2008-09 Tuition Rates - Effective Fall 2008 (Subject to change by the State Board of Community College)

Tuition (Includes basic tuition and applicable surcharge)
 

Payment of tuition enables the student to obtain a student identification card making him/her eligible to use the library, bookstore, student lounge, and other college facilities.
 

Reciprocity Agreement
Through a cooperative arrangement with the state of Tennessee, residents of Tennessee may be entitled to in-state tuition at Virginia Highlands Community College if they live within 30 miles of the College and are eligible for in-state tuition in Tennessee. Please check with the Admissions Office for specific guidelines.
 

Reduced Tuition Charges
The General Assembly enacted legislation at their 1984 session which clarified the Code of Virginia Section relating to eligibility of students for in-state tuition. To be eligible for in-state tuition rates, students must be domiciled in Virginia for a minimum of one year before the first official day of classes. If a student's parent (s) are employed full-time in Virginia but live out of state, special provision for determining eligibility for reduced tuition rates exist. Spouses and dependents of active duty military personnel are entitled to show eligibility for in-state tuition rates in the same manner as nonmilitary personnel, except that the one year duration period may be waived for active duty military personnel (and their dependent children) who voluntarily elect Virginia as their permanent residents for domiciliary purposes. [page top}
 

Waived Tuition
Section 23-7.1 of the Code of Virginia provides that free tuition shall be granted to children of persons killed, disabled, missing in action or prisoners in any armed conflict.
Eligibility of such children shall be determined by the Division of War Veteran's Claims who shall certify in writing to the admitting institution that tuition should be waived in accordance with the provisions of Section 23-7.3. Application are available in the Business Office.
Section 23-7.4 of the Code of Virginia provides that tuition shall be charged at the in-state rates for any high school or magnet school student, not otherwise qualified for in-state tuition who is enrolled in courses specifically designed as part of the high school or magnet school curriculum in a community college for which he/she may, upon successful completion, receive high school and community college credit pursuant to a dual enrollment agreement between the high school or magnet school and the community college. [page top}
 

Free Tuition
Section 23-7.1:01 of the Code of Virginia provides that free tuition shall be granted to children whose parent has been killed in the line of duty while employed or serving as a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or member of a rescue squad in the Commonwealth. The chief administrative officer of the law-enforcement agency or the state fire marshal certifies that the deceased parent was employed or serving as a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or a member of a rescue squad and was killed in the line of duty.

Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974 as Amended, 1976, 1977, and 1982
To be eligible for free tuition and fees for credit courses, part-time or full-time, a person must meet the following criteria:

• Be 60 years of age or older.
• Be a legal resident of Virginia.
• Had a taxable income not exceeding $15,000 for Federal income tax purposes for the year preceding the year in which enrollment is sought.
• Be admitted to a course after all tuition-paying students have been accommodated.
• Be admitted to the College as a student.

To be eligible for free tuition for audit of credit courses or for taking non-credit, a person must meet the following criteria:

• Be 60 years of age or older.
• Be a legal resident of Virginia.
• Be admitted to a course after all tuition-paying students have been accommodated.
• Be admitted to the College as a student.

Other Fees, Charges, and Fines
The State Board for Community Colleges eliminated all fees, except fees and fines established by the college to encourage compliance with rules and regulation.

Student Testing Fees
Students shall not be charged for credit by exam, SCAT test, or the TABE test required for admission to a program at the college.

Community Education/Public Service
Fees shall be established for Community Education and Community Service offerings equal to or greater than the direct cost of such offerings plus 30% for administrative overhead support.

Technology Fee
The State Board for Community Colleges approved an increase in the technology fee to $3.15 per credit hour, effective spring semester 1999. The funds will be used to finance major improvements in information technology at Virginia's community colleges.
Other Fees and Charges.

A Student Activity Fee ($1.00 per credit hour) is required for all students registered for credit classes. The fee subsidizes student activities as well as cultural events including Arts Array/Film Series. VHCC students receive free admission to all of these events.
General.

By special Board action certain other fees such as parking are authorized on an individual college basis.

Student who damage or lose school property (laboratory or shop equipment, supplies, library materials, etc.) are expected to pay charges for such losses. In addition students may be expected to pay fines for overdue library books, improper parking or other such infractions as determined by the college administration with approval of the Virginia Community College System Offices.

Transcripts, certificates, diplomas, or degrees will not be issued nor will a student be permitted to register until all accounts of the student concerned due to the business office, bookstore, or library have been paid in full.

Books and Materials
Students are expected to purchase all books, supplies, consumable materials that they will use in their classes and studies. The estimated cost of these items will usually average between $200 to $250 per semester for a full-time student. Visually impaired and learning disabled students can arrange for textbooks on tape through Project Excel.
Student Field Trips.

All student will be expected to pay any expenses, including transportation charges for their participation in any field trips. Expenses for student activity trips will be paid out of the student activity funds in accordance with official policies and procedures established for student activity funds.