Tuition at Williamsburg Technical College is comparable to the other 16 technical colleges in South Carolina. Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time by action of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education or the WTC Area Commission. Charges for tuition to in-state students is $112 per semester hour. Out-of-state students pay a tuition charge of $216.25 per semester hour. The College normally considers 12 hours as full-time enrollment. There is a student fee of $1.75 per semester hour (maximum $21) and a technical fee of $4.20 per semester hour. Out-of-county students will be assessed a $5 per credit hour, maximum of $60, out-of-county fee.
Fall semester 12-16 semester hours $1,344 $2,595
Spring semester 12-16 semester hours $1,344 $2,595
Summer term Per semester hour $112 $216.25
No student may reenroll, graduate, receive grades, or receive a transcript of academic record until all indebtedness to the college has been settled. The registration process is not complete until tuition and fees are paid to the Business Office and the student receives a copy of his/her scheduled classes stamped "Paid."
Williamsburg Technical College, as a state-supported college under the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, is authorized to permit legal residents of South Carolina who have attained the age of 60 to attend classes for credit or noncredit on a space available basis without the required payment of tuition, provided that they meet all admission requirements and are not receiving compensation as full-time employees.
Tuition and fees for auditing a course shall be the same as for taking the course for credit.
The costs of postsecondary education can be a significant burden to a family’s budget. The goal of the Financial Aid office is to provide streamlined access for students choosing a course of study at Williamsburg Technical College. This goal is met by providing the following services:
1. Providing financial program information to prospective students and their families.
2. Assisting students and their families with financial aid application and process.
3. Analyzing eligibility for aid and making financial aid awards.
4. Making every effort to deliver financial aid timely.
More information concerning financial aid can be obtained by contacting the Financial Aid Office.
Deferred Tuition Payment Plan Terms and Conditions
1. The $30 nonrefundable processing fee must be paid by cash, check or credit card
and cannot be charged to any type of scholarship, sponsorship or financial aid.
2. The plan cannot be used for balances of less than $100.
3. The payment plan is for tuition and fees only.
4. Any type of assistance such as financial aid, scholarship, or sponsorship must be
used before any balance of tuition can be charged to the payment plan.
5. The deferred payments may be used by students who have not completed the
financial aid process or other authorizations for payment of tuition. Any unpaid
classes not covered by the payment plan will be dropped.
6. The tuition can be paid anytime but at least two payments for the amount due must
be paid by dates specified by the Business Office.
7. A late fee of $25 will be charged for each late payment, including anyone who has not
finalized their financial aid, scholarship or sponsorship.
8. Payments will be accelerated for any student who enters into the payment
agreement and subsequently receives financial aid, scholarship or sponsorship. All
outstanding balances owed, including any late fees, will be deducted before any
balance check will be issued to the student.
9. If an account becomes delinquent, it will be placed on a hold status. Registration
will not be allowed; future classes already registered will be purged; transcripts and
diplomas will not be issued and the student will not be allowed to participate in
graduation activities until the account is paid.
10. Once an account becomes delinquent, it will be placed in our regular billing cycle.
A student will receive three bills. The third bill informs the student that the account will
be turned over to the South Carolina Tax Commission for collection and to a Collection
Agency. Collection Agency charges will be added to the bill at this point.
11. After notification of a financial aid award, students should contact the Business
Office to verify their account is paid in full before discontinuing payments.
12. Refunds of tuition and fees are per College policy. Refunds and applicable
financial aid will first be used to repay any outstanding balance due.
13. A new Deferred Tuition Payment Plan must be signed if additional classes are
added.
Each student is covered by accident insurance at no additional cost. This group insurance covers the student while on the campus and during College-sponsored travel. Injuries must be reported to the Dean of Student Services within 48 hours of the time of the accident. Insurance claim forms are available in the Student Services Division.
It is the policy of Williamsburg Technical College that students receive a fair and equitable refund of tuition and other institutional charges upon withdrawal or reduction of course load below 12 credit hours.
Written withdrawal notification and request for refund must be submitted to the Student Services Office during the add/drop period. Failure to attend class or notifying the instructor does not constitute withdrawal. One hundred percent refunds for class withdrawal are made only within the first seven calendar days after the start of the semester. No refunds will be made thereafter.
