Student Accounts

• Student Accounts Office
• Payment Policy

Student Accounts Office

The Student Accounts Department manages students’ financial accounts, which consists of tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, and non-institutional charges. The Department manages:

• Disbursement of Federal, state, & private financial aid
• Payments & payment plans
• Refunds
• Institutional & external scholarships
• Veteran Benefits
• Third-party billing
• 1098T’s

The following policies apply to all students in all programs of study. The University and its various divisions and departments reserve the right to modify and change requirements, rules, and fees. Such regulations shall go into effect without prior notice whenever deemed appropriate by the University.

The following amounts are effective from Summer 2024 through Spring 2025 quarter.

Tuition and Fees Schedule:

Life University is a private institution and has the same tuition for all students per academic level, whether they have in-state or out-of-state residency. Payment is due upon registration but no later than the second Sunday of each quarter.

Program            Tuition Per Credit Hour          *Tuition Per Year       **Tuition Per Standard Program Length

Undergraduate         $301.00                                 $14,147.00                                  $56,588.00

Graduate                  $345.00                                   $8970.00                                  $17,940.00

Chiropractic              $413.00                                 $32,627.00                                $141,246.00

 *Tuition per year is based on a three-quarter academic year for both Undergraduate and Graduate degree programs.

**Tuition per standard program length is based on four years (188 credit hours) needed for completion for most Undergraduate degree programs and two years (52 credit hours) needed for completion for most Graduate degree programs. Tuition per standard program length for the Doctor of Chiropractic program is based on the number of credit hours needed to complete the degree (342 credit hours). Lengths of completion for all LU programs can vary, depending on a student’s course load per quarter/year.

INDIRECT COST PER QUARTER BY PROGRAM

*includes housing and food

General Fees: All Students

Additional Cost

Lab fees for online courses

Clinic Re-Entry Fee $30

Library/Parking/Graduation Fines 

Housing License Breakage Fine

Living on Campus

Life University offers on-campus living at LIFE’s Village Retreat & The Commons. ALL first-time freshmen are required to live on campus for one academic year. Housing rates are charged per quarter. When applying for housing, there is a deposit required to secure a room. Costs are outlined when applying

The Commons

Double Room: $2,400

Single Room: $3,000

Life’s Village Retreat

Double Room: $2,700

Single Room: $3,700

QUESTIONS:

For more information regarding on-campus living, contact Housing and Residence Life at Housing@LIFE.edu or 770-419-5554

MEAL PLANS

ALL first-time freshmen and residents of The Commons are required to have the Eagle Unlimited meal plan. The meal plan is loaded onto your Eagle card, which is the official ID of Life University students, faculty, and staff. There are meal plans available to students who are not required to purchase one. Meal plan swipes are “use them or lose them”.

·      Unlimited Meal Plan: $1,720

Learn more about all Life University meal plan options: Meal Plans

Distance/Online Education Fees:

Life University uses the listed platforms to provide lab services for online courses. Students will be directly responsible for the associated fees. Additional information may be found in the corresponding online course(s).

Lab platforms:

Escience: $55

ALEKS: $35

Beyond Labz: $29.99

Labster: $59

International Student Assistance

Life University offers tuition assistance to eligible international students. The international student *discount may vary depending on the term and student’s geographic region of citizenship. This is provided to international students to assist them with the exchange rates and their ineligibility for U.S. Federal student aid. To receive this assistance, international students must:

1. Be on a non-resident student VISA (ineligible for U.S. student aid)
2. Have a student account balance of zero
3. Be enrolled full time at Life University (unless previously approved by Life University’s *PDSO or *DSO)
4. Undergraduate: 12 credit hours or more of Undergraduate classes
5. Graduate: 9 credit hours or more of graduate classes
6. Doctor of Chiropractic: 12 credit hours or more of D.C. classes
7. Maintain the following minimum cumulative grade point average

• Undergraduate: 2.0
• Master’s: 3.0
• Chiropractic: 2.0

*International discount of 20%.
*A North American discount of 30% is subject to change each fiscal year.
*(PDSO) Primary Designated School Official, (DSO) Designated School Official.

Payment Policy

Payment Policy SS.012  

All tuition, fees, and additional charges are due and payable upon registration. Additional charges may include housing, meal plan, and non-institutional charges. The student is responsible for any remaining balance once financial aid is disbursed. This balance is due upon registration but no later than midnight of the Sunday following week 2 each quarter.

Students may contact the Financial Aid Office to determine their eligibility to receive financial aid funding.

Failure to pay all charges due on a student’s account will restrict their ability to:

• Register for future quarters
• Receive, order, or send transcripts*
• Receive, order, or send diploma(s)

*Based on applicable federal and state laws

Students with an unpaid balance or a delinquency on their payment plan may be subjected to dis-enrollment* due to non-payment.

