College Catalog

Tuition and Fees

Residence Status for Tuition Purposes

All residency determinations are made by the NC Residency Determination Service. The basis for determining the appropriate tuition charges is contingent upon whether a student is a resident or a nonresident for tuition purposes. To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must become a legal resident and remain a legal resident for at least twelve consecutive months immediately prior to classification. Thus, there is a distinction between legal residence and residence for tuition purposes. Furthermore, “twelve months legal residence” means more than simple abode in North Carolina. In particular, it means maintaining a domicile (permanent home of indefinite duration) as opposed to “maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an institution of higher education.” The burden of establishing facts that justify classification of a student as a resident entitled to in-state tuition rates is on the applicant for such classification.

For more information and to obtain residency classification, go to www.ncresidency.org. The Admissions Office provides further information at (910) 695-3725.

 

Tuition

Tuition for all courses is set by the North Carolina General Assembly and subject to change by its actions. The in-state curriculum tuition rate for the year 2022-2023 for all college credit courses was set at $76.00 per credit hour up to a maximum of $1,216.00 for sixteen (16) or more credits during the fall and spring semesters and up to a maximum of $912 for twelve (12) or more credits during the summer semester; however, at the time of publication of this document, the State of North Carolina had not set 2023-2024 tuition rates.

Out-of-state tuition for 2022-2023 was set at the rate of $268.00 per credit hour each semester up to a maximum of $4,288.00 for sixteen (16) or more credit hours for the fall and spring semesters and up to a maximum of $3,216 for twelve (12) or more credits during the summer semester; however, at the time of publication of this document, the State of North Carolina had not set 2023-2024 tuition rates.

Student Activity and Technology Fees

The fee structure at Sandhills Community College is in accordance with policies established by the State Board of Community Colleges and is subject to change without notice. All students enrolled are charged a student activity fee of $35.00, a technology fee of $48, an a college access, parking, and security fee of $25 each semester. The student activity fee covers the cost of a parking sticker, an I.D. card, accident insurance coverage, library and audiovisual privileges, activities sponsored by the Student Government Association, a diploma for graduates, intramural and intercollegiate athletics, the use of the college fitness center, and other ancillary student-related college expenditures. The technology fee covers the cost of maintaining the computer labs, providing student printing, and supporting software updates. The college access, parking, and security fee provides support for campus safety.

Special Program/Course Expenses

Some programs and courses require miscellaneous expenses for supplies, tools, uniforms, equipment, liability insurance, or travel. The schedule of classes or the class instructor for the following programs will provide specific information about such costs:

Programs Requiring Additional Expenses

• Architectural Technology
• Automotive Systems Technology
• Aviation Management & Career Pilot Technology
• Baking and Pastry Arts
• Basic Law Enforcement Training
• Building Construction Technology
• Business Administration
• Civil Engineering Technology
• Collision Repair & Refinishing
• Computed Tomography Imaging Technology
• Computer Engineering Technology
• Construction Management Technology
• Cosmetology
• Criminal Justice Technology
• Culinary Arts
• Emergency Medical Science
• Environmental Engineering Technology
• Geomatics Technology
• Health and Fitness Science
• Landscape Gardening
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Medical Office Administration
• Nurse Aide
• Nursing
• Radiography
• Respiratory Care
• Surgical Technology
• Therapeutic Massage

Courses Requiring Additional Expenses

• ART-111, 122, 135, 231, 232, 281, 283, 284
• ASL-111, 112, 211, 212
• AST-111A
• BIO-094, 110, 111, 112, 120, 130, 140A, 163, 168, 169, 175, 275
• CHM-130A, 151, 152, 251, 252
• DRA-145
• ENG-111, 112
• GEL-111
• HEA-112
• HIS-111, 112, 121, 122
• HUM-120, 180, 220
• MUS-110, 112
• PED-125, 163, 170, 173, 181, 212
• PHY-110A, 131, 151, 152, 251, 252
• SCI-110

Students in Health Science and Nursing Programs (excluding Nurse Aide and Therapeutic Massage) will be assigned a $28 fee for medical record tracking in their first curriculum course. This fee is required for clinical participation in these classes:

• CAT-225 CT Clinical Practicum
• EMS-121 AEMT Clinical Practicum
• EMS 122 EMS Clinical Practicum I
• MLT-110 Intro to MLT
• NUR-111 Introduction to Health Concepts
• NUR-214 Nursing Transition Concepts
• RAD-110 Rad Intro & Patient Care
• RCP-110 Intro to Respiratory Care
• SUR-110 Intro to Surgical Technology

In addition, students enrolled in courses that take part in personal service or medical-related situations such as clinical or work-based learning experiences will be required to pay a fee of $18 per year for professional liability insurance.

