Costs and Financial Aid
TUITION AND COSTS
Total program tuition for 2007–2008 will be $4,750 + $760 technology fee for a total of $5,510. Students may enroll in an optional spring internship (the fee for the internship is an additional $150). Fees are subjects to change without notice.
The cost per course is as follows:
| Course | Cost per course |
| Legal Survey | $870 |
| Legal Research | $870 |
| Law Office Management | $870 |
| Specialty | $2,900 |
| Internship (optional) | $150 |
Applicants accepted to the program must make a $100 advance tuition deposit upon acceptance to ensure their place in the program. This deposit is applied to program tuition and is non-refundable. Books, course packs and the cost of the Westlaw passwords are not included in tuition.
TERMS OF PAYMENT
Payment Schedule:
If not using one of the Deferred Payment Plans, tuition is due at registration.
Deferred Payment Plans:
Meredith offers two alternate payment plans:
OPTION 1: A student may elect to pay one-half of the semester’s tuition on the due date and the remaining half at mid-semester (October 31 for fall and March 31 for spring). There will be a $25 service charge each semester for this payment option. This option is elected on a semester by semester basis.
OPTION 2: A student may elect to spread his or her entire year's tuition into ten (10) equal payments beginning in August each year. There is a $60 annual fee for this service which is administered by Tuition Management Services, 800-722-4867. Students who wish to select this option should contact T.M.S. as soon as they are admitted to make certain not to miss T.M.S.'s cut-off date.
Withdrawals/Leaves of Absence:
If a students withdraws, is dismissed, or is granted a leave of absence from Meredith before the end of a semester, the student is responsible for the following percentage of the full semester tuition:
Up to and including the 5th day of the semester 0%
6th through 10th day of the semester 20%
11th through 20th day of the semester 40%
After 20th day of the semester 100%
Any refund due will be mailed from the accounting office to the student upon receipt of an official withdrawal notification from the dean of students or an official leave of absence notification from the registrar.
The same policy will apply for reduction of credit hours above the 18 hour level and for part-time students who drop or withdraw from courses.
A student is responsible for 100 percent of course fees and technology fees after the 5th day of the semester.
Students who are receiving financial assistance from federal programs, are enrolled at Meredith for the first time, and who withdraw from Meredith, will have any refund determined according to federal policy. Eligibility for a refund may extend to 60 percent of the semester.
Refunds calculated under federal guidelines will be repaid to the programs from which funds were received in the following order: FFELP loans, federal Perkins loan, federal Pell grant, federal SEOG grant, other title IV assistance, other federal sources of aid, other state, private, or institutional aid, the student.
Others students receiving financial assistance and who withdraw from the College will have their refund calculated as shown in paragraph one under Withdrawals. The funds will be prorated according to their sources (State, Institutional, Student) and repaid to the funds in the sequence shown in the previous paragraph.
Contractual Agreement:
The preceding statements as to charges and terms of payments are the equivalent of a contract between the College and its students. No College administrator can modify these regulations without specific authorization from the Meredith Board of Trustees. A student is not officially registered or entitled to enroll in any class until satisfactory financial arrangements have been made with the business office. Under no circumstances will a student's transcript or diploma be released until their account is paid in full.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Students who are enrolled for the two semester evening Paralegal Program are eligible for the Federal Stafford loan program. Subsidized loans have the interest deferred until six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Students who are not eligible for the subsidized loan can borrow from the unsubsidized Federal Stafford loan program. Through this program students are responsible for paying interest as it becomes due, or they can defer the interest until after graduation.
In order to be considered for either the subsidized or the unsubsidized Stafford loan, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To allow time for the loan application to be processed, students should submit the FAFSA at least 5 to 6 weeks before the expected date of enrollment in the program. You can fill out the form on-line before being accepted in the program at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Several professional organizations including the North Carolina Paralegal Association and the Raleigh Wake Paralegal Association offer competitive tuition scholarships for students in paralegal programs.
A number of employers also offer tuition reimbursement for the program. Please have your employer call the program for any information.
