee assessed when you pay using an electronic check. You or your parent can authorize the College to deduct the funds directly from a checking account for a specific amount. To authorize your payment, Sage will need the following information:

• Your account routing number
• Your account number (checking or savings)

Credit Card
The College accepts payment via VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. There is no fee assessed when using your credit card. You authorize the College to charge your credit card with the amount you designate.

For your security, Sage will no longer accept credit card information via phone, fax or mail. Online transactions are secured through Touchnet, which has been included on VISA's List of CISP (Cardholder Information Security Program) Compliant Service Providers.

All payments for tuition, room, board and fees are due in full by the following dates. Students who register beyond these payment deadlines are expected to pay in full at the time of registration or enroll in the payment plan detailed below.

All student balances must be paid in full unless the student has been awarded financial aid sufficient to cover the outstanding balance or is enrolled in the College's payment plans. Students will be permitted to attend classes and use College facilities only after they have settled their financial obligations to the College. Any subsequent modification to an expected amount of financial aid or student loan remains the full responsibility of the student and must be paid in full by the student.

In addition to following application and verification procedures for financial aid, the student's eligibility must be confirmed and the student must accept offered awards in writing before those amounts can be applied as payment against tuition and fees.Please note that loan programs require an extended period of processing before the loan amount is credited to the student's account.

Students who fail to pay their liability may be removed from registration and prohibited from attending classes. An unpaid financial obligation to the College will result in the withholding of the student's grades, transcript of credits, diploma and official reports and make the student ineligible for future financial aid awards, pre-registration, and resident room selections.

Employer Reimbursement

For students who receive full or partial reimbursement from employers, the Office of Student Services has established procedures that comply with both College and employer requirements. Authorizations from the agency or employer must be presented at the time of registration.

Deposits

New students, both full- and part-time, must submit a $50 deposit at the time of registration, refundable until the first day of class. This deposit is credited against the student's tuition, room, board and fees.

Health Insurance

All full-time students must maintain health insurance coverage for all semesters in which they are enrolled. Full-time students may purchase health insurance through The Sage Colleges. For additional information on this plan, contact the Office of Student Services at (518) 244-2201 (Troy) or (518) 292-1781 (Albany).

Payment Plan (TMS- Tuition Management Systems, a KeyCorp Company)

The Sage Colleges Monthly Payment Plan, TMS, is a convenient alternative to lump-sum semester payments. The program offers equal monthly payments with no interest charges and costs only a $35 application fee to enroll. The program requires no credit review and payment can be made via debit, check or credit card. Any parent, guardian or student at The Sage Colleges is eligible for the Monthly Payment Plan. Both the first-time application and annual renewal can be done online. For additional information regarding payment plan, contact the Office of Student Services at (518) 292-1781.

Senior Citizen Tuition Discount

Senior citizens (65 and older) may audit a course at any of The Sage Colleges without a tuition charge, on a space-available basis. All applicable College fees still apply and are charged accordingly.

Tuition

Tuition charges are not refundable. Adjustments for withdrawals and other circumstances can be found in the Adjustments for Tuition, Room and Board section. All students enrolled in Sage After Work degree completion programs pay tuition per credit hour according to the course for which they enroll. (Refer to the Russell Sage College, Sage College of Albany or Sage Graduate School catalog for tuition rates and fees).

Program and Activity Based Fees

The following program based fees are not refundable or subject to adjustment after the first day of classes. These fees are charged accordingly and in addition to the previously stated tuition, room, and board charges.

Adjustments for Tuition Charges

A student who notifies the College of his or her withdrawal or leave of absence in writing, and in accordance with the College's withdrawal policy, is eligible for an adjustment to tuition, room and board charges in accordance with the following schedules. Non-attendance does not constitute a withdrawal from a class or the College.

Please note that any student receiving Federal (Title IV) financial aid may be required to return a portion of his or her aid to the granting agency if they separate from The Sage Colleges prior to the end of a semester. Any adjustment for tuition, room or board charges may be less than the amount of aid that must be returned and may create a liability to the College that must be paid by the student.

The date of official academic withdrawal as recorded by the Registrar's Office is the basis of all adjustments for tuition room, and board charges. It is important that the student adhere to the following processes to ensure that the correct adjustment is applied to their account.

To withdraw from a class

To withdraw from a class, the student must complete the necessary forms and submit them to the Office of Student Services (the necessary forms are available from this office.)

To withdraw from the College or request a leave of absence

To withdraw from the College or to request a leave of absence, all resident and non-resident students must complete the necessary forms and submit them to the Office of Campus Life. Students required to withdraw from a class or the College for disciplinary reasons are not entitled to any adjustment to tuition or room charges.

