Financial Matters FAQ

How Much Will My Tuition And Fees Cost?

When Is My Tuition Due?

Where Do I Pay?

What Are My Methods Of Payment?

How Can I Pay In Installments?

How Do I Pay With My Financial Aid Award?

How Does My Company Or Agency Pay?

How Are Scholarships Applied To My Charges?

What Happens Is My Account Is Past Due?

What Are My Payment Responsibilities?

How Do I Remove Tuition Charges From My Account?

How Are Refunds Processed?

Tax Credits Save Money

What is the Hope Scholarship tax credit?

What is the Lifetime Learning tax credit?

How Much Will My Tuition And Fees Cost?

Tuition and Fees for Credit Classes

Tuition - $79 per credit EFFECTIVE SUMMER TERM 2010

Service Fee for Credit Classes - $9 per credit EFFECTIVE SUMMER TERM 2010

Lab Fees or Instructional Fees- Check the course description in the schedule for lab fees or instructional fees specific to the class you are taking.

Late Registration Fee - $10 per credit after the first week of the term with the exception of classes starting later in the term.

Tuition and Fees for Adult Continuing Education Classes

Adult Continuing Education classes are priced individually, are not eligible for financial aid and cannot be applied to CGCC certificates or degrees. For tuition and fees, check each course's listing in the schedule.

Discounts for Older Adults

If you are 62 or over when classes begin, you are eligible to receive a 50 percent tuition discount on both credit and adult continuing education classes.  The tuition discount does not apply to lab and other class fees.  Certain classes may not allow tuition discounts.  Check the course description for eligibility.  Discounts do not apply to full classes. You will be notified if the class is full and the tuition discount will not apply.  Request your discount at the time of payment or by calling the cashier at 541-506-6057.

When Is My Tuition Due?

Upon registration, your account balance is shown on your schedule of classes (available online through the QuickLink for Online Services). 

For credit classes, full payment or college-approved financial arrangements must be in place by the first Friday of the term.  If you enroll after that date, payment is due within one week.  If you have financial arrangements that will not cover the full term charges, you must pay the difference by the due date.

For adult continuing education classes, full payment is due at the time of registration.

Payments may be mailed to the Business Office, Columbia Gorge Community College, 400 East Scenic Drive, The Dalles OR 97058.

Where Do I Pay in Person?

The Dalles:  The Business Office Cashier is open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Fall Term extended hours:  September 21- 24, Open 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.

Hood River:  Open 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, Monday - Thursday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Friday

What Are My Methods Of Payment?

Cash: U.S. funds only.

Checks: Personal checks, travelers’ checks, cashiers checks, and money orders accepted for the amount due only.  Make payable to Columbia Gorge Community College or CGCC.  Two-party, post-dated and altered checks will not be accepted.  A $25 returned check charge is assessed on any returned check used in payment of your account, whether written by you or another party.

Credit Cards:  VISA, MasterCard & Discover accepted.

How Can I Pay In Installments?

An Installment Plan allows you to pay half of your tuition and fees by the first Friday of the term, and defer the balance until the sixth Friday of the term. 

For Fall Term 2009: Pay half by September 25, 2009 and the balance by October 30, 2009.

For Winter Term 2010: Pay half by January 8, 2010 and the balance by February 12, 2010.

For Spring Term 2010: Pay half by April 2, 2010 and the balance by May 7, 2010.

To qualify for the Installment Plan, you must meet all of the following requirements: provide your valid social security number; have a satisfactory payment history, a zero account balance and have signed the Installment Loan agreement for the current term.  Apply at the College Cashier.

CGCC may deny or rescind an Installment Plan agreement if you miss the required payment due dates, provide inaccurate or incomplete information, have a poor credit history with the college, or do not meet the eligibility requirements.

How Do I Pay With My Financial Aid Award?

If you have received and returned your award letter, financial aid funds will be posted to your account beginning the fourth week of the term.  If your award exceeds your account balance, you may receive a refund check by mail.  If your award is not enough to cover all term charges, you must pay the difference by the first Friday of the term.  If your aid is delayed, you will need to pay by this date.  Any excess payment will be refunded after the award check has been posted to your account.