 

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen Testing

It is the procedure of Sandhills Community College Health Sciences and the Nursing Departments to adhere to all policies of clinical agencies with which the College contractually affiliates for student clinical learning experiences. Drug screens and criminal background checks are required by clinical healthcare affiliates in order to attend clinical rotations. Therefore, students admitted to programs with a clinical component are also required to pay for an official criminal background check and drug screen to meet the requirements of the clinical agencies.

 

Tuition Payments

Students have a number of options when paying tuition:

• They can pay online by accessing their account through Self-Service.
• They can make payments in person Monday–Friday during business office hours. Additional payment dates and times are located on or attached to the back of each student’s registration form and are also posted online at www.sandhills.edu. 
• A drop box is located on the outside wall of Stone Hall and is available for payment twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, unless otherwise posted.
• Students can mail payments to SCC, Attn: Business Office, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

Students should not make out checks in advance as payment is required in full and cash refunds are not given. When making or scheduling payments, students must include fines and fees in the total balance. An unpaid balance on an account can cause a student’s schedule to be cleared of classes.

Students with account balances after the “last payment day” will be dropped from their classes.

 

Tuition and Fees Waivers for Qualified High School Students and Full-Time College Employees

Qualified students may receive a tuition or fees waiver, which will automatically post upon registration. High school students enrolled through one of the pathways of Career and College Promise will receive a waiver of tuition, activity fees, and technology fees for each fall and/or spring semester, subject to change by action of the North Carolina General Assembly. Full-time employees of Sandhills do not receive a waiver of tuition, but the college may pay for one class (up to 3 credits) each fall and/or spring semester.

 

Payment Responsibility

Students are responsible to pay for classes from which they do not officially withdraw prior to the first day of classes. If financial aid is removed or the third-party sponsor does not pay due to a student’s lack of attendance, the student is liable for the tuition and/or fee charges. It is important that official withdrawal occur if a student does not plan to attend class so that the class seat is available for other students.

 

Graduation Fee

Graduating students are encouraged to participate in commencement exercises. All students participating in are required to wear a cap and gown. These are available for purchase in the Bookstore located in the Dempsey Student Center in late April. The approximate cost for the package is $45.00.

 

Refund of Tuition and Fees: State Refund Policy

The refund policy is set by the North Carolina General Assembly and is subject to change by its actions. A pre-registered curriculum student who officially drops one or more classes prior to the first day of the semester will be eligible for a one hundred percent (100%) tuition refund. The student activity and technology fee will also be refunded if the student drops all classes prior to the first day of the semester. Thereafter, a refund of seventy-five percent (75%) of only the tuition will be made through the ten percent (10%) date of the semester. Students do not qualify for a refund of fees after the one hundred percent (100%) date. All tuition will be refunded if a class is canceled. The 100% and 75% dates are published on or attached to the back of the schedule form and are posted online at www.sandhills.edu. 

Refunds will be processed within four weeks of the 10% date. Students should ensure that their address is correct with the Admissions Office so that they receive their refund check in a timely manner. Payments made by credit card will be refunded directly to the credit card account on file in the Business Office.

 

Refund Policies for Financial Aid Students Who Withdraw from Courses

North Carolina Policy

If a student receives North Carolina grant aid and drops all of his or her classes, a state refund calculation must be performed to determine how much aid the student has earned. The earned amount is determined by calculating the number of class days prior to the date of withdrawal. The unearned portion must be returned. This may require repayment by the student of all or part of any State money that the student received. The return of State funds required by this policy will be applied in the following order up to the maximum amount of funds disbursed from each program:

1. Education Lottery Scholarship Program (ELS);
2. Institution-Specific State Grants:
   1. UNC Need-Based Grant (UNC NBG);
   2. North Carolina Community College Grant; or
   3. North Carolina Need-Based Scholarship Programs (NBS);
3. North Carolina National Guard Tuition Assistance Program
4. UNC Campus Scholarships;
5. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Tuition Grant for UNC;
6. John B. McLendon Scholarship Fund.

Federal Refund Policy

The Federal Refund Policy applies to all students receiving federal financial aid funds, including those who qualify for the state refund policy mentioned above. This policy requires the school to determine the amount of Title IV aid a student has earned. The earned amount is determined by calculating the number of class days prior to the date of withdrawal. The unearned portion must be returned. This may require repayment by the student of all or part of any federal money that the student received.

Refunds will be allocated by law according to the following order:

Students may obtain further information regarding these refund policies and refund calculations from the Financial Aid Office located in Stone Hall.

 

Military Refund Policy

Upon request of the studnet, the College shall:

1. Grant a full refund of tuition and registration fees to military reserve and National Guard personnel called to active duty or active duty personnel who have received temporary or permanent reassignments as a result of military operations that make it impossible for them to complete their course requirements; and
2. Buy back textbooks through the Colleges’ bookstore operations to the extent allowable under the College’s buy back procedures.
3. The College shall use distance learning technologies and other educational methodologies, to the extent possible as determined by the college, to help active duty military students, under the guidance of faculty and administrative staff, complete their course requirements.