Tuition adjustment schedule for classes that meet regularly throughout a semester

Tuition adjustment schedule for all other classes, including summer session classes or those that do not meet regularly throughout a semester

FINANCIAL AID

• To Apply for Financial Aid
• Conditions of Financial Aid Awards
• Satisfactory Academic Progress for Awards
• Sources of Financial Aid for Sage After Work Students

To assist students and parents in meeting the costs of an education at Sage After Work, the Office of Financial Aid offers a variety of grant and loan programs. Most types of assistance are based on financial need, which is the difference between the cost of education and the estimated contribution of the student and family (Estimated Family Contribution or EFC). The EFC is determined through a measurement of family resources that is consistent for all applicants and is a reflection of the first principle of college financial aid: The student and family have primary responsibility for meeting college expenses.

Eligibility
Those seeking consideration for aid must be enrolled as degree- or certificate-seeking students on at least a half-time basis (six credit hours per semester for undergraduates) to qualify for most financial aid programs. Eligibility for grants and loans requires United States citizenship or permanent resident status. It should also be noted that federal and state legislation frequently modifies requirements and eligibility standards for financial aid.

To qualify for financial aid as a full-time student, students must register at the beginning of the semester for all courses and must take at least 12 semester hours within a 15-week semester. In order to be considered for the NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), students must register before the beginning of the semester. To be considered full-time for financial aid purposes, students can choose to take a traditional course, an on-demand course, an intensive weekend course, and a half-semester short course, as long as they register for all 12 credits at the beginning of the semester.

Students are eligible for part-time aid if they enroll for at least six credits within a 15-week semester. Students not seeking aid can enroll for any course up to the end of the drop/add period for that course.

Application Procedures
Because financial aid is awarded on an annual basis, these application procedures must be followed each year. While admission is not required to initiate an application for financial aid, new students will not receive confirmation of their status until the Office of Financial Aid is notified that the admission process is complete.

• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be completed as soon as possible after January 1, but no later than March 1, preceding the academic year for which assistance is requested. Students are requested to file the FAFSA on the internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Electronic filing is an accurate and fast means of filing for financial aid. When filing electronically, New York State residents may file for TAP at the same time (see below).
• New York State residents should also complete the application for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation will mail this form to a home address if students opt not to file electronically.
• If selected for verification of the FAFSA data, applicants and their parent(s) (when the applicant is dependent), must submit all pages of completed tax forms upon request by the Office of Financial Aid. A verification worksheet must also be submitted. Failure to complete the verification process prior to the start of the academic year may result in the loss of institutional grants.

Conditions of Financial Aid Awards

Terms and Conditions

• All aid is awarded on an annual basis and aid amounts are credited to student accounts for each semester's charges.
• Refunds of any excess credit will be made approximately halfway through each term through the Office of Student Services. Refunds are generated when the student account reflects a credit balance resulting from direct payments and/or the posting of financial aid.
• Since aid is awarded on the basis of annual financial information from students, and college costs change each year, financial aid awards may vary depending on the changing circumstances.
• Outside sources of assistance such as private scholarships and Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) must be reported to the Office of Financial Aid. Financial aid already awarded could be modified as a result.
• All awards of federal and state aid are tentative, pending approval and receipt of funds from the source.
• Costs on which financial aid eligibility is calculated include direct expenses (such as tuition and fees) and indirect expenses (such as books, supplies, personal and incidental expenses).
• Returning students are expected to file the FAFSA by April 1 preceding the academic year for which assistance is requested.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Institutional and Federal Awards
Continued eligibility for most forms of financial aid requires students to achieve specific quality (grade averages) and quantity (credits earned) standards. Below are the academic standards which must be met to comply with federal and institutional requirements. Academic progress is monitored by the Office of Financial Aid through established institutional guidelines.

Baccalaureate Degree Students

Undergraduate full-time status equals 12 or more credits per semester. Federal or institutional aid recipients enrolled less than full-time are required to meet these standards on a basis proportional to their enrollment status. For transfer students, satisfactory academic progress will be measured by equating transfer credits accepted by Sage to the number of cumulative credits earned, as indicated on the above chart.

An incomplete grade in a course will count as an equivalent failing grade. When the incomplete grade is updated, satisfactory academic progress will be reevaluated. Courses from which a student has withdrawn will count as an equivalent failing grade. Non-credit remedial courses will not be included in any part of the satisfactory academic progress calculation.

Students failing to make satisfactory academic progress will lose eligibility for federal and institutional financial aid. They may appeal if they believe that special circumstances have affected their academic performance. The appeal must be in writing and submitted with appropriate documentation to the Director of Financial Aid.

