Financial Policies

Payment Policies

Failure to make payments of tuition and other fees, or other amounts when they are due, is considered sufficient cause to place a student on non-academic discipline. This status causes the University to do one or more of the following:

1. Bar the student from attending classes, taking examinations, or registering for the following quarter.
2. Withhold a diploma, scholastic certificate, transcript of record, or grades for the quarter.
3. Suspend the student.

MU reserves the right to withhold any and all services if the petitioner is not in good financial standing with the University.

 

Deferment of Tuition

Application for deferment of payment will be considered on the basis of financial need and assurance of ability to make the payments as required.  No tuition is to be deferred for students enrolled for less than four (4) units.

 

Cancellation, Withdrawal, and Refund Policies

Student’s notice of cancellation must be in writing, and that a withdrawal may be effectuated by the student’s written notice or by the student’s conduct, including, but not necessarily limited to, a student’s lack of attendance. Merit University shall refund 100 percent of the amount paid for institutional charges, less a reasonable deposit or application fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250), if notice of cancellation is made through attendance at the first class session, or the seventh class day after enrollment, whichever is later.  Refunds will be made within thirty (30) days of official withdrawal or thirty (30) days of the date of determination of withdrawal if the student does not officially withdraw.

 

Student’s Right to Cancel Policy

The student has the right to cancel this enrollment agreement and obtain a refund of charges paid through attendance at the first class session or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later.  1) To receive a refund of any portion of tuition fees, you must give school written notice that you intend to withdraw from the program in which you have enrolled.  2) Withdrawal may be effectuated by the student’s written notice, by a student’s misconduct, including, but not necessarily limited to, a student’s lack of attendance. 3) If you have completed 60% or less of your program, school shall provide a pro rata refund of the amount paid for institutional charges, less the non-refundable application fee, non-refundable processing fee and other reasonable fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).  4) If you complete more than 60% of your program, school shall NOT refund any portion of the amount paid for institutional charges. 5) If you are eligible for a refund under the conditions above, you will receive the refund within 45 days of school receiving written notice of cancellation or school’s notice to you of dismissal.

To cancel this agreement mail, fax, or deliver a written notice of Withdrawal / Cancellation to this mailing address: Registrar’s Office at Merit University, 3699 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 970, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

 

Loan Responsibilities

Any agency or organization which grants loans will indicate the terms and amount of that loan.  If a student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student will be responsible to repay the full amount of the loan plus the interest, less the amount of any refund.

You must pay the state-imposed assessment for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) if all of the following applies to you:

1. You are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition either by cash, guaranteed student loans, or personal loans, and
2. Your total charges are not paid by any third-party payer such as an employer, government program or other payer unless you have a separate agreement to repay the third party.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if either of the following applies:

1. You are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program, or
2. Your total charges are paid by a third party, such as an employer, government program or other payer, and you have no separate agreement to repay the third party.

The State of California created the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic losses suffered by students in educational programs who are California residents, or are enrolled in a residency programs attending certain schools regulated by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

You may be eligible for STRF if you are a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1. The School closed before the course of instruction was completed.
2. The school’s failure to pay refunds or charges on behalf of a student to a third party for license fees or any other purpose, or to provide equipment or materials for which a charge was collected 180 days before the closure of the school.
3. The school’s failure to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federally guaranteed student loan program as required by law or to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the school prior to closure in excess of tuition and other costs.
4. There was a material failure to comply with the Act or this Division within 30 days before the school closed or, if the material failure began earlier than 30 days prior to closure, the period determined by the Bureau.
5. An inability after diligent efforts to prosecute, prove, and collect on a judgment against the institution for a violation of the Act.
6. However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.
7. Amount of STRF Assessment. Effective February 8, 2021, the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) assessment rate will be $0.50 per $1,000. Therefore, all institutions required to collect STRF assessments must stop collecting STRF assessments from students.

* Note: STRF fees are nonrefundable.

Merit University does not participate in federal and state financial aid programs.  MU is responsible for disclosing the above information to all prospective students in accordance with California Education Code (CEC) 94897(p) and 94909(a)(10).

If the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of moneys not paid from federal student financial aid program funds.

If the student defaults on a federal or state loan, both the following may occur:

1. The federal or state government or a loan guarantee agency may take action against the student, including applying any income tax refund to which the person is entitled to reduce the balance owed on the loan.
2. The student may not be eligible for any other federal student financial aid at another institution or other government financial assistance at another institution until the loan is repaid.