Full refunds will be made for classes cancelled by the College.
The policy applies even if the student does not attend class, and the number of school days applies regardless of the student’s class schedule.
Refunds for veterans and other eligible persons enrolled in non-degree programs will be made subject to limitations set forth in Code of Federal Regulations 21.4255(c)(13).
If you are receiving financial aid from Title IV federal funds and you withdraw from school under any circumstances before completing 60% of the term, Williamsburg Technical College will determine whether a refund or repayment is owed to the Title IV account. If a refund or repayment to the account is required, the College will return funds according to the federal refund policy.
NOTE: The College will reduce the refund by 5% or $100, whichever is less, for administrative fees.
Eligibility to Apply for Financial Aid
If you do not have a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED) certificate, or its recognized equivalent, you are eligible to apply for Federal student aid programs (Title IV funds) by taking the College’s Computer-adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System (COMPASS) and achieving the scores as approved by the United States Department of Education in reading comprehension, sentence skills and arithmetic. The test is administered through the Student Services office in the Meriwether Building.
Those students who do not complete the registration process during the specified registration period of each semester will pay a $20 late registration charge.
A $30 service charge will be made on each returned check.
The College has and maintains a policy for the refund of the unused portion of tuition, fees, and other charges in the event the veteran or eligible person fails to enter the course or withdraws or is discontinued there from at any time prior to completion. The policy provides that the amount charged to the veteran or eligible person for tuition, fees, and other charges for a portion of the course shall not exceed the approximate pro rata portion of the total charges for tuition, fees, and other charges that the length of the completed portion of the course bears to its total length, within the following limitations:
Registration Fee—An established registration fee in the amount not to exceed $10.00 need not be subject to proration. When the established registration fee is more than $10.00, the amount in excess of $10.00 will be subject to proration.
Prompt Refund—Refunds will be made promptly (within 40 days). Veterans are not required to file an application for refund.
Attendance Policy—This attendance policy is required for institutions offering courses for veterans or other eligible persons enrolled in non-college degree (NCD) programs approved under Title 38, United States Code 3676.
The state approving agency, by authority of 38USC3676(c)(14), may set any additional reasonable criteria for approval of programs for veterans and other eligibles. The following additional criteria is considered to be reasonable, will become a part of all 3676 approvals, and will be listed as an addendum to the College's catalog or bulletin.
This policy is established to set minimum standards of attendance for students enrolled in non-college degree programs receiving veteran education benefits. Wherever the word "veteran" is used, it is intended to include all persons receiving veteran education benefits.
Veterans enrolled in non-degree programs will be interrupted for unsatisfactory attendance when accumulated absences, tardies, and class cuts exceed twenty (20) percent of class contact hours.* The interruption will be reported to the Veterans Administration within 30 days of the last date of attendance (use VA Form 22-1999b).
A veteran may be reenrolled for benefits at the beginning of the term following interruption because of unsatisfactory attendance only when the cause of unsatisfactory attendance has been removed. Students interrupted a second time for unsatisfactory attendance will not be allowed to reenroll for benefits in the absence of mitigating circumstances.
Mitigating Circumstances—Mitigating circumstances are those which directly hinder pursuit of a course and which are judged to be beyond the student's control. The following are some general categories of mitigating circumstances:
1. Serious illness of the veteran;
2. Serious illness or death in the veteran's immediate family;
3. Emergency financial obligations or change of place of employment or work schedule which preclude pursuit of the course;
4. Active duty military service, including active duty for training.
This list is not all-inclusive.
For institutions that have a published "leave of absence" policy, students receiving VA education benefits will have their benefits discontinued while on an "official leave of absence."
*NOTE: If the institution's existing policy is more restrictive, that policy will be used.
Williamsburg Technical College Scholarships
Scholarships are available from industries, businesses, professional organizations, civic clubs and individuals. Determination of recipients is made by the donor and/or Williamsburg Technical College’s scholarship committee for those scholarships awarded through the College. Scholarships usually are awarded for the fall and spring semesters. Deadline date for application is traditionally May 1 each year. Contact the Financial Aid office for applications.
