Tuition and Fees

Admission to classes or laboratories is not permissible until tuition and fees are paid. Payment of tuition and fees may be made in cash, check, money order or credit card. MasterCard, VISA, Discover, and American Express are accepted. All students paying by check are warned to exercise due care as all checks are accepted subject to final payment by the bank. Standard withdrawal procedures must be followed in order to obtain a tuition refund and to remove a student’s name from the official class records.

All tuition and fees are subject to change by the Texas State Legislature and the South Plains College Board of Regents.

It is the responsibility of each student attending South Plains College to register under the proper residence classification and pay the correct tuition and fees. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Rule 21.38, requires that students sign an Oath of Residency and provide proper document verification at the time of application, which is part of the admission application.

The South Plains College Board recognizes the authority of the Coordinating Board to set residency policy as authorized by the Texas Legislature and South Plains College will follow the guidelines as set forth by the Coordinating Board.

The residence classification of a student is determined by the student’s LEGAL residence as defined by the statutes of the State of Texas. The following definitions explain and clarify questions concerning residence under the present law. Additional information, if needed, may be obtained from the Dean of Admissions and Records.

Texas Resident

An adult Texas resident (18 years of age and older) is defined as one who has resided continuously within the State of Texas for 12 months immediately prior to his/her original registration for purposes other than educational. The number of years in college cannot be used towards eligibility for establishing Texas residency. A minor Texas resident is defined as one whose parent(s) or legal guardian has claimed the dependent for federal income tax purposes both at the time of enrollment and for the tax year preceding enrollment. This classification is defined by the State Auditor’s Office and must be adhered to by this institution.

Resident Rate Requirements for Active Duty and Separated Members of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Section 54.241 of the Texas Education Code:

The spouse or child of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been assigned to duty elsewhere immediately following assignment to duty in Texas is entitled to pay the tuition and fees or charges provided for Texas residents as long as the spouse or child resides continuously in Texas. 

An active duty member of the Armed Forces or a veteran that is eligible for benefits under any Federal educational benefits program and the spouse/child of the eligible service member are entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rates provided for Texas residents without regard to the length of time the person has resided in Texas.  The person must file a letter of intent to establish residence in Texas and must reside in Texas while enrolled in the institution.  The child must be 25 years of age or younger on the first day of the semester for which he/she is enrolling.  A copy of the letter of intent can be found on the SPC website.

Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act):

Schools must charge in-state tuition and fee amounts to a veteran who lives in the state where the school is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.  This applies to individuals using transferred benefits and individuals using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.

Public institutions of higher learning must offer in-state tuition and fees to all covered individuals with Post 9/11 GI Bill™ and Montgomery GI Bill™ benefits.

Non-Resident

A non-resident student is defined as one who does not qualify as a Texas resident (out-of-state, international). A non-resident classification is presumed to be correct so long as the student is in the state primarily for the purpose of attending school. To be reclassified as a resident, after one or more years of residency, the student must show proof of intent to establish Texas as his/her own residency.

In-District

Texas resident (must have lived in Texas 12 or more months) who physically resides within the geographic boundaries of the South Plains College District (Hockley County or Whiteface CISD), excluding student housing or residence halls. To qualify for in-district tuition, a student must be 1.) 18 years of age; 2.) have been classified as a Texas resident (12 or more months); and 3.) have been a resident of the South Plains College District for a period of six months, excluding enrollment periods, before first enrollment. A student may re-classify from out-of-district to in-district status, if eligibility requirements are met and appropriate documentation is provided, after physically residing in Hockley County or Whiteface CISD for six consecutive months, excluding enrollment periods, with the intent to make South Plains College District one’s permanent home and for purposes other than educational.

Out-of-District

Texas resident who does not physically reside within the geographic boundaries of the South Plains College District (Hockley County or Whiteface CISD). Aliens living in the United States under a VISA permitting residence must meet the same requirements for qualifying for resident status for tuition purposes, as do U.S. citizens. A permanent resident must meet the same length of residency requirements as a citizen.

Reclassification Appeals

Residency reclassification appeals may be made to the Dean of Admissions and Records. Appeals  will not be considered without documentation and will not be considered after the last class day of each semester.  Appeals will not be granted for previous semesters.