This will result in the student not being eligible to continue to participate in classes and/or the clinic in the disenrolled quarter. Also, the student will be assessed a 25% dis-enrollment charge based upon the remaining unpaid balance incurred in the disenrolled quarter. Disenrollment fees cannot be paid by Title IV funds and must be paid out of pocket.

*Disenrollment is the process of being removed from your classes & housing (if applicable) due to non-payment.

Refund Policy for Dropped Courses

Refund of tuition, mandatory meal plans, and refundable fees shall be made according to the following schedule upon the formal, voluntary, and approved drop from a course or courses:

1. 100%, if drop is made on or before the first 5 days (first 2 days of second 5-week courses) of the quarter;
2. 90%, if drop is made between the 6th and 11th day (second – 9th for second 5-week courses) of the quarter;
3. 50%, if drop is made between the 12th and 18th day (9th - 16th for second 5-week courses) of the quarter;
4. 25%, if drop is made between the 19th and 39th day (19th - 25th for first 5-week courses and 17th - 23rd for second 5-week courses) of the quarter
5. 0% refund will be granted after the 39th day (25th for 5-week courses or 23rd for second 5-week courses) of the quarter.

No refund of tuition, mandatory meal plans, or fees are made for dropped courses when a student is dismissed, suspended, or expelled for disciplinary reasons. The meal plans will follow the refund schedule based on usage corresponding to the time in the quarter. 

If financial aid in any form is received, the refund may be returned to that source of funding in proportion to the amount paid towards tuition.

When a student drops all courses, it is considered a withdrawal. Students who do not plan to attend one or more quarters should complete the withdrawal/hiatus form.

Refund Calculations

Fair and Equitable Refund Policy for Withdrawal from all Classes

Withdrawal From Life University Policy SS.014 

This process is used to determine the student’s informal/unofficial withdrawal date. If a student fails to notify Life University that he or she has stopped attending classes, Life University will determine the student’s withdrawal date by routinely monitoring their attendance. This monitoring includes attendance records of instructors, “sitting” for exams, computer-assisted instruction, counseling, or academic advisement.

In accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, Life University’s “fair and equitable refund policy” is as follows:

• Life University will provide a refund applicable to the federal withdrawal refund calculation if the student has withdrawn on or before the 60 percent point of the quarter.
• If a student withdraws after the 60 percent point of the quarter, no refund is applicable. For students enrolled in the full-quarter, 11-week classes, the after-60-percent point of the quarter is the 46th day (Thursday of Week 7).
• For students enrolled in the 5-week accelerated classes, the after-60-percent point of quarter is the 23rd day (Tuesday of Week 4 for first 5-week classes, and Thursday of Week 9 for second 5-week classes).
• For Graduate students enrolled in the Summer Quarter 6-week classes, the after-60-percent point of the quarter is the 25th day (Thursday of Week 4).
• The Student Accounts Department will provide a copy of the refund calculation to the student upon request.

Refund Withdrawal Policy

Refund Withdraw Priority Policy SS.013 

Refunds will be made to the source for any student who receives any form of financial aid and fully withdraws, in descending order and in proportion to the amount paid toward tuition as described below:

• DIRECT Unsubsidized
• DIRECT Subsidized
• Graduate PLUS
• Parent PLUS
• Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Other Federal Aid
• HOPE Scholarships
• Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTG)
• Other Financial Aid
• Student 

No refund of tuition or fees is made for withdrawn courses when a student is dismissed, suspended, or expelled for disciplinary reasons. Students who do not plan to attend one or more quarters should complete the withdrawal/hiatus form.

The University and its various divisions and departments reserve the right to modify and change requirements, rules, and fees without prior notice.

Refunds and Return of Financial Aid for Withdrawal from all Classes

For students who have followed the withdrawal procedures outlined in the “Academic Policies and Information” section of this catalog, the withdrawal date is always the last date of academic attendance as determined by the school from its attendance records.

In accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Life University will provide a refund that matches the federal return of Title IV funds if the student has withdrawn on or before the 60-percent point of the quarter.

Students receiving federal Title IV financial assistance will be subject to a “Return of Title IV Funds” calculation. This calculation determines the percentage of the quarter completed, the percentage of federal financial aid earned, and the amount of federal financial aid that must be returned by the University and by the student. Depending upon the types and amounts of financial aid received and the date of withdrawal, the student may be required to repay some of the financial aid previously received.

If the official withdrawal date is after the “60-percent” point of the quarter, no return of Title IV funds will be required. Samples of “Return of Title IV Funds” calculations are available upon request from either the Offices Financial Aid or Student Accounting.

Financial Aid Funds Disbursement Policy

Quarterly disbursements for Federal Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTG) will begin the week before classes begin.

