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Financial

  • Failure to pay a past due debt may result in the student account being referred to a collection agency.  Collection of the debt may require legal action. Students will be responsible for all fees and costs incurred in the collection of the past due debt, including collection fees and attorney fees.

    The College will use collection companies to collect overdue student balances. Overdue student balances may affect a student’s credit rating.

    Submission of your student debt to the State of Illinois will enable deductions from your State of Illinois tax refunds and payrolls.  Students will be responsible for the State of Illinois costs.

    Contact the Business Office staff to set up outstanding balance payment arrangements.  A restriction will be placed on a student’s account if an unpaid balance exists and no payment arrangements have been made. Future enrollments and the issuance of grades and student transcripts will be restricted. The FRC and other Heartland facilities may also be restricted.

  • A cooperative agreement enables a resident of District 540 to enroll in a specific program at another community college at a special tuition rate.

    Heartland Community College has cooperative agreements with 36 other Illinois community colleges that allow Heartland district residents to enroll in Career and Technical Education certificates and degrees that are not available at HCC. Not all programs qualify for a cooperative agreement. 

    Students must complete a cooperative agreement application at Heartland Community College at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester for which the cooperative agreement is sought.

    Cooperative agreement applications may be obtained here. Please return to Enrollment Services in CCB 1000.

  • All HCC students are encouraged to apply for financial aid early by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The preferred application completion date for fall semester is March 1st. The preferred application completion date for spring semester is October 1st.

    Recipients of financial aid will be evaluated each semester for satisfactory academic progress. At that time, a student either will be in good standing or will be in denial status for financial assistance for future enrollment periods. The student must meet all three progress requirements: completion rate, grade point average and be within the maximum time frame to remain in good standing. Students will be notified by the Financial Aid Office if they are placed in good standing or denial status for financial aid.

  • Students registering for classes at Heartland Community College must accept financial responsibility for all of their costs. Failure to pay a past due debt may result in the account being referred to a collection agency or legal action taken for the collection of the debt. Students will be responsible for all fees and costs incurred in the collection of the past due debt, including collection fees and/or attorney fees.  Students will be required to complete the Financial Responsibility Agreement.

  • Students are responsible for the costs of the classes they register for at Heartland Community College. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the tuition payment deadlines. A student will receive a bill or payment reminder by mail, paper, or electronically at least once per semester. The student bill is also online in the Student Center.

    Tuition Payment Policy

    Students should make one of the tuition payment arrangements below by the tuition due date. If tuition payment arrangements are not made, they will be dropped from their courses.

    Tuition Payment Arrangements

    • Pay tuition in full by check, cash or credit card
    • Have a Heartland Community College payment plan in place
    • Apply and be approved for Financial Aid
    • Have an employer or 3rd party sponsor letter on file
    • Be eligible for mandatory tuition waivers (veterans, senior citizens, etc.)
    • Be the recipient of a scholarship

    If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please feel free to contact the cashier at (309) 268-8140.  

    Financial coaching is available at (309) 268-8055 or you can visit the financial options page to learn more about paying for college. 

     

  • Students will receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees if the student or the college drops a course or courses on or before the refund date.

    Sixteen-week courses typically have drop deadlines during the first 10 business days of class. Four-week, eight- week, twelve-week, and summer courses have proportionately shorter refund deadlines. Please visit the refunds page for refund deadlines.

    It is the student’s responsibility to officially drop a course or from the College by the refund date. Students may drop online through the myHeartland Student Center or in person with an advisor. If dropping online, the student should retain a copy of proof of the successful transaction. If the student is unable to come to the college, they can submit a signed letter to the Dean of Students requesting to drop classes. Eligibility for a refund will be determined by the postmark date. The College does not accept drop requests made by telephone, so students should visit Advisement (CCB 1000) if they need assistance.

  • If the refund deadline has passed, a student may request dropped charges, a future credit or a refund due to extenuating or emergency circumstances that prevent continued enrollment.

