Costs and Financial Aid

Below are the estimated costs of the 2024 Summer Scholars program for 6 Credits. 

_{*Fees include University Fee, Activity Fee, Technology Fee, Library Fee, Transition Fee, Capital Outlay Fee and Academic Support Fee. Additional program fees are charged based on the student’s major and should be added to the total above. Tuition is charged at a per-credit-hour rate.} 

_{Tier one applies to Health, Physical Education & Exercise Sciences, Health Sciences, Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, Science, and Physics majors.}

_{Tier two applies to Spanish-English Translation & Interpretation, Foreign Language, Anthropology, Mathematical Sciences, Undeclared-Humanities & Sciences, Psychology, and Mass Communication majors.}

_{Tier three applies to English, International Studies, Liberal Studies for Early & Elementary Education, Philosophy, Political Science, Gender, Sexuality & Women Studies, Sociology, History, Religious Studies, African American Studies, and Pre-Nursing majors.}

_{**Dining charges include 50 Swipe Meals and $100 Dining Dollars}

Financial aid and Summer Scholars

Summer scholarships are available for every participating student. Opportunities include:

• Need-based aid for students whose 2023-2024 FAFSA determines unmet need for the cost of the Summer Scholars program
• Pell eligible students as determined by the 2023-2024 FAFSA will receive full funding for the Summer Scholars program
• Students who identify with or who are demonstrated supporters of the AAPI community may apply for AAPI scholarships
• Students who identify with or who are demonstrated supporters of the Men of Color community may apply for Men of Color scholarships

Students interested in receiving financial aid for Summer Scholars must submit a 2023-2024 FAFSA even if they have submitted a 2024-2025 FAFSA for the upcoming academic year. Financial aid eligibility for the Summer 2024 semester is calculated using the 2023-2024 FAFSA. The deadline to submit the 2023-2024 FAFSA is June 30, 2024.

Your Student Bill and Making Payments

Payment Due Date 

Summer Scholars will receive a special billing statement shortly after June 20, 2024, with a payment deadline of July 18, 2024. The billing dates will be updated soon. 

Financial Aid and Scholarship Awards 

The Office of Financial Aid Office cannot disburse summer awards until two days after students start classes. Students should deduct their anticipated financial aid and/or scholarship awards from their bill and submit their payment for the difference by July 18, 2024. If the anticipated awards exceed or pay the balance, the student is not required to make an out-of-pocket payment; however, it is the students’ responsibility to ensure that their financial awards pay their student account balance. 

Assigning Authorized Users 

Students may grant access to their parents and/or other parties to view and pay their eStatements  (the online billing statement) by assigning them as Authorized Users in the Billing and Payment site. Authorized Users may receive email notifications when eStatements are generated, view eStatements,  and make online payments on behalf of the student.  

NOTE: Authorized User access allows access to the Billing and Payment site only. Students must complete the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) Consent Form to grant parents the right to contact VCU offices on behalf of the student. The FERPA Consent Form is available online at go.vcu.edu/ferpa. 

How to Assign Authorized Users: 

Log in to the myVCU portal available at my.vcu.edu. Select the View/Pay Student Bill option under “General Resources” and then: 

• Select the “Authorized Users” tab under My Account in the separate Billing and Payment site.
• Enter the email address(es) for those individuals who should be assigned Authorized User access.
• Once assigned, the Authorized User will receive an email with a temporary password. Authorized Users will access the Billing and Payment site.

Payment Info 

• Students can access and pay their eStatements online through eServices.  
• To make an online payment students should login into eServices with their eID and password and make the following selections: Student > Student account > Make a payment > eStatements 
• Cash, credit cards, and check payments (paper and web) are accepted.  
• Credit cards accepted are VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, and American Express. A nonrefundable convenience fee is charged for all credit card payments and credit card payments may be made online only.  
• Paper checks may be mailed to the address on the remittance advice (payment slip) on the bottom of the detailed invoice.  
• Cash or paper check payments may also be remitted in-person at the VCU Cashier’s Office in the  Harris Hall Student Services Center, located at 1015 Floyd Ave., on the1st Floor. The Cashier’s Office hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.  

Please note that the VCU Student Accounting Department does not recommend using your bank’s bill pay option because it does not allow for the remittance advice (payment slip) to be included with the payment, which may lead to delays or errors in the application of the payment to the student’s account. 

Students and Authorized Users are encouraged to pay online through the VCU Billing and Payment site.

Refunds

If payments exceed the balance owed to Virginia Commonwealth University, the student may receive a refund. Refunds, with the exception of credit card payments and excess federal Parent PLUS loan proceeds (when applicable), are issued to the student in the student's name regardless of the original payment source(s).

All refunds are subject to review.

Credit card policy

In accordance with credit card regulations, overpayments made by credit card will be returned to the credit card account. All other overpayments will be refunded to the student.

Direct deposit

Financial aid and scholarship recipients are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit bank authorization. This authorization remains in effect until a written cancellation is submitted to Disbursement Operations.

Students not enrolled in direct deposit will receive a refund check via mail. A current permanent mailing address must be on file with the Office of the University Registrar (formerly Records and Registration) for the refund to be processed.

Overpayments

Overpayments from excess Summer Scholars financial aid and scholarships should be refunded automatically through the financial aid refund process. Financial aid awards and scholarships will not pay towards the account until at least two days after the summer classes begin. Students typically do not receive summer financial aid refunds until about two weeks after starting summer classes.

Typically, students participating in the direct deposit program will receive their refunds in seven to ten business days after the financial aid or scholarship funds have disbursed (overpaid the account). This is the quickest and easiest way to receive a refund.

Students who do not participate in the direct deposit program should allow additional time for their refunds to be received since refund checks are mailed. Checks are mailed to the student's permanent address in eServices. Additionally, most banks will place a hold on the funds from check deposits until the check has cleared the bank per guidelines from the Federal Reserve. To avoid the possible delay of accessing all of the funds due to bank holds, students may wish to enroll in direct deposit.