Life University will issue direct deposits to students only after verifying a zero balance, students’ attendance status and ensuring no financial or academic holds are on their records.

All unpaid tuition/fees and other university debts (including but not limited to housing, meal plans and other institutional charges) are deducted from students’ financial aid before disbursement.

A student’s living expense funds may be available on the first Monday of each quarter if the following are true:

1. As of the Wednesday before the quarter begins, 

•  a DC student, registered, or
•  an undergraduate, registered, or
• a master’s student, registered, and

    2. The student is making Satisfactory Academic Progress (as defined by the Financial Aid Office), and

    3. Financial aid funds have been disbursed to Life University.

However, if a living expense disbursement is received on the first day of the quarter and then the student drop hours before Monday of the third week, an over-payment will occur. Federal Regulations require that the Office of Financial Aid notify the Student Accounts Department to send back the amount of over-payment due to the drop-in hours. (See Disbursement Policy above.)

Graduate Plus loans and University Scholarships are processed during the second week of the quarter.

Living Expense Refund

Direct Deposits will be made available when all funds have been received and all eligibility requirements for Financial Aid programs have been met in accordance with Federal Regulations related to Title IV funds. These are:

• No later than 14 days after the first day of class if Federal funds are credited on or before the first day of class. - Or -
• No later than 14 days after the credit balance occurred if the funds were credited after classes began.

Budget Wisely

Plan to use your financial aid refund for all related educational and living expenses.

Direct Deposit Policy

Direct Deposit Policy SS.011 

Life University requires all students to set up direct deposit from their checking or savings account. All refunds, including financial aid living expense monies (financial aid that exceeds coverage of tuition and fees), are processed weekly. These refunds will be deposited directly into the students’ bank account within 48 hours of processing.

Students will be responsible for adding, deleting, or making changes to the banking account information on EagleNet

Unpaid Balances

Any open balances owed to Life University will prevent transcripts from being released. Students will also be blocked from registration. If the student leaves Life University with unpaid debts, the balance will be referred to a collection agency for collection activities. The student will be liable for all applicable collection agency fees, attorney fees, and interest charges for the collection of the balance.

Returned (Bad) Check Policy

Bad Check Policy SS.021  

Any check returned to Life University due to insufficient funds, payment stopped, or a closed account may result in disciplinary action against the student, including possible dis-enrollment. The issuance of a check that is returned may constitute deposit account fraud under Georgia law, which is either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. Punishment for a misdemeanor conviction may include a fine ranging from $100 to $1,000 and imprisonment for a period not to exceed twelve months. Punishment for a felony may include a fine of $1,000 and imprisonment for a period of one to five years.

The issuer of a returned check is subject to a service charge of $50.

Under Georgia law, the University also has the right to file a civil suit against the maker of a returned check for two times the amount of the check, not to exceed $500. A second offense may subject the offender to dismissal from the University. 

Fair and Equitable Refund Policy for Withdrawal from all Classes

Withdrawal From Life University Policy SS.014  

The process is used to determine the student’s informal/unofficial withdrawal date. If a student fails to notify Life University that he or she has stopped attending classes, then Life University will determine the student’s withdrawal date by routinely monitoring their attendance. This monitoring includes attendance records of instructors, “sitting” for exams, computer-assisted instruction, counseling, or academic advisement.

In accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, Life University’s “fair and equitable refund policy” is as follows:

• Life University will provide a refund applicable to the federal withdrawal refund calculation if the student has withdrawn on or before the 60 percent point of the quarter.
• If a student withdraws after the 60 percent point of the quarter, no refund is applicable. For students enrolled in the full-quarter, 11-week classes, the after-60-percent point of the quarter is the 46th day (Thursday of Week 7).
• For students enrolled in the 5-week accelerated classes, the after-60-percent point of the quarter is the 23rd day (Tuesday of Week 4, first 5 weeks, and Thursday of Week 9, second 5 weeks).
• For Graduate students enrolled in the Summer Quarter 6-week classes, the after-60-percent point of the quarter is the 25th day (Thursday of Week 4).
• Life University will provide a copy of the refund calculation to the student upon request at the Student Accounting Office.

Financial Aid Funds Disbursement Policy

Quarterly initial disbursements for Sub & Unsub Loans, Perkins, Pell, SEOG grant, and GTG will begin in the first week of classes.

Life University will release living expense direct deposits to students only after verifying students’ attendance status and making sure no financial or academic holds are on their records.

All unpaid tuition/fees and other university debts (such as but not limited to lab fees, institutional charges, and student housing) are deducted from students’ financial aid before disbursement.