Tuition rates at South Plains College are set by the Board of Regents of the college in accordance with the provisions of Texas statutes. Tuition rates are subject to change without notice by action of the State Legislature or the Board of Regents. Tuition will be charged according to the following schedule:

Fall and Spring Semesters

In-District Texas Resident: $29 per semester hour, with a minimum tuition charge of $58.

Out-of-District Texas Resident: $85 per semester hour, with a minimum tuition charge of $170.

Non-Resident: $101 per semester hour, with a minimum tuition charge of $202.

Five-Week Summer Sessions

In-District Texas Resident: $29 per semester hour, with a minimum tuition charge of $58 per summer session.

Out-of-District Texas Resident: $85 per semester, with a minimum tuition charge of $170 per summer session.

Non-Resident: $101 per semester hour, with a minimum tuition charge of $202 per summer session.

Students enrolling on the Levelland Campus are subject to the following fees. These fees are set by the Board of Regents of the college in accordance with the provisions of Texas statutes. Fees are subject to change without notice by action of the State Legislature or the South Plains College Board of Regents.

Students enrolling at the SPC Reese Center, Lubbock Center and Plainview Center are subject to the following fees. These fees are set by the Board of Regents of the college in accordance with the provisions of Texas statutes. Fees are subject to change without notice by action of the State Legislature or the South Plains College Board of Regents.

Payment of tuition and fees is due by established payment dates for students who pre-register for classes. Payment is due at the time of enrollment for students who register during periods of open registration. Payment may be made by cash, check, money order, MasterCard, VISA, Discover, or American Express.

Payment by Early Registered Students

Payment for open registration is due by established due dates. Students registered during open registration must pay no later than August 16, 2018  at 3:00 pm to avoid the cancellation of the registration schedule. The payment deadline for the spring semester and summer terms will be posted on CampusConnect, in the Business Office and the Office of Admissions and Records. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE PAYMENT REACHES THE BUSINESS OFFICE BY THE ESTABLISHED DUE DATE. ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR MAIL DELIVERY. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A BILL OR STATEMENT IN THE MAIL.  Payment is due at the time of registration for any new enrollment that takes place after the August 16th open registration deadline for Fall 2018. Failure to pay will result in cancellation of all classes.

Methods of Payment

Tuition and fees may be paid using one of the following options.

Option 1: Payment in full of all tuition and fees

Payment may be made by cash, check, money order, MasterCard, VISA, Discover, or American Express. Failure to make payment will result in the cancellation of your schedule.

Option 2: Installment Payment Plan

Students may request the option of paying tuition and fees in prescribed installments as provided by state law (Texas Education Code, Section 54.007a). A $30 non-refundable installment fee will be assessed. To enroll in the installment contract, log into the SPC Portal and go to Student Texan Connect.  Select Student Finance, make a payment, and connect to the payment center.  Payment due dates will be included on the contract. Payment will automatically be drafted on the predetermined due dates to the credit or debit card provided at the time you entered into the contract. A $30 late fee will be assessed for each missed payment.  All plans will require a 50% down payment (or option of 25% down prior to July 20th for Fall) based on the remaining balance of your bill after any accepted aid, scholarships, exemptions, or partial payments.   Fall 2018 payment plans will open June 5th.  More information on 2019 Spring and Summer plan availability will be published online prior to each registration period. 

Payment in Person

Payment may be made in person at the Levelland Campus Business Office in the Administration Building, the SPC Reese Center in Building 8, the SPC Lubbock Center, or at the SPC Plainview Extension Center.

Payment by Mail

Payment for classes may be mailed to one of the following addresses: South Plains College, Business Office, 1401 S. College Avenue, Levelland, TX 79336 or South Plains College, Business Office, 819 Gilbert, Lubbock, TX 79416. Do not mail cash. South Plains College does not accept responsibility for cash sent through the mail. Please include the check holder’s drivers license, phone number, student’s name, and student ID number if available.

Telephone Credit Card Payments

MasterCard, VISA, Discover, and American Express credit card payments are accepted over the phone by calling (806) 716-2400, (806) 716-4676, or (806) 716-4880.

Texan Connect Payments

Credit card payments may be made on Texan Connect.  You may pay in full by credit or debit card, or you may enter into a payment plan (see Installment Payment Plan in section above) and make partial payment. To pay in full, log into the Portal and choose Student Finance through your Texan Connect.

Payment at Open Registration

Payment of tuition and fees is required at the time of enrollment during periods of late registration.  Students may pay for tuition and fees in full during open registration or may pay using the Payment Installment Plan (College Green) explained in the previous section.  Failure to make payment will result in the cancellation of your schedule.