J.P. Askins Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Criteria for selecting a recipient of the J.P. Askins, Jr. Memorial Scholarship shall include the following:
1. First–time freshmen who have demonstrated academic promise through high school scholastic achievement and extracurricular involvement should be given consideration for awarding. High school recipients must provide recommendations from their counselors.
2. College students must have proven academic success on the college level. The scholarship will be awarded for one academic year, and is awarded for tuition only.
3. The awarding of the scholarship does not restrict the major of the awardee; however, recipient must be enrolled in a credit curriculum.
4. A continuing college student must be a Williamsburg County resident. Priority consideration is given to a Hemingway High School graduate.
Selection Process
Three letters of recommendation from community citizens are to accompany the essay.
The scholarship will only be used to pay tuition for two semesters, beginning with the fall semester after the recipient has been named. The student must enroll full-time and must maintain a "B" average on all course work attempted. If the recipient does not continue at the College or fails to meet the academic standards required (verified at the end of each semester), the scholarship will not be re-awarded until the following graduation, when a new recipient is selected.
Dayco Scholarship
1. This scholarship is awarded annually to a second-year, full-time, associate degree student.
2. The recipient must lack no more than two semesters to complete the requirements for graduation, must enroll as a full-time student and must maintain a 3.0 grade point average.
3. Applications and documentation must be sent to the Scholarship Committee by July 1 each year.
For more information about the Dayco Scholarship, contact the Financial Aid office.
Progress Energy Scholarship
The scholarship is valued at $1000 per academic year. The funds will be distributed to the scholarship recipient in two payments: fall semester, $500, and spring semester, $500.
Criteria for selecting a recipient of the Progress Energy Scholarship shall include the following:
1. Preference will be given to a customer of Progress Energy.
2. The recipient must be a student enrolled in a two-year degree program in Electrical Technology, must maintain a B average and must have financial need.
3. The recipient shall be selected and the scholarship awarded without regard to race, sex, color, creed, religious preference, age, national origin or handicap of each candidate.
For other Progress Energy scholarship opportunities, go to www.progress-energy.com.
The Exchange Bank of South Carolina Scholarship
Criteria for selecting a recipient of the Exchange Bank Scholarship shall include the following:
1. The student must be enrolled full-time in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree programs.
2. The student must have earned no less than 24 semester hours with no grade less than a C and a grade point ratio of not less than 3.0.
3. The scholarship will not exceed two semesters (full-time).
Procedures:
1. Make an application through the Student Services office at the College.
2. Provide two letters of support for this scholarship by friends or counselors.
3. Preference will be given to residents of Williamsburg County.
4. A letter from the WTC Foundation confirming the conditions of the scholarship are met will be sent to the president of The Exchange Bank of South Carolina for tuition, fees and book charges up to a maximum of $850 per year awardable after any state or federal grant awards have been deducted from tuition, fees and book charge total.
5. Appropriate notice and publication of the availability of The Exchange Bank of South Carolina Scholarship will be made to the community at large.
6. The student will agree to have a copy of the application, grades and other relevant information provided to the president of The Exchange Bank of South Carolina on request.
For information on the bank, visit www.exchangebanksc.com .
The Mr. & Mrs. Thomas English McCutchen & Jane Perry McCutcheon Scholarship
Possible criteria for selecting a recipient of the Mr. & Mrs. Thomas English McCutchen & Jane Perry McCutcheon Scholarship shall include the following:
1. The student must be enrolled full-time in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree programs.
2. The student must have earned no less than 24 semester hours with no grade less than a C and a GPR not less than 3.0.
3. The scholarship will not exceed two semesters (full-time).
Procedures:
1. Make an application through the Student Services office at the College.
2. Provide two letters of support for this scholarship by friends or counselors.
3. Preference will be given to residents of Williamsburg County.
4. A letter from the WTC Foundation confirming the conditions of the scholarship are met will be sent to the donor.
5. Appropriate notice and publication of the availability of the Scholarship will be made to the community at large.
6. The student will agree to have a copy of the application, grades and other relevant information provided to the donor and to acknowledge appreciation of the scholarship to the donor.
7. The scholarship may be used toward tuition, fees and book charges up to a maximum of $1000 per year awardable after any state or federal grant awards have been deducted from tuition, fees and book charges.