A student’s living expense funds may be available on the first Monday of each quarter if the following are true:

1. As of the Wednesday before the quarter begins, either

• a DC student, registered, or
• an undergraduate, registered, or
• a master’s student registered, and

    2. The student is making Satisfactory Academic Progress (as defined by the Financial Aid Office), and

    3. Financial aid funds have been disbursed to Life University.

However, if a living expense disbursement is received on the first day of the quarter and then the student drops hours before Monday of the third week, an overpayment will occur. Federal Regulations require that the Office of Financial Aid notify the Office of Student Accounts to send back the amount of overpayment due to the drop in hours. (See Disbursement Policy above.)

Graduate Plus loans and University Scholarships are processed during the second week of the quarter.

Living Expense Refund

Direct Deposits will be made available when all proceeds have been received and all eligibility requirements for Financial Aid programs have been met and in accordance with Federal Regulations related to Title IV funds, which are:

• No later than 14 days after the first day of class if Federal funds are credited on or before the first day of class. - Or -
• No later than 14 days after the credit balance occurred if the funds were credited after classes began.

Emergency Loan Procedure

1. Students may receive no more than two emergency loans per fiscal year (fall quarter through the following summer quarter).
2. Students may receive no more than $500 for each emergency loan.
3. Rent payments (current or past due), utility bills, food, and gas, do not constitute emergencies.
4. Possible emergencies include:
   1. Serious illness in family (cost of travel to family’s home)
   2. Death in the family (cost of travel to a funeral)
   3. Emergency medical or dental care for student
   4. Emergency repair for the student’s automobile is necessary for the car to function
   5. Loss of home and/or belongings in fire or other natural disaster
5. Students must provide clear concise documentation of the occurrence and associated costs surrounding their emergencies.
6. Students must have a clear method of repayment, and the loan must be repaid prior to the transmittal of financial aid for the following quarter.

Budget Wisely

Pay ahead on rent and auto insurance and save money for Boards.

Direct Deposit Policy

Direct Deposit Policy SS.011 

Life University requires all students to set up direct deposit from their checking or savings account. All refunds, including financial aid living expense monies (financial aid that exceeds coverage of tuition and fees), are processed weekly. These refunds will be deposited directly into the student’s bank account within 48 hours of processing.

Students will be responsible for adding, deleting, or making changes to the banking account information on EagleNet.

Unpaid Balances

Any open balances owed to Life University will prevent transcripts from being released. Students will also be blocked from registration. If the student leaves Life University with unpaid debts, the balance will be referred to a collection agency for collection activities. The student will be liable for all applicable collection agency fees, attorney fees, and interest charges for the collection of the balance.

Returned (Bad) Check Policy

Bad Check Policy SS.021 

Any check returned to Life University due to insufficient funds, payment stopped, or a closed account may result in disciplinary action against the student, including possible dis-enrollment. The issuance of a check that is returned may constitute deposit account fraud under Georgia law, which is either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. Punishment for a misdemeanor conviction may include a fine ranging from $100 to $1,000 and imprisonment for a period not to exceed twelve months. Punishment for a felony may include a fine of $1,000 and imprisonment for a period of one to five years.

The issuer of a returned check is subject to a service charge of $50.

Under Georgia law, the University also has the right to file a civil suit against the maker of a returned check for two times the amount of the check, not to exceed $500. A second offense may subject the offender to dismissal from the University. 

Emergency Loan

Life University’s emergency loans are available to help students through unexpected financial crises, such as serious illness, job loss, family loss, and loss of home.

The minimum loan amount is $250, with a maximum of up to $1,500 per fiscal year. Emergency loans are interest-free and do not require a credit check. Loan requests require proof of the emergency and approval is at the discretion of the Director of Student Accounts.

Eligibility:

1. Loan applicants must be a full-time student in good standing with the University and meeting SAP. Students cannot have a hold on their student account, excluding athletic and international holds
2. Loan applicants must not have any outstanding debt due to a previous loan from Life University
3. Loan applicants must demonstrate financial need of an emergent nature
4. Employees taking courses at Life University are ineligible for this loan

Procedure:

• Complete and submit an Emergency Loan Fund application form, found here, and through the Student Accounts Department
• Applicants must fill out the application form completely and accurately and submit it with supporting documentation
• The student is required to indicate their proposed repayment plan on the application.

Loan decisions will be made within 3 business days of receiving the completed loan application. Applicants will be notified via Life University email.

The student must sign a promissory note. Funds from the loan will be directly deposited into the student’s account. All Life U students are required to have updated banking information in EagleNet.

Please note: There are times when it may take longer.

For more information about supporting documents, please visit the Student Accounts webpage on the Life University website.

Repayment

Loans must be repaid in full within 90 days of issuance. Student borrowers who do not repay loans according to schedule shall be responsible for the payment of any costs associated with the collection of the loan, including collection and attorneys’ fees. Nonpayment or partial payment of the loan will result in an account balance hold. Student borrowers with holds will not be allowed to register for future courses, receive a transcript, or receive a diploma.