Tuition
Tuition is set by the State Board of Community Colleges and is subject to change without notice. Cost of textbooks and supplies are additional expenses and vary according to the program of study. Effective Fall Semester 2008 tuition and fees are as follows:

Out-of-State Students tuition is $233.30 per credit hour
*maximum tuition is $3,732.80
*maximum activity fee is $32.00
*maximum technology fee is $16.00
*parking fee is $10.00
*maximum tuition and fees per semester $3,790.80

Fees are payable each semester upon registration and must be paid before classes begin or make arrangements for payment through the Financial Aid Office. A student is not registered until tuition and fees are paid in the Business Office.

Establishment of Residency
The basis for determining the appropriate tuition charges rests upon whether a student is a resident or a nonresident for tuition purposes. Every applicant for admission must make a statement as to the length of his or her residence in North Carolina, with assessment by the institution in accordance with current North Carolina law (General Statute 116-143.1).

To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must have established legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for at least 12 months immediately prior to his or her classification as a resident for tuition purposes.

To be eligible for classification as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must establish that his or her presence in the State currently is, and during the requisite 12-month qualifying period was, for purposes of maintaining a bona fide domicile rather than of maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an institution of higher education.

An individual shall not be classified as a resident for tuition purposes and, thus, not rendered eligible to receive the in-State tuition rate, until he or she has provided such evidence related to legal residence and its duration as may be required by officials of the institution of higher education from which the individual seeks the in-State tuition rate.

North Carolina provides certain tuition benefits for spouses, family members and military dependents. Persons who qualify for these benefits include spouses of North Carolina residents, spouses and dependents of active duty military personnel stationed in North Carolina and family members of deceased or disabled emergency workers.

If you believe you qualify for these benefits, you should contact the Admissions and Records Specialist in the Records Office for a supplemental form. When you have completed the supplemental form, please submit both that form and a copy of your residency status application to the Admissions and Records Specialist.

The burden of establishing the facts, which justify classification of a student as a resident entitled to in-state tuition rates is on the applicant. International students, depending on visa classification, may not be eligible for North Carolina residency status and in-state tuition.

Copes of the applicable North Carolina law and institutional regulations, contained in the 1995 MANUAL TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OF NORTH CAROINA IN THE MATTER OF STUDENT RESIDENCE CLASSIFICATION FOR TUITION PURPOSES which govern these determinations are available from the Admissions and Records Specialist in the Records Office for inspection upon request.

Residence-and-Tuition Status Application Forms for change in residency status, for purposes of tuition charges, are available from the Admissions and Records Specialist in the Records Office in the Whitcomb Student Center Building.

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Residency
If you currently are classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes, it is your right to petition for a change in classification to that of a resident if you claim that you are now and, for at least a twelve-month period immediately preceding that date of such petition, have been a legal resident of the State of North Carolina.

Students wishing to be classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes must complete the Residence-and-Tuition Status Application form available in the Records Office located in the Whitcomb Student Center Building. The burden of establishing the facts, which justify classification of a student as a resident entitled to in-state tuition rates, is on the applicant.

Activity Fee (subject to change)
Fall and Spring Semesters:
Each student enrolled in twelve semester hours or more (full-time) will pay an $18.50 per semester student activity fee. Part-time students will pay activity fees according to the following schedule:

1 - 4 Credit Hours $8.00
5 - 7 Credit Hours $16.00
8 - 11 Credit Hours $24.00
12 or more Credit Hours $32.00

Summer:
Each student (full-time or part-time) will pay a $1.00 student activity fee.

Graduation Fee
A $25 graduation fee will be charged to all students completing a certificate, diploma or associate degree. The fee includes the cost of providing the certificate, diploma or degree, cover, cap, tassel, gown and 10 graduation invitations.

Technology Fee
1-3 credit hours $10.00 per semester
4 or more credit hours $16.00 per semester

Parking Fee
$10.00 fall and spring semester
$5.00 summer term

Senior Citizens
North Carolina residents who are 65 years or older may take any curriculum courses or programs at Rockingham Community College with no tuition charged. It does not matter whether these senior citizens take one course or five--there is still no tuition. Textbook costs are the same for all students, regardless of age.