A student may regain satisfactory academic progress by attending Sage for a semester without the benefit of federal and institutional financial assistance and improving academic performance to meet progress guidelines.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for New York State Aid

To be eligible, and remain eligible, for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), students must:

• be a full-time (12 credits or more per semester) and matriculated student at each level of study, and
• maintain good academic standing by meeting program pursuit and satisfactory academic progress requirements as detailed below.

Program Pursuit is defined as:

• completion of at least six credits during each term of study in the first year for which an award is received; or
• completion of at least nine credits during each term of study in the second year for which an award is received; or
• completion of at least 12 credits during each subsequent term for which an award is received.

Sources of Financial Aid for Sage After Work Students

Federal Programs

Federal Pell Grants Up to $5,350 per academic year, with prorated lower amounts for less than full-time enrollment status. These awards are completely need-based and available only to undergraduates who have not previously earned a baccalaureate degree.

Federal Stafford Loans Students can borrow up to $3,500 (freshman year), $4,500 (sophomore) or $5,500 (junior and beyond) with an interest subsidy if need is demonstrated, or unsubsidized if there is not demonstrated need. In addition, all undergraduate students can borrow up to $2,000 in unsubsidized loans. Students who qualify as independent of parents or whose parents are denied a PLUS loan are eligible for up to $4,000 (freshman or sophomore) or $5,000 (junior or beyond ) in additional unsubsidized loan. The interest rate on unsubsidized loans is 6.8% and accrues from the date of borrowing.

Federal Plus Loans Available to parents of dependent students, with the maximum amount available calculated as the cost of education less any financial aid received. These loans are not need-based and interest is paid from the time the loan is disbursed. The interest rate is fixed at 8.5%.

Alternative Loan Programs are offered through lenders to assist students with the cost of education. The yearly limit on an alternative loan is equal to the cost of education minus available financial aid. To receive an alternative loan, students will need to be creditworthy. The lender may also require a cosigner. Information on this option is available through the Office of Financial Aid and lender websites.

Veterans' Administration Benefits Available to those with at least 180 days of continuous active duty between 1955 and 1976. Assistance is in the form of monthly stipends and is dependent on enrollment status. Details can be secured from the Office of the Registrar.

Ombudsman When reasonable efforts through other channels have not resolved a dispute or problem regarding federal education loans, students can contact the Student Financial Assistance Ombudsman. The U.S. Department of Education's Ombudsman Office can propose solutions that may help students and other parties come to a final agreement, although an ombudsman can't reverse a decision or take sides. Reach the ombudsman at:
1-877-557-2575
www.ombudsman.ed.gov
Office of Ombudsman
Student Financial Assistance
Room 3012, ROB #3
7th & D Streets, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202

State Programs

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Up to $5,000 per year for undergraduate full-time students who have been New York State residents for at least one year. TAP awards are based on the net taxable income of the family and are renewable for four years of baccalaureate study.

Aid for Part-Time Students (APTS) applications for this New York State grant are available to students carrying from three to 11 credit hours per semester and who are able to demonstrate need for assistance. To be eligible, individuals must be matriculated in a degree-granting program. Acceptance of an APTS award will reduce lifetime TAP eligibility.

Miscellaneous In addition to the above, New York state administers assistance programs for children of deceased or disabled veterans, deceased corrections officers, and deceased firefighters. Direct grants are available to Vietnam-era veterans.

Native Americans may be eligible for assistance for undergraduate study from both New York and federal sources.

New York State also provides grants and scholarships to students who concentrate in specific fields of study including education, nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

Although separate application procedures are required for state-sponsored aid programs, information and guidance can be secured from the Office of Financial Aid.

Institutional Programs

The following scholarships are open to Sage After Work students meeting the specified criteria:

Corporate Connections Scholarship: To receive this scholarship students must be in their last year of study, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00, and reside in one of the following counties: Albany, Columbia, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady or Schoharie.

Daniel A. Cowan Endowed Scholarship: To qualify for this scholarship, students must be entrepreneurs who own their own business and are paying for their own education.

George I. Alden Trust Endowed Scholarship To students from Massachusetts.

Linda Thomas Franklin, RSC '78, Scholarship in Nursing To a student enrolled full time in the Nursing program with preference given to minorities and then single parents.

Marjorie A. Mellor Nursing Scholarship To Nursing majors with financial need.

Mary Frances Burke Memorial Endowed Scholarship: To qualify for this scholarship the student must be a returning woman enrolled at Sage After Work who began her baccalaureate program after age 25.

Night School Scholarship To B.S.R.N. students attending Sage After Work.

Please refer questions on these scholarships to the Office of Financial Aid at (518) 292-1783.