Reinstatement Fee

Students who are withdrawn from classes for nonpayment and are found to be attending classes will be charged a $50 reinstatement fee when they re-enroll in the class.

These tuition and fee tables are provided to assist students in estimating the cost of enrolling at South Plains College. The tables provide cost totals for each SPC campus location for in-district resident students, out-of-district resident students, and  non-resident students. In-district students are those whose legal residence is within the boundaries of the South Plains College District (Hockley County and the Whiteface Independent School District). Students whose legal residence (not school address) is outside the college district are required to pay out-of-district tuition. Students who are not legal residents of the State of Texas are required to pay non-resident tuition. The cost figures presented in this table include tuition and applicable fees, including instructional support fee, student accident insurance and student health services fee. The table does not include special course or equipment fees charged for specific classes, books and supplies, or room and meals. Tables include tuition and fee estimates for fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters only.

All Campuses

Additional fees for specific courses will be charged according to the schedule shown below.

Eligibility

All students of South Plains College enrolled in at least three (3) semester hours for the fall or spring semester are required to participate in an accident insurance plan. Students enrolled in one (1) or more hours in the summer session are required to participate in an accident insurance plan. This plan provides 24-hour coverage on and off campus for medical expenses up to $5,000 resulting from an accidental injury. This policy also provides a $5,000 Accidental Death Benefit if death occurs as the result of an accident. There are named exclusions which may apply to any Accidental Injury or Death Claim.

Primary Excess Benefits

This is an accident policy, not a health or major medical insurance policy. The policy will pay the first $250 of covered accident medical expenses without regard to any other health care plan benefits payable to you. The plan will then pay expenses: 1) after you satisfy any deductible, and 2) only when they are in excess of any amounts payable by any other health care plan. There are named exclusions which may apply to any Accidental Injury or Death Claim.

Fees

Students will be charged $10 per semester or $5 per five-week summer term. There is a $10 charge for a 10-week summer term.For additional information regarding this Accidental Insurance Plan contact: Macha Insurance Agency, Inc., 813 8th St., Levelland, TX, (806) 894-6194.

Students who enroll in the following programs and/or courses on either a full-time or part-time basis will be subject to a $20 program liability insurance fee per term.

All students enrolled in six (6) or more semester hours for the fall or spring semester on the Levelland Campus participate in the Student Health Services program. The fee is not assessed during summer sessions.

Students enrolled in online classes will be charged an additional $35 per credit hour.

Students who are enrolling in a class for the third or more time, will be charged an additional $75 per credit hour for that class. This fee is the result of the state legislature’s decision to no longer fund public colleges and universities for classes repeated three or more times. Some courses may be exempt from this new rule. Please check with your advisor for additional information.

Science Building Use Fee

Students enrolled in a science class located on the Levelland campus will be charged a $100 building use fee.

South Plains College maintains these additional fees. These fees are set by the Board of Regents of the college in accordance with the provisions of Texas statutes. Fees are subject to change without notice by action of the South Plains College Board of Regents.

The refund policy of South Plains College is based on the fact that student tuition and fees provide only a fraction of the cost of providing educational opportunities. When a student enrolls in a class, he or she reserves a place which cannot be made available to another student until he or she officially drops the class. Also, a student’s original enrollment represents a sizeable cost to the college whether or not the student continues in that class. Therefore, the refund policy below will be followed without exception, regardless of the reason for withdrawal (the only exception is students called to active military service during the semester). All withdrawals or dropped courses after the late registration period must be initiated in person through the Admissions and Records Office at the appropriate campus location. Students who OFFICIALLY WITHDRAW from the college shall have their tuition and mandatory fees refunded according to these schedules:

Students who REDUCE their semester credit hour load by officially dropping a course or courses and remain enrolled at the college will be refunded applicable tuition and fees according to the following schedule.  If a student is on a tuition and fee  payment plan, the refund will be reduced by the balance owed to South Plains College.

South Plains College reserves the right to automatically credit the student account for any calculated refund amount allotted for return to a student to pay for any unpaid charges that he or she owes to South Plains College.  South Plains College will cover only those charges that the institution has earned for the portion of the period of enrollment for which the student was in attendance.