For Community and Workforce Education courses, senior citizens 65 or older who are North Carolina residents, pay no registration fees unless the course is being offered as "self-supporting." In many of the courses, however, there are charges for materials which senior citizens do pay.

Because costs are lower for senior citizens, Rockingham Community College has become a favorite place for people over 65 to meet, to learn new skills that may bring in some extra income, to explore new ideas, and to stay active during their retirement years.

Hope Scholarship Tax Credit and/or Lifetime Learning Credit
The Hope "Scholarship" is a tax credit available to eligible students beginning with post-secondary education expenses paid after December 31, 1997. The Hope "Scholarship" is not technically a "scholarship" but a tax credit to eligible students during their first two years of post-secondary education. The tax credit covers 100% of the first $1,000 of tuition and fees plus 50% of the second $1,000 during the qualified period. The credit is non-refundable. The amount of tuition and fees covered by the HOPE tax credit is reduced by other grants and/or scholarships received (PELL Grant, SEOG, scholarships, etc.) Student eligibility is as follows: (1) enrolled in a degree, certificate, or other program leading to a recognized educational credential and (2) enrolled at least half-time.
Beginning on July 1, 1998, taxpayers may be eligible to claim a non-refundable Lifetime Learning Tax Credit (LLTC) against their federal income taxes. The LLTC can be claimed only for qualified tuition and fees paid after June 30, 1998. That is to say, to claim LLTC, the tuition and fees required to be paid in order to be enrolled must be paid for classes beginning on or after July 1, 1998. (Charges and fees associated with student activities, insurance, books, equipment, transportation, etc., are not qualified expenses.)
Through 2002, the amount that may be claimed as a credit is equal to 20% of the taxpayer&rsquos first $5,000 and after 2002, the credit amount is equal to 20% of the taxpayer&rsquos first $10,000 of out-of-pocket qualified tuition expenses. Thus, the maximum credit a taxpayer may claim for a taxable year is $1,000 through 2002 and $2,000 thereafter. The credit is available for enrollment in any course of instruction to acquire/improve a student's job skills during the calendar year.

Tuition Refunds
A. Curriculum

1. Classes Which Begin During First Week of Semester
   A student who officially withdraws prior to the first day of class(es) of the academic semester as noted in the college calendar is due a 100 percent refund. Also, a student is eligible for a 100 percent refund if the class in which the student is officially registered fails to "make" due to insufficient enrollment. A student who officially withdraws from the class(es) prior to or on the official 10 percent point of the semester will receive a 75 percent refund.
2. Classes Which Begin Other Than First Week of Semester
   For classes beginning at times other than the first week (seven calendar days) of the semester, a student who officially withdraws from the class prior to the first class meeting will receive a 100 percent refund. A student who officially withdraws from the class prior to or on the 10 percent point of the class will receive a 75 percent refund. To comply with applicable federal regulations regarding refunds, federal regulations will supersede the state refund regulations stated in this rule.
   Note: A student who officially withdraws from a class(es) will receive the pro rata share of his/her activity fee.

B. Occupational Extension

1. Membership Classes
   A student who officially withdraws from an occupational extension class(es) prior to the first class meeting will be eligible for a 100 percent refund. Also, if an applicable class fails to "make" due to insufficient enrollment, a student is eligible for a 100 percent refund.
   After the class begins, a student who officially withdraws from the class prior to or on the 10 percent point of the scheduled hours of the class will be given, upon request of the student, a 75 percent refund. The rule applies regardless of the number of times the class meets or the number of hours the class is scheduled to meet.
2. Contact Hour Classes
   A student who officially withdraws from a contact hour occupational extension class(es) prior to the first class meeting will be eligible for a 100 percent refund. Also, if an applicable class fails to "make" due to insufficient enrollment, a student is eligible for a 100 percent refund. After the class begins, a student who officially withdraws from the class prior to or on the 5th calendar day of the first day of class(es) will be given, upon request of the student, a 75 percent refund. The rule applies regardless of the number of times the class meets or the number of hours the class is scheduled to meet.

Additional Costs
Accident Insurance
Accident insurance, covering the student during hours in school, is available.
The premium is subject to change by the insuring agency. This insurance may be required in certain high-risk programs.

Textbooks and Supplies
Costs of textbooks and supplies are additional expenses for which the student should plan. These expenses vary according to the program of study.

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