4.8 Tuition, Fees, and Refunds


(Reaffirmed 12-2-1991; Revised 5-8-2006; 12-5-2022)

The Board of Trustees will establish tuition, fees, and refund rates and schedules for students attending the College.  Tuition, fees, and refund schedules are subject to change at any time and without advance notice. Tuition and fees established by the Board shall be published in the College catalog or other appropriate publications. A schedule of tuition, fees, and refunds will be available from the College website, Registrar’s Office, or Cashier’s Office.

Procedures (Revised 8-25-2008)

4.8.1    Installment Payment (Revised 12-5-2022)

Installment payments for tuition and fees are permitted through a third-party installment plan processor identified by the College. 

4.8.2    Credit/Debit Card Payment (Revised 12-5-2022)

Use of credit/debit cards in paying for tuition and fees is permitted.

4.8.3      Business Waiver

 Individuals whose tuition and/or fees are being paid by an in-district business or industry will be charged the in-district rate.

4.8.4      Senior Citizens Waiver (Revised 5-20-2014; 12-5-2022) 

 Tuition for ECC credit courses will be waived on a space available basis for any Missouri resident who is 65 years of age or older on or before August 1 of a school year.  Proof of eligibility will be required when registering.  Courses must be taken on an audit basis, contingent on space availability, and all course prerequisites must be met prior to registration.  General fees and special course fees are not included in the Senior Citizens Waiver.  The Senior Citizens Waiver does not apply to courses offered only on a non-credit basis or programs offered through educational partners.  Senior citizens may begin registering three (3) weeks prior to the first day of class.

4.8.5 Tuition for Veterans (Revised 2-18-2015; 12-5-2022)

 The following individuals shall be charged the in-state rate or be otherwise considered a resident for tuition purposes:

  • Veterans using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill – Active Duty Program) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill) of Title 38, United States Code, who live in the state of Missouri while attending East Central College (regardless of their formal state of residence).
  • Persons using transferred post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits who live in Missouri while attending East Central College (regardless of their formal state of residence).
  • A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in Missouri while attending East Central College (regardless of their formal state of residence).

4.8.6    Appeals for Tuition/Fees Refund (Revised 12-5-2022)

 In the event of extenuating circumstances and with proper written documentation, a partial or total refund for tuition and/or fees may be granted. Students may request an appeal through the office of the Chief Student Affairs Officer if one of the following occurs:  death of an immediate family member, extended illness of student/immediate family member, military obligation, or institutional error.

  1. The designated appeal form and required documentation must be submitted to the Chief Student Affairs Officer no later than the last day of the semester following the semester for which the charges are being appealed.
  2. Incomplete appeals will automatically be denied.
  3. Appeals based on lack of awareness of the College’s refund policy will not be reviewed.
  4. The student must be officially withdrawn from the course before the appeal is submitted.
  5. A committee will review the appeal and make a decision within 30 days of submission. A written notification stating the appeal outcome will be mailed to the student’s home address.
  6. Fees listed as non-refundable are not considered in the appeal and will not be refunded in the result of an approved appeal.
  7. Bookstore charges are not considered in the appeal and will not be refunded in the result of an approved appeal.
  8. All appeal decisions by the committee are final and no further appeal is possible.