All refunds, including payments made by credit card, are directly deposited to the designated account entered through the Student Refund choice option.  To update or change your direct deposit information, go to CampusConnect Dashboard and click on Direct Deposit Setup under Quick Links.

South Plains College contracts with Texas Book Company to provide bookstore services on its campus locations. Texas Book Company repurchases textbooks provided they will be used again, they are needed and are in salable condition. The bookstore follows the standard buy back procedure of buying for up to one-half the sale price at the end of the semester during finals week. However, there is no guarantee either expressed or implied that textbooks will be repurchased. This depends upon the condition of the book when offered for sale, whether or not it will be used again and the number of books in stock.

Books purchased for classes that do not make will be fully refunded upon presentation of the book and receipt of purchase. This refund period takes place during the first two weeks of the fall and spring semester and the first week of each summer session. New books must not be marked in or defaced in any manner.

Texas law and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules provide eligible students with a rebate of tuition up to $1,000 (less if the student paid less in tuition to the institution granting the degree). Eligibility criteria include, but may not be limited to the following: enroll for the first time in the 1997 fall semester or later, request the rebate for the first baccalaureate degree received from a Texas public college, be a Texas resident, attempt all course work at a Texas public institution, have paid Texas resident tuition at all times, and attempt no more than three hours in excess of the minimum required for the degree. Additional information may be obtained from the THECB rules (Sec. 13.81-87) or the Business Office.

In the event of nonpayment of debts owed to the college, one or more of the following actions may be taken: a.) withholding the student’s official transcript, b.) withholding of a degree to which the student would otherwise be entitled, c.) involuntary withdrawal of the student, and d.) account turned over to collection agency with possible legal action to follow.

South Plains College is not responsible for debts contracted by individual students or by student organizations. The college expects all students and student organizations to conduct themselves honorably in all commercial transactions. The college will not assume the role of a collection agency for organizations, firms and individuals to whom students owe bills, nor will the college adjudicate disputes between students and creditors over the existence or the amount of debts.

A student will be responsible for all unearned Title IV funds returned to the federal government, including the portion paid by South Plains College. (See Repayment of Unearned Aid on page 42.) The student will have a “financial hold” placed on their records until payment is made in full. This hold will prevent the receipt of grades and transcripts, as well as future enrollment at the college. The account will be turned over to a collection agency after a 6 month grace period, if payment is not received from the student.

It is the policy of South Plains College to accept checks given by students, personal or otherwise, in payment of tuition and fees, room and meals, and books. Any such check that is returned unpaid by the bank on which it is drawn will be viewed by the college as nonpayment of debts owed to the college. There will be a $30 charge for all checks returned unpaid.  In order for a returned check to be covered, payment must be made in the form of cash, credit card, money order or certified check. Unpaid checks will be turned over to the Hockley County Attorney’s Office for possible legal action. Additional fees will be charged for checks turned over to the County Attorney’s Office. Payment by check will not be accepted from students after two checks have been returned unpaid, or one check has been sent to the County Attorney’s Office.

Returned Checks for Tuition and Fees

A student who fails to pay a returned check may be dropped from semester classes for which the check was written and/or be denied credit for course work completed during the semester. Until the returned check is paid, the student will be barred from receiving grade reports, having transcripts forwarded, and future enrollment at the college.

Returned Checks for Room and Meals

Any student who gives a check in payment of room and meals that is subsequently returned will be given a maximum of 10 business days to cover the check. If the returned check is not covered at the end of the grace period, the student will be required to vacate college housing and surrender any meal cards presently held.

Returned Checks for Other Purchases

Any student who gives a check in payment of any merchandise sold or services rendered by the college that is subsequently returned will have a “financial hold” placed on their records. Until the returned check is covered, the student will be barred from receiving grade reports, having transcripts forwarded, and future enrollment at the college.

Credit Card Chargebacks

It is the policy of South Plains College to accept credit cards and debit cards given by students, personal or otherwise, in payment of tuition and fees, room and meals, and books. Any such credit or debit card which a payment is charged back to SPC by the credit card company on which it is drawn, will be viewed by the college as nonpayment of debts owed to the college. There will be a $30 charge for all credit card chargebacks.  In addition, if the credit card company charges any type of return fee this will be added to the chargeback balance. In order for a Chargeback balance to be covered, payment must be made in the form of cash, money order, certified check or a credit card other than the chargeback card account. Unpaid chargeback accounts will be turned over to Collections according to the SPC Business Office Collection agency policy.