Tuition and Fees

Because of the contributions of so many who value Christian higher education, the cost of an education at Wayland is among the lowest of accredited, private, senior universities in the South and compares favorably with the total expenses of other accredited colleges and universities. The substantial allocation to the University’s operating fund by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, gifts from alumni, friends, and individual churches, as well as a growing endowment, contribute to the university’s ability to reduce the cost of attending Wayland. Therefore, the actual cost of educating a student at Wayland is considerably greater than the amount charged, and all students attending the university share in the savings. Because of the fluctuations occurring in the general economy, the university reserves the right to make any necessary changes in the financial charges and account collection procedures at the beginning of any term of an academic year.

Typical Estimated Costs for One Term

The costs for any term are affected by the number of term hours taken, any laboratory fees which might be incurred, on-campus and off-campus housing and meals. For situations of students living off campus, costs are based on federal financial aid allotments.

Plainview Campus Estimated Cost of Attendance

• Undergraduate Student Living On Campus during 16-week term may experience the following costs for attendance:

•  Undergraduate Plainview Student Living Off Campus (not with parents) during 16-week term may experience the following costs for attendance:

• Graduate Plainview Student Living On Campus or with parents during 16-week term may experience the following costs for attendance:

• Graduate Plainview Student Living Off Campus (not with parents) during 16-week term may experience the following costs for attendance:

Extension (External) Campus Estimated Cost of Attendance (Excluding WBUonline/Virtual Campus Students)

• Undergraduate Extension (External) Campus Student during 11-week terms may experience the following costs for attendance:

• Graduate Extension (External)Campus Student during 11-week terms may experience the following costs for attendance:

WBUonline (Virtual Campus) Estimated Cost of Attendance

• Undergraduate WBUonline (Virtual Campus) student during 11-week term may experience the following costs for attendance:

• Graduate WBUonline (Virtual Campus) Student during 11-week term may experience the following costs for attendance:

Nursing Program Estimated Cost of Attendance

• Undergraduate Nursing Program Student during 11-week term may experience the following costs for attendance:

• Graduate Nursing Program (WBUonline) Student during 11-week term may experience the following costs for attendance:

Tuition and Fees

Plainview Campus Tuition

Extension (External) Campus Tuition

WBUonline (Virtual Campus)/ITV Tuition

All Campuses

Plainview Campus Fees:

General Fee

This fee is designed to fund specified student services. Some activities may not be funded by this fee and will require separate payment. The amount of the general fee is determined by the number of semester hours in which the student is enrolled. Students enrolled in seven or more hours receive a student ID and the provision of some services requires displaying this ID. Services provided to students who fall under these three categories include:

Athletic event admissions (excluding tournaments and special contests)
Band and choir concerts
Drama productions (unless otherwise announced)
Health services
Intramurals
Laney Student Activity Center access
Library privileges
Musical performances
Parking permit
Registration services
Student Government Association membership
Student Publications - Trail Blazer (newspaper) and Traveler (yearbook)
Student Union Board services
Technology fees
University Center facility use - racquetball, table games
YMCA membership

(Students receive the benefits listed in the previous category with the exception of the YMCA membership.)

Audited hours do not count toward the “seven or more hours” considered in setting the general use fee amount due.

Course Fees 

Graduation Fees

Certificate or degree cost includes diploma, cap and gown, and commencement activities

Room and Board

Unless exempted by the Dean of Students, an unmarried student enrolled for seven or more semester hours is required to live in a residence hall and to take meals in the University Dining Hall. A residence hall fee of $100 will be required of all dormitory residents. This entire amount will be refunded if the room is in good condition and if the student account is clear. If the student account is not clear and the room is in good condition, the deposit will be refunded to the student account. If the room is damaged, all or part of the deposit will be forfeited and any damages not covered by the deposit will be due from the student and will be posted to the student account until payment is collected. All unpaid dorm fines will be charged to the student’s accounts at the end of each term.

