Fees and Expenses

Average Annual Expenses

The range of estimated nine-month expenses, including fees, for students attending UC Merced during the 2013-14 academic year is shown below. Cost-of-living expenses are adjusted annually and fees are subject to change. These figures are only a guide in computing average expenses, and your own living expenses may differ somewhat from these. If you will need funds beyond those that you and your family can provide, you should apply for financial aid well in advance of registration. Please see the appropriate Undergraduate or Graduate sections on Financial Aid and Scholarships for more information.

Average Annual Expenses (Estimates Only)

Nonresident undergraduate students should add $22,878 and nonresident graduate students should add $15,102 for additional fees and nonresident supplemental tuition.

2013-14 Fee Schedule

Note: Fees shown are per semester

* Total does not include cost of health insurance, if purchased.

Fee Disclaimer

The tuition, fees, and charges posted here are estimates based on currently approved amounts. These figures may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by State funding reductions. Accordingly, final approved levels (and thus a student’s final balance due) may differ from the amounts shown.

Explanation of Fees

Health Services Fee: This mandatory fee supports the Student Health Center, the on-campus medical facility.
Transportation Fee: This mandatory fee supports CatTracks and parking infrastructure.
Student Life Fee: This mandatory fee supports educational, social, multicultural, and skill building activities and events that aid in the growth and development of students.
Associated Students Fee: A different amount for undergraduate and graduate students, this mandatory fee supports student government associations.
Recreation Fee: This mandatory fee supports the recreation center and related sports activities.
Intercollegiate Athletics Fee: This mandatory fee supports competitive sports on campus. It also supports existing club sport teams and the intermural sports program.
Campus Activities Board Fee: This mandatory fee supports events and operations of the Campus Activities Board, which was created to provide a variety of entertainment, co-curricular programming, and social activities for the UC Merced student body.
Early Childhood Education Center Fee: This mandatory fee supports the Early Childhood Education Center, the on-campus childcare facility.

Student Health Insurance

As a non-academic condition of enrollment, all students must purchase Student Health Insurance (SHIP) or request a waiver of this fee. The Fall undergraduate SHIP provides coverage from August through December; the Spring SHIP provides coverage from January through August. The fall 2013 undergraduate fee is $709.00, and the graduate fee is $838.00. The spring 2014 undergraduate fee is $992.00, and the graduate fee is $1,173.00. Graduate students who wish to cover spouses, domestic partners or children should contact Health Services at health@ucmerced.edu for rates.

Course Materials and Services Fees

Students may be charged fees in some courses for the use, rental or consumption of materials, tools or equipment, or for the costs of materials or services necessary to provide a special supplemental educational experience. For example, course materials and services fees may cover the cost of chemicals and glassware for a science laboratory or art supplies for a studio class. They also might cover film rentals, field trips or the purchase/rental of specific equipment.

Reduced Student Fees for UC Employees

Reduced fees are available to UC career employees and certain UC retirees who are eligible for admission to the university. Once admitted, the employee-student must file a petition for the reduction in fees before each semester of enrollment. Employee-students pay one-third of the full-time student services fee and one-third of full-time tuition. No campus based fees are charged and those services are not available to Employee students. Employee students may enroll for up to nine (9) units or three (3) courses per semester, whichever provides the greater benefit to the employee. Employees who are eligible to receive reduced fees under this policy are not eligible to receive an additional reduction in fees under the policy on Part-Time Study.

Part-Time Study

Students approved for enrollment on a part-time basis pay the same student services fees as full-time students, but pay only one-half of full-time tuition. Undergraduate students must file a petition for part-time study with the Office of the Registrar. Graduate students must file their petition with the Division of Graduate Studies. For more information on the eligibility requirements for part-time study, please see the Policies and Procedures  section of this catalog.

Payment of Fees

Registration at UC Merced is a two-step process: (1) students register for classes and (2) the University assesses fees. You must register for classes first so that your fees can be assessed. You must then pay your fees prior to the fee payment deadline. A failure to pay fees in full by the fee payment deadline will result in you being dropped from courses for non-payment. Additionally, a $50 late payment fee will be assessed and a hold will be placed on your account, limiting your access to University services. Accordingly, your academic transcripts will not be released until the delinquent account balance is paid.

Note: the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) fee is part of registration fees and is due and payable, unless waived, at the time registration fees are due.

Electronic billing statements are published the first business day of each month. If you register just prior to the semester fee payment deadline, do not wait for a billing statement to pay your fees. Fees are due and payable by the published deadline whether or not a billing statement has been produced.

Your billing statement will list recent charges and credits. Charges include registration fees, housing charges and any additional billable services. Credits include payments and financial aid disbursements. If you are a financial aid recipient, aid will be applied to allowable charges on your account and any excess will be refunded to you.

You are responsible for the timely payment of any charges not covered by your financial aid.