How Does My Company Or Agency Pay?

Arrangements for payment by an agency or company must be approved by the college before the term starts.  Once arrangements have been made, take your payment authorization to the business office, or fax it to 541-506-6052 before the term begins.  The student is responsible to insure that a payment authorization is on file by the payment due date, and for payment of any unpaid charges and late payment penalties.  You must register for all classes, including wait-listed, open-entry and late-starting classes by the fourth week of the term.  The college will not bill any additional charges after that date.

How Are Scholarships Applied To My Charges?

CGCC Foundation scholarship awards are applied directly to your account.  Scholarship checks from private donors, service clubs, or schools are applied to your account when received.  You are responsible for charges that exceed your award.

What Happens Is My Account Is Past Due?

Full payment of your account balance must be received when due. One week after the due date, a late payment penalty of 10 percent of your account balance, up to $75, will be assessed. At that time, a hold will also be placed, restricting future registration and transcripts.

When the term is over, past due accounts are referred to the Oregon Department of Revenue or another outside collection agency, and may be subject to additional collection charges, attorney fees and credit impairment.

If your account is repeatedly past due or has been in collections, the college may drop you from classes, or require you to pay future registration fees immediately upon enrollment.  The college reserves the right to institutionally withdraw you if your account becomes past due or has an unpaid balance from a prior term.

If you pay your past due account by check, any transcript requests will be delayed 15 days. To avoid this delay, please pay by cash or bank card.

What Are My Payment Responsibilities?
You are responsible for full payment of all charges on your account by the payment due date, even if your account is being paid by another party.  You are responsible for keeping CGCC informed of any address and telephone changes.

Even if you are under 18 years of age, you will be held liable for any charges on your account under ORS 348.105.

When you register for a class, you are liable for payment of the charges on that class, whether or not you attend. To have the charges removed, you must personally drop the class by the drop deadline.

How Do I Remove Tuition Charges From My Account?

Charges are applied to your account when you register for a class. All of the charges associated with a class will be removed if you officially drop within the refund period.  Credit classes must be dropped online.  Drop requirements may vary for adult continuing education courses. No charges will be removed if you drop after the drop deadline.  If an extreme hardship prevented you from continuing your studies through the term, you may request a tuition credit by petitioning the Dean of Student Services.

How Are Refunds Processed?

If your account has a credit balance in excess of $15, a refund will automatically be issued. If you have a credit balance of less than $15, you may request a refund by calling the Business Office at 541-506-6057.

• Refunds from tuition, fees and bookstore charges are first applied to outstanding charges on your account, even if payment is not yet due.

• If the credit balance is the result of a payment by a personal check or cash, we will issue a check in your name.

• If your credit balance is the result of a bank card payment, your refund will be applied to that same bank card account.

• Refunds resulting from check overpayment are held two weeks from the date of the original payment.

Tax Credits Save Money

The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA) created a number of options to help families meet the cost of a college education.  Among the tax and savings options are two educational tax credits: the Hope Scholarship tax credit and the Lifetime Learning tax credit.  For more information, see your tax professional or the IRS.

What is the Hope Scholarship tax credit?

A tax credit of up to $2,500 for the first four years of post-secondary education for students who are enrolled at least half-time in one academic period during the tax year. For more information, see your tax professional or the IRS.

Page Last Reviewed or Updated: June 07, 2009

What is the Lifetime Learning tax credit?

This credit applies to eligible tuition and fees for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education course work paid on or after July 1, 1998.   A family can claim a tax credit of up to 20 percent of $10,000 in educational expenses, up to a maximum credit of $2,000 each tax year.  For more information, see your tax professional or the IRS.

How will CGCC help?

A form 1098-T is mailed by January 31 each year to eligible students with a valid social security number who were billed during the prior tax year. The form will indicate enrollment status and the total of all tuition and fees that may qualify for an educational tax credit. Caution! The fees reported may not be eligible in your situation. To determine which fees are eligible for you, please consult a tax advisor. CGCC cannot help with tax-related questions.