Financial Information

Expenses

The expenses at Wheaton are moderate and are kept so by the generous gifts and grants from individuals and foundations and by the income from its endowment. Students pay for about eighty percent of the cost of their education; substantial sums are raised annually by the College to cover the difference between what the student pays and the cost of operation.

The tuition rate includes most miscellaneous items for which separate charges are usually made, such as library, student center, and various student activities. Some limitations apply to part-time students.

Substantial student aid funds are available for many students from College, government, and self-help sources. No student should fail to apply to Wheaton for financial reasons.

All costs listed here are as accurate as possible at the time of publication but could be subject to change.

Undergraduate Costs

¹

AYCE means “All You Can Eat.”

²

"Thunder Bucks” is flexible money for use only in Sam’s and Stupe Grill which are located in the Beamer Student Center.

Service Charges

Conservatory of Music Fees

Course Fees

Service charges are nonrefundable. Course fees for officially dropped courses are refunded as follows:

• 100% before the end of the second week of the semester
• None thereafter unless approved by the department

Approximate Fixed Costs per Semester

¹

AYCE means “All You Can Eat.”

²

"Thunder Bucks” is flexible money for use only in Sam’s and Stupe Grill which are located in the Beamer Student Center.

Graduate Costs

Graduate students taking undergraduate courses must pay course fees as listed in the undergraduate costs section. 

Payment Information & Policies (Settlement of Accounts)

All bills are to be paid at the beginning of each semester and received by the established due date shown on each semester bill and in the college calendar. In mid-July and in mid-December, students will receive an email, instructing them to go online and to view and pay their bill. In order for parents to see the bill or statement, the student must sign them up to be an authorized user. Payments can be made online via electronic check (free), and credit or debit cards (a 2.95% service fee will be assessed on this method of payment). Student Financial Services will continue to accept paper checks as another form of payment.

An unpaid account may result in the cancellation of the student's enrollment and will be assessed a $95 late penalty plus a 1½% charge per month on the unpaid balance.

The admissions deposit will be applied to the student's account upon enrollment.

Wheaton College offers payment plans that spread semester costs into equal, monthly installments to be paid over the semester. For more details, please visit the Student Financial Services Billing and Payment page at: https://www.wheaton.edu/admissions-and-aid/cost-and-financial-aid/student-financial-services/billing-and-payment/. Contact Student Financial Services at sfs@wheaton.edu with further questions.

Enrolled students with unpaid past-due balances greater than or equal to $1,000 are not permitted to enroll in future semesters or alter their current semester registration until the past-due balance is brought below $1,000. Students who have attended Wheaton and are no longer currently enrolled at Wheaton College will have a registration hold for future semesters placed on their account if they have an unpaid past-due balance greater than or equal to $25.  Unpaid balances will continue to accrue late fees.  Accounts with unpaid balances greater than or equal to $100 may be sent to a collection agency when the account is 180 days past due, and the student will be responsible for the student account balance, interest, late fees and collection fees. Complaints regarding this policy can be directed towards the Attorney General’s student loan ombudsperson at 1-800-455-2456 or www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/, and the Vice President of Finance and Operations at 630-752-5085 or vp.finance@wheaton.edu.

Due Dates for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Payment will be due based on the approved calendar.  These dates are:

Payment in full is required at least two weeks prior to leaving for overseas programs.

Refunds on Tuition

Effective Dates for Refund. Refunds are computed based on the student’s official withdrawal date (OWD). The OWD is determined by the student providing official notification of withdrawal from the College to the Student Wellness Office.  

Withdrawal from College. To withdraw from college during a semester, a student must initiate the withdrawal process at the Student Wellness Office for undergraduate students, or the Graduate Student Life Office for graduate students (See Withdrawal Procedure in the Student Handbook for details) and deliver the completed withdrawal card with the required approvals to the Registrar's Office. 

Refunds are allowed as follows:

100% before the end of the second week of the semester
80% the third week
70% the fourth week
60% the fifth and sixth weeks
50% the seventh week
40% the eighth week
None thereafter
(For specific dates, see Registrar's calendar in this catalog.)

Part-time students who enroll only in courses scheduled for eight weeks are allowed the following refund: 100% during the first week of the half session; 80% during the second week; 60% during the third and fourth weeks; 40% during the fifth week; and none thereafter.

Reduction of Load. To decrease a student's load, a drop form with the required signatures must be filed with the Registrar. Full refund is allowed for any resulting difference in tuition charge filed during the first two weeks of the course; and none thereafter.

Refunds for Summer Tuition Policy. Summer term tuition refunds are available for students dropping a summer class or a credit bearing internship by the Registrar’s Drop Class Without a “W” Grade Deadline. Courses dropped after the deadline are not eligible for a refund.  For further information and dates, please refer to the Course Schedule.

For the student who has received financial aid, a refund schedule is used which is consistent with the current government regulations. This schedule is published and available to students in Student Financial Services.

Other Refunds

Room and Board. Room and Board refunds will be calculated by the Housing Office.

Service charges are not refundable.

Course Fee Refunds.

100% if dropped by the end of the second week of the course;
None thereafter unless approved by the department.
Some course fees have nonrefundable amounts—see description of Course Fees.

Off-Campus Programs
See Special Programs/GPS for the policy on refunds for college-sponsored off-campus programs.