Students wishing to occupy a dormitory room prior to or after the official date for dorm occupancy will be charged $10 per day. Dormitory rates are established for the full term and vary depending on the dormitory selected and whether the student desires a private room. With the exception of single rooms, most dormitory rooms are designed for two occupants. Private rooms are limited and based on availability.

Dormitory Room Rates for a Sixteen-Week Term:

Dormitory Room Rate for Three-Week Microterms:

Student Family Housing

Apartment housing for married students, single parent students and single senior students can be provided on availability. Students must submit an application and qualify for this type housing. A list of rental units and rates is available in the Housing Office. Proof of marriage license, senior status, $100 deposit and meningitis vaccination is required by students. Student accounts are changed at the beginning of each term for six (6) month’s rent and can be paid on a monthly basis or through financial aid. Deposits are refundable but will NOT be refunded if the student leaves without checking out properly and returning keys, the property is damaged beyond normal usage or the student has an unpaid account with the Business Office.

Meal Plan Rates for Sixteen-Week Term:

Residence hall occupants must purchase, at minimum, a 10 meal plan. The following meal plans are available during sixteen-week terms:

Weekly meal plans can only be used in the main dining hall in the University Center. Unused meals on the weekly plans do not carry over from week to week. The Flex plan may be used for meal equivalents in the main dining hall, Pete’s Place in the University Center, and at the grill in Laney Center. Unused Flex Plan meals do not carry over from term to term.

Meal Plan Rates for Three-Week Microterms

Residence halls and the dining hall are closed during those university holidays designated on the university calendar.

Pioneer Bucks

Pioneer Bucks will be included in the meal plans. The Pioneer Bucks may be used to purchase food at the Laney Center, Pete’s Place, and at Hutcherson Gymnasium Concession stands. Pioneer Bucks will be allocated for each meal plan as follows:

19-meal plan - $105 Pioneer bucks
Flex 190 plan - $105 Pioneer bucks
14-meal plan - $158 Pioneer bucks
Flex 150 plan - $158 Pioneer bucks
10-meal plan - $210 Pioneer bucks
5-meal plan - $105 Pioneer bucks

The Pioneer bucks originally issued with the plan shall not carry over from term to term. Additional Pioneer bucks purchased as an add-on to the meal plan shall be carried over from Fall to Spring Term, but shall be forfeited, if not used, at the end of Spring Term.

Payment of Account

The payment of a student’s account for each term is due by the first day of class. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that their financial obligations have been met. Also, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure that their account has the correct address and cell phone where they can be reached.

How to Pay. Payment can be made as follows:
In Person. Students may pay in person with a personal check, cashier’s check, cash or money order at the Business Office at each campus location. Please refer to the catalog for the physical address  of each WBU campus. Checks should be made payable to Wayland Baptist University.
Mail. Cash should not be sent through the mail, and Wayland Baptist University accepts no responsibility for cash sent by mail. Payments should be mailed to the Business Office at each campus location. Please refer to the catalog for the mailing address of each WBU campus.
Online Credit Card, Debit Card or E-Check Payments. Pay online through Student Services at MYWBU at www.wbu.edu. Students may access Student Services by navigating to the “MyWBU” link underneath the Resources tab on the WBU website at www.wbu.edu. Payments made by credit or debit card are processed through CashNet and are subject to a 2.75% convenience fee. Payments made by E-Check (electronic check) have no fee.

Student Services is an online service available to help students better manage the financial investment in their education at Wayland Baptist University. Students can view their student account online and make online payments of their tuition. To learn more about Student Services, please feel free to contact the Business Office at your campus location or call (806) 291-3445.

The university offers an installment option for term expenses. A $50.00 fee will be applied to a payment plan. The university payment plan requires a minimum of 1/3 payment of expenses (after guaranteed financial aid) by the first day of class. The second payment is due one month after the first day of the term and the final payment is due two months after the first day of the term or prior to registration for the next term. Payment due dates are published in the university calendar. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that payment is received by the Business Office by the established dates. Additional information concerning this option is available from the Business Office. The student must still make a payment. Student should not wait for all aid to post before paying on the student account. Students who fail to follow the payment plan as outlined above will incur a fee of $50 for each late payment.

