Tuition and Fees

What is the cost of tuition? How is tuition calculated?

Review the COTC tuition chart, which outlines the fee per credit hour based on residency status. 

Academic plans of study show how many classes and credit hours a student must take to complete a certificate or degree. Find the plan of study for the program you are interested in to help calculate tuition based on the total number of credit hours needed to complete a certificate or degree. 

What happens if I change my schedule or drop a class?

We understand that life happens and sometimes you may need to drop a class or withdraw from the semester.  Please consult with Student Financial Services any time one of these changes is made. There are established refund schedules for all courses and depending on when you withdraw will determine if there are a tuition refund and a financial aid adjustment. 

For most full-semester courses, students have the first 14 days of the semester to drop or withdraw and receive a 100% tuition refund. After the 14th day, the student will be responsible to pay for the course(s). First and second term courses can be dropped up to the fourth day of the course and receive a 100% refund. Flexibly scheduled courses and some other courses that have attendance requirements may have a specialized refund date. View the list of courses and their refund deadlines. 

Please review the academic calendar to determine when a class can be dropped for a full tuition refund.  Flex and term courses have specific dates determined each semester so please contact us with specific questions.

Once you pass the 100% refund period for a course, you will be responsible for the entire cost of that class.  If you received financial aid for those classes, your aid could be reversed and you would be responsible to pay back any excess financial aid you received that you did not earn by dropping your classes.

If I qualify for a refund, when and how do I get it?

Excess financial aid or a refund is disbursed during the fifth week of the semester once attendance has been reported.  The excess financial aid refunding process will begin after aid is disbursed.  You will be notified by email to your COTC email account if a refund has been processed.

We strongly encourage all students to sign up for direct deposit to receive their refunds in the quickest way possible.  To enter your direct deposit information:

• Log in to my.cotc.
• Locate the Student Financial Services card.
• Click Direct Deposit.
• Click Direct Deposit Information – Non-Payroll. 
• Complete and submit the form.

Students will receive notification from Student Financial Services once any refund has been processed.

What happens if my account is past due?

Throughout the semester and at the end of every semester, we review accounts that are past due and add financial holds. Students cannot register for classes when they have a financial hold.

Once a student is no longer enrolled, accounts will be added to past due accounts receivable.  Students will receive a series of letters and emails notifying them of an outstanding balance and encouraging them to set up an internal payment plan with the end goal of paying off any balance within twenty-four months.

If students fail to communicate or do not make sufficient payments, they may be placed with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office (OAG), as they act as the institution’s collection agency. The OAG assesses collection costs and there may also be additional collection charges assessed. The OAG also has the ability to pull student’s Ohio State refund taxes or lottery winners to offset debts owed to the institution. 

If you have questions about a past due account, please contact Teresa McGinnis at 740.364.9524.