Will Northington Meriwether Scholarship
(The Will Northington Meriwether Scholarship will be awarded only when sufficient interest gain on the endowment is realized.)
Criteria for selecting a recipient of the Will Northington Meriwether Scholarship shall include the following:
1. The student shall be recommended by a counselor.
2. The student must agree to have official grade reports sent to the donor.
3. The student must make an application for the scholarship which may be sent to the donor.
4. The recipient shall maintain satisfactory progress and a grade point ratio of no less than "C"; the recipient shall be a full-time student for the duration of the scholarship.
5. The scholarship shall be for the amount of tuition only, exclusive of any other fees and cost, and shall be paid directly to the College.
6. The scholarship shall be awarded for no more than 60 semester hours or four semesters.
7. Scholarships awarded shall be given appropriate notice and publicity by the College.
8. Preference will be given to students demonstrating academic promise and first-generation college attendees.
9. Students must satisfy Williamsburg Technical College entrance requirements.
10. The recipient may not receive any other scholarship or financial aid.
11. Final awards and selection will be made by the president of Williamsburg Technical College.
James W. Tanner, Jr., Scholarship
(The James W. Tanner, Jr., Scholarship will be awarded only when sufficient interest gain on the endowment is realized.)
LIFE Scholarship
The LIFE Scholarship will provide up to the cost of tuition for students attending a two-year institution, provided they have a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. All qualifying students must be full-time, in-state undergraduate students and must earn 30 credit hours a year. Students must be South Carolina residents for in-state purposes at the time of enrollment and must have graduated from a high school in accordance with State Statute, Section 59-149-50A.
Scholarships sponsored by Datatel
Since Williamsburg Technical College is a client of Datatel Incorporated (software company), students at the College are eligible to apply for several scholarships sponsored by Datatel. The four scholarship opportunities for full-time and part-time students (taking at least six credit hours) include:
1. The Datatel Scholars Foundation Scholarship for outstanding students;
2. The Angelfire Scholarship for outstanding students who served the US military;
3. The Russ Griffith Memorial Scholarship (formerly Returning Student Scholarship) for outstanding students who have returned to school after an absence of five years or longer; and
4. The Nancy Goodhue Lynch scholarship for outstanding undergraduate students majoring in an Information Technology-related curriculum program.
For further information on these scholarships and to complete the online scholarship application, go to http://www.datatel.com/global/scholarships/.
South Carolina resident students can receive a 25 percent tax credit on tuition and fees up to a maximum of $350 for two-year college students. Students must be full-time, in-state undergraduates in good standing at the institution. Also, students must earn 15 credit hours per semester.
No LIFE Scholarship recipient can receive the state tuition tax credit. The goal of the LIFE Scholarship is to provide students incentive to improve grades and SAT scores, while the overall goal of tax credits is to help ease the financial burden of college tuition for students and their families.
The Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) is a federal program designed to expand part-time employment opportunities for students, particularly those from low-income families who are in need of earnings in order to pursue a course of study. The awards are made to eligible students who have demonstrated need. A FWS student may work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week while attending classes and 40 hours per week when classes are not in session. Every effort is made to find suitable FWS employment for as many eligible students as possible.
The Federal Pell Grant is a federal program of direct grants to undergraduate students. Eligibility is determined by need analysis. Applications may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office. You should apply for the Federal Pell Grant a minimum of 12 weeks prior to the term for which you plan to request financial aid. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are grants that are awarded to students with exceptional financial needs.
South Carolina Need-Based Grants Program
The South Carolina Need-Based Grants (SCNBG) program is a state grant to the undergraduate students who are residents of South Carolina. The grants are available to full- and part-time students and the award depends upon action by the General Assembly and amounts contingent upon the availability of funds to be appropriated for the program.
To be eligible for a SCNB Grant each academic year, the student must:
1. Be a "needy student" following the financial need analysis as established for Title IV Federal Student Aid Programs for determining eligibility for federal student financial aid. The student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
2. Be a resident of the State of South Carolina.
3. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a part-time or full-time undergraduate student in an associate, diploma, or other one-year program, authorized by the Commission on Higher Education or the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education. A student enrolled less than half-time (minimum of six semester credit hours during one term) may not receive a need-based grant for the semester or term in question but is eligible for reapplication for a grant upon return to half-time or full-time status.