Business Office Account Balances

If a student has a balance on his/her business office account, the student is responsible for payment regardless of whether he/she has received a credit check prior to charges being posted. Students should be aware of issues of enrollment in more than one current term (i.e., enrollment on the Plainview campus and an enrollment on an extension campus or the WBUonline/virtual campus), causes different enrollment periods and census dates which may affect financial aid and student account balances.

A student’s account must be paid in full before the student may register for a new term. Academic transcripts and diplomas are issued only for the student whose account is paid in full. In addition, academic transcripts are not released if a student is delinquent or classified as in default on a government student loan. Financial obligations must be met in the Business Office two weeks prior to graduation. If paying after the deadline, payment must be made with guaranteed funds such as cash, money order, credit card, debit card, or cashier’s check in order to receive a transcript and diploma at time of graduation.

Payment Default

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that payment is received by the Business Office by the established dates. Default on payment requirements will subject the student to exclusion from class, exams, grades, cafeteria, dorm and other university services until payments are brought current (University Policy 3.5.1 - Student Financial Accounts). In addition, no official transcript will be released if a balance is owed to the University. If payment is not received by the third payment installment date, pre-collect proceedings may begin within 30 days.

If a student has a prior term outstanding balance on their student account, a hold will be placed on the account until the balance has been paid in full. Students are not allowed to register for the next term with an outstanding balance.

If a student has an outstanding balance and is sent to a collection agency, the account must be paid in full prior to enrollment. If the student decides to return to WBU after the past due debt has been paid, the total amount of current term charges must be paid in full prior to the beginning of the term by cash, cashier’s check, money order, credit card, or guaranteed aid. No checks will be allowed on a student whose account has been managed by a collection agency.

If an account is sent to a collection agency, the student will be liable for all attorney fees, collection costs, and all charges necessary for collection of a past due balance. Once the account is paid at the collection agency, it takes approximately 30 days before the balance is cleared and the hold is removed to register or receive a transcript. No transcript will be released based on phone confirmation from the agency. The funds have to be received at WBU from the agency before a transcript is released.

Transcript Requests

Academic transcripts and diplomas are issued only for the student whose account is paid in full. As a result of debtor’s default in the Title IV Student Loan Programs, the U.S. Department of Education encourages the withholding of academic transcripts. The withholding of academic transcripts is solely an institutional decision, whether it is default at Wayland Baptist University or another school or university.

Refund Policy

A $10 per class administrative fee is assessed for all withdrawals. A student who officially withdraws from the university may be eligible for reduced charges for tuition and room. After the first meeting of a class, special course fees are not subject to reductions, and are due in full upon withdrawal. A refund is the amount credited back to the student account to offset all or a portion of an amount previously charged. A refund does NOT necessarily denote an amount disbursed to the student. Refunds are based upon the number of weeks a course has been in session.

A week is defined as the number of contact class hours in a term divided by the number of weeks in a regular length term. The Plainview campus schedules 45 contact class hours in a term and has a regular length term of 16 weeks, defining 3 class hours per week. All other campuses schedule 45 contact class hours in a term and have regular length terms of 11 weeks, defining 4.10 class hours per week. A class has been in session a full week as soon as it has met the number of times necessary to substantially equal the defined class hours per week.

Weekend classes are generally scheduled to meet more class hours than would be equivalent to a week. It is common for these classes to meet the number of class hours equivalent to two or three weeks in one weekend. Students enrolled in a weekend course who drop the course or withdraw from the university will receive the refund applicable for the number of weeks attended, according to the defined class hours per week, if they drop the course or withdraw from the university the first business day after the weekend the class first meets. Audit courses, those courses enrolled in on a not-for-credit basis, are not eligible for reduced charges when the course is dropped, and tuition will be due in full.