What if I am late with a payment?

The following may occur when a payment is late:

• A late fee of $50.00 will be charged;
• A hold may be placed on your account impacting your ability to access services (such as subsequent term registration, transcripts, etc.);
• You may be dropped from your classes for non-payment;
• Per section 15 of the Housing contract, the University may initiate termination of tenancy proceedings, which can lead to eviction.

Payment Methods

MyBill.ucmerced.edu

Payment can be made online at MyBill.ucmerced.edu. Students can pay their account balance at this site using MasterCard, American Express, Discover or E-Check.

In-Person

Students can make payments in person at Campus Cashiering Services, located in Kolligian Library next to the Students First Center. Their hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. They are closed all campus holidays.

Mail

Make your check payable to the UC Regents and note your student ID number in the memo field of the check. Mail the check to the following address:

University of California, Merced
Campus Cashiering Services
P.O. Box 2450
Merced, CA 95344

Deferred Payment Plan (DPP)

The Deferred Payment Plan (DPP) offers students the option to pay registration fees and student housing contract amount (if applicable) in three monthly installments per semester. Students receiving sufficient financial aid to cover their registration fees and room and board costs do not qualify for the plan. To qualify for the UC Merced DPP, you must have a semester account balance of $500.00 or greater after any authorized financial aid has been posted to your student account. If eligible, your first installment payment amount will be 40% of the semester account balance. The second and third installments will be 30% each.

The University charges a non-refundable participation fee of $40.00 per semester. This fee will be billed to your student account when your DPP enrollment request is approved. DPP enrollment must be requested each semester - a fall DPP enrollment does not carry over to the spring semester.

Due dates for DPP installment payments are:

For more information about the DPP, please visit the DPP page of the SBS website at sbs.ucmerced.edu.

Deadlines and Penalty Fines

You must pay all prior delinquent debts prior to registering. An additional charge will be made for failure to pay required fees or deposits by the dates announced. If you enroll in courses after the enrollment deadline, you may be assessed a late enrollment fee and possibly, a late payment fee.

Returned Check Policy

The University accepts personal checks as payment on student accounts. However, when a check is not honored by the payer’s bank the University charges a $20 Returned Check Fee to the respective student account. The University will refuse to accept a personal check from a person who is a repeat offender. Any person who has more than two unpaid checks returned to the University is placed on a cash-only basis for all future transactions (i.e. cash, cashier’s check, money order, or payment via the web). A letter will be mailed to the student’s current mailing address indicating that personal checks will no longer be accepted.

Cancellation, Withdrawal and Fee Refunds

To cancel registration before the first day of instruction or to withdraw from the University on or after the first day of instruction, you must complete a Cancellation/Withdrawal form and return the form to the Students First Center. If you do not submit a Cancellation/Withdrawal form, you will be liable for fees according to University policy. It is very important that you contact the Students First Center and initiate withdrawal/leave of absence procedures even if your fees are fully paid by financial aid or other programs. Failing to do so may result in you owing money to the University.

The effective date for determining a refund is the date a completed Cancellation/Withdrawal form is received by the Students First Center. Upon submitting a Cancellation/Withdrawal form a student enrolled in classes will be dropped from those classes.

The percentage of fees that may be refunded is determined by the number of calendar days (not school days) elapsed, beginning with the first day of instruction for the semester.

The $100 deposit paid with the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) is not refundable.

Failure to submit a Cancellation/Withdrawal form: If you are not a financial aid recipient and you fail to submit a Cancellation/Withdrawal form to the Students First Center, you will be presumed to have attended school the entire semester and full fees will be assessed and due. If you are a financial aid recipient, you must contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for information on how this will affect you.

Fee Refund Schedule

New Students Who Receive Title IV Federal Financial Assistance and Withdraw During their First Academic Term:

All other students:

Federal regulations require UC Merced to calculate the amount of federal financial aid that has been “earned” for all students who are receiving financial aid and withdraw from UC Merced during a semester. If the student withdraws prior to completing 60 percent of the semester, a pro-rated portion of the aid must be returned to the federal government. Any portion of unearned aid that must be returned to federal aid programs by UC Merced will be deducted from the amount of the tuition and fee refund. If the amount UC Merced must return to federal aid programs exceeds the amount of the student’s institutional refund, the student’s account may be billed for the balance.

Refund of Health Insurance Fee

All students will be assessed the health insurance fee. However, students who already have adequate health insurance should request a waiver of this fee. If you have paid the health insurance fee and cancel all course registration on or before the first day of instruction, you are entitled to a full refund of this fee. Insurance fees are not refundable after the first day of instruction and coverage remains in effect until the date specified by the insurance plan.

Other Refunds

Charges other than the student services fee, tuition, nonresident supplemental tuition and campus-based fees are refunded according to guidelines and schedules published by the appropriate department.