4. Be seeking for the first time an associate, diploma, or other recognized credential in a one-year program. Students who have already obtained a baccalaureate degree are not eligible for subsequent grant funds. Students who have obtained an associate degree initially are eligible for application for a need-based grant upon enrollment in a baccalaureate degree program. Students who have obtained a recognized diploma, or other one-year program, initially are eligible for application for a need-based grant upon enrollment in an associate or baccalaureate degree program, but a student may not exceed eight full-time equivalent semesters.
5. Be of good moral character, have no criminal record and have never been convicted of a felony as defined under State Statute Section 16-1-l0 by submitting an affidavit to the College testifying to the fact.
6. Certify that he/she does not owe a refund or repayment on a state grant, a Federal Pell Grant, or a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and is not in default on a loan under the Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan programs; and
7. Must apply for the need-based grant each academic year and meet all eligibility requirements annually.
South Carolina Education Lottery Tuition Assistance
In accordance with legislation passed in June 2002, students may qualify for lottery tuition must meet ALL of the following minimum requirements before being awarded:
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and complete the process to determine eligibility for federal student aid each academic year;
- Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident that meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under State residency statutes;
- Be a legal resident of South Carolina as defined in applicable state statutes governing the determination of residency for tuition and fee purposes;
- Be enrolled at the time of the grant disbursement as a degree-seeking student in a minimum of six credit hours for the term and be making satisfactory academic progress;
- Verify that he or she does not owe a refund or repayment on a state grant, Pell Grant or a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and is not in default on a loan under the Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan program; and
- Not be a recipient of the HOPE, LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships.
For current amounts of award, go to http://www.sctechsystem.com/lottery/lotteryinfo.htm on the Internet or visit the WTC Financial Aid office.
Community Programs for Financial Assistance
Community programs likely to be sources of financial aid are parent-teacher associations, community scholarship programs, employers of both students and parents, unions, churches and church groups, civic and fraternal groups, and progressive organizations. A high school guidance counselor or the WTC Financial Aid office can help locate these sources.
Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid
Financial aid payments under any federally-sponsored financial aid program will not be made if a student is not maintaining satisfactory progress in the course of study being pursued according to the standards and practices of the institution. Therefore, the institution will withhold payments if the student is not making measurable progress until the student reestablishes satisfactory progress. A fact sheet with additional information is available in the Financial Aid office.
The following policies and procedures for enrollment certification and vocational rehabilitation are of primary concern to veterans, service persons, reservists and other eligible persons who receive VA Educational Assistance payments while enrolled at the college.
Certification for benefits by the financial aid director is necessary in order for eligible veterans, service persons, reservists and dependents to receive educational assistance checks from the Veterans Administration. The financial aid director is located in the Student Services division.
Generally, eligible VA students must have completed formal College admission requirements and must be fully admitted into a program before they request certification for VA payment. Students should contact the College's financial aid director for specific information about requesting VA payments for their admission status. The Veterans Administration will make the final decision regarding approval of payments for students in special admission categories.
To ensure receipt of benefits, eligible VA students must inform the financial aid director of their intention to register for classes and supply the number of credit hours for which they will enroll each semester. After the appropriate paperwork has been submitted to the financial aid director, it is then submitted to the Veterans Administration regional office for processing and, generally, payment.
Specific procedures and forms for application and enrollment certification may be obtained from the College's financial aid director. Each student’s request will be handled individually according to the type of VA education assistance program for which the student is eligible and the student’s enrollment status at the College.
All students receiving VA educational assistance payments from the Veterans Administration are responsible for immediately notifying the College's financial aid director of any changes in their program and/or credit hour load during a semester, to include changing programs, dropping or adding a course, withdrawing from school, or auditing a course. Generally, the VA will not allow payment for courses not computed in a student’s GPA or not counted toward graduation requirements for a student’s program.
The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and the Vocational Rehabilitation and Education Division of the Veterans Administration have programs available to assist students with physical disabilities. For information concerning these programs, contact the local office of the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Financial Aid office personnel will assist any person needing additional information.
Determination of eligibility and amount of assistance is handled by the Social Security Administration. Contact should be made with the local Social Security office.