Applicable refunds as of the date of submission of an official withdrawal form are as follows. Any state requirements for more stringent refund policies will take precedence over Wayland policy and will be honored.

Refund Rate

Medical Exigency Withdrawal

A student who, during an academic term, has a serious illness or suffers an injury that requires the student to miss 25% or more of the term may elect to apply for a medical exigency withdrawal from the university. Medical exigency withdrawals are intended for illness and treatment beyond a student’s control and are not applicable when a student chooses to have elective or optional medical treatment. A medical exigency withdrawal may be extended to a student who is acting as the primary care giver for an immediate family member (spouse, parent, or children).

The application must be supported by a doctor’s statement which verifies the student’s inability to attend class for a specific period of time due to the illness or injury being treated. For those claiming immediate family under the exigency, the statement concerning the individual being cared for will be requested. If the application is approved, all tuition previously charged to the student’s account will be refunded. Likewise, all financial aid previously disbursed to the student’s account and any subsequent disbursals of credit to the student must be refunded. The student is advised to discuss the financial ramifications of a medical exigency withdrawal with the coordinator of student accounts or vice president of academic affairs for Plainview campus students, for extension campus students the extension campus executive director/dean or designated staff, before electing to make application. A $10 per class fee will be charged for processing the withdrawal and the date of last attendance must be recorded at the time of official withdrawal.

Military TDY (Temporary Duty Assignments Necessitating Withdrawal)

A student who, during an academic term, receives an unrequested military TDY, temporary duty assignment, that requires the student to miss 25% or more of the term may elect to apply for a military TDY withdrawal from the university. Generally, the withdrawal must be for all classes in which the student is enrolled and the student may not elect to drop some classes and maintain enrollment in others and qualify for the Military TDY withdrawal refund. However, pursuant to the extension campus executive director/dean discretion, enrollment in classes adaptable to later completion or in classes not dependent upon location (i.e. online classes) may be maintained. Additionally, the student may not request the TDY assignment and qualify for the Military TDY withdrawal refund. The application must be supported by a military document (copy of orders) which verifies the student’s inability to attend class for a specific period of time due to the unrequested temporary duty assignment. If the application is approved, tuition due from the military tuition assistance program is still payable. However, the percentage of tuition due from the student will be refunded to the student account. Federal financial aid previously disbursed to the student account and any subsequent disbursals of credit to the student may need to be refunded as required by the federal program. The student is advised to discuss the financial ramifications of a military TDY withdrawal with the coordinator of student accounts or with the extension campus executive director/dean or designated staff, before electing to make application. No fee is charged for processing an approved military TDY withdrawal, however, the date of last attendance must be recorded at the time of official withdrawal.

Tuition for classes enrolled in as an “audit” will not be reduced for withdrawal and will be due in full.

Certain federal, state, and private educational benefits programs require proceeds to be assessed according to a pro rata policy which is based on the last day of attendance or on other policy. Students participating in these programs will be subject to policy as prescribed by the program.*

Scholarship or financial assistance is not disbursed if a student withdraws before the end of the registration period.

Service members and reservists who are unable to attend class or must suspend enrollment due to service requirements may renter the university without additional paperwork. See Undergraduate Admissions  or Graduate Admissions  policy. 

*VA education benefits require proceeds to be assessed according to a pro rata policy where the VA is notified when a student drops a course or courses or withdraws from the university and the remaining total is refunded to the VA. Students utilizing VA education benefits may be in debt to the VA for early withdrawal or dismissal

Room and Board and Family Housing Rent

Amount due for room will be calculated on the basis of elapsed time as of the date of official withdrawal. There is no refund or adjustment in the amounts due for meals not eaten in the dining hall by the student’s choice. The amount due for rent is calculated based upon the date of move in and the date of move out. Pre-charged rent will be refunded on this basis.