Graduated from school

[TxQuiltGirl]

When I started my program a year and a half ago, I was given a total cost of attendance for the entire program. I was told that as long as I finished the degree in the specified timeframe and didn't take any breaks my costs would not go up. I received an award letter for my financial aid, which included the total cost of attendance, the estimated amount of my student loans I would receive, and the "discount" they give to employees of my company. It also included the payments I would have to make that FA didn't cover.

 

I made every payment and made them on time. The last one was due in June. I graduated in November, but now they are saying that I owe another $1374!! I never agreed to pay this extra amount, and I was never told I would have to, until this week.

 

Is the agreement we had at the beginning of my program just completely worthless? I can't understand how they can just add another $1400 to the cost of my program and expect me to pay it even though it is not mentioned in ANY of the paperwork, and I was never informed of the additional charge. Do I have any recourse at all?

 

 

ETA: Of course, I have yet to receive my degree or transcripts. They haven't mentioned withholding it, but I'm sure they will try.

Edited November 30, 2006 by TxQuiltGirl

[las_03]

BTW, CONGRATULATIONS first of all on completing your degree!!!

 

What a bummer on the fees. Surely, something must be wrong or you would have received something earlier. Has the company been putting in their share?

 

Please tell me this is not at a small religious affiliated college on the SW Freeway.

[TxQuiltGirl]

BTW, CONGRATULATIONS first of all on completing your degree!!!

 

What a bummer on the fees. Surely, something must be wrong or you would have received something earlier. Has the company been putting in their share?

 

Please tell me this is not at a small religious affiliated college on the SW Freeway.

 

 

No it isn't. It's a school out of Colorado. The company reimbursed me for 75% of tuition and fees, but that really isn't the point. The point is, I did not agree to $28.5k, I agreed to $27k.

[ziggypop]

CONGRATS on finishing!!! That's so great that you did that!!

 

The fees thing seems a bit odd, to say the least. Do they at least say what they're for or what department they're coming out of? Like you said, it just seems completely off that they can just tack on that much money after you've finished! Did you order the special, gold-plated diploma or something??? Who have you talked to there? I'd move it up the "chain of command." When you got the cost of attendance, was it a sort of contract, as in, did you sign it? I would think that would bind them. What I'm really confused about (other than the whole situation!) is how that's the first you'd heard of it. I've NEVER heard of a school allowing you to continue with classes if they didn't have their money first (or at least an acceptable payment plan), especially for that much money. Usually, they drop you if they haven't been paid; I remember standing in that line at the FA office each semester because loan disbursement wasn't going to be until a week after classes started (EVERY semester -- you'd think they'd have that worked out at some point!) and I had to sign that FA was coming or something like that or else they wouldn't let me even attend my first class.

 

I don't know that I've actually given you any help here, except my sympathy, but I hope it was something! Again, if nothing else, congratulations on finishing -- it's such a wonderful accomplishment!!