    Extenuating or emergency circumstances are events such as a physical or financial hardship, a call to active duty, a major employment change, or a family crisis. Students should contact the Dean of Students immediately. Students must seek resolution regarding any extenuating issues within 30 business days of the end of the semester in which the emergency occurs.

    Students should email a request to the Dean of Students or complete the Student Appeal Due to Extenuating Circumstances form to begin the process. The request should include the rationale and evidence as to why the College should approve the relief based on the extenuating circumstances. Each request will require a brief meeting with the Dean of Students. 

    If a class is canceled because of insufficient enrollment or for another reason, students will receive a 100% refund of the class tuition and fees.

  • The College permits controlled sales campaigns and solicitations only by recognized student organizations. The College encourages student organizations to raise funds to support their activities.

    All sales campaigns and collections are restricted to specific locations and times and need prior approval by the Associate Vice President, Enrollment and Student Services.

    Office–to-office selling of any kind is prohibited on campus.

    The Associate Vice President, Enrollment and Student Services must approve all non-club solicitation activities. Activities must adhere to specific locations and times as approved.

  • The Foundation administers a variety of scholarships designed to reward student achievement, encourage student leadership and provide financial assistance. Foundation scholarships are supported through the generosity of individuals, businesses and organizations. Awards are dependent on the availability of funds. Any currently enrolled or prospective student at Heartland Community College may apply. Apply early. (Please see the scholarship page for deadline information).

    The following are minimum requirements that apply to all Heartland Community College Foundation scholarships, unless otherwise noted:

    • Applicants must meet District 540 residency requirements at the time of application.
    • Foundation scholarships are for HCC degree or certificate seeking students only. They may not be used for dual enrollment and are non-transferable.
    • Unless other GPA requirements are listed, current HCC students must at least meet College academic requirements for good standing (see Academic Probation/Dismissal Policy).
    Students applying for scholarships requiring evidence of financial need must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All applicants are encouraged to complete the FAFSA to maximize their eligibility. Results must be available by the application deadline. Apply early. Please visit the FAFSA page on the studentaid.gov website or the Financial Aid Office for more information.

  • Tuition and fees are subject to change. 

    Persons and their dependents who own property in and pay taxes to District 540 will pay the in-district rates per credit hour. Individuals attending another college within the district will pay the same in-district rates per credit hour.

    Persons and their dependents who reside outside the district, but work full-time within the district will pay the in-district rates per credit hour.

    All international students with an F-1 Visa will pay the out-of-state rate as defined on the Cost of College webpage.

    Payments can be made by:

    • Cash (Normal campus only)
    • Check
    • Debit Card
    • Visa
    • MasterCard
    • Discover
    • American Express
    • Online (in full or opt for a published installment plan) via checking, savings, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express)

    To learn more visit the payments and refunds page.

    Payments can be made at the following locations:

    • Business Office, 2nd Floor of the Community Commons Building (CCB), Raab Rd. Campus
    • Pontiac Center
    • Lincoln Center
    • Over the telephone at (309) 268-8140 using a credit or debit card
    • Online – fees may be assessed for online payments

    Students enrolling in certain courses will have a course-specific or lab fee in addition to tuition.  The class schedule will list the fees.

     

  • Section 103 of Public Law (PL) 115-407, ‘Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018,’ amends Title 38 US Code 3679 by adding a new subsection (e) that requires disapproval of courses of education, beginning August 1, 2019, at any educational institution that does not have a policy in place that will allow an individual to attend or participate in a course of education, pending VA payment, providing the individual submits a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33. 

    Pending Payment Compliance 

    In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Heartland Community College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. Heartland Community College will not: 

    • Prevent the student’s enrollment; 
    • Assess a late penalty fee to the student; 
    • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding; 
    • Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution. 

    However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to: 

    • Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class; 
    • Provide a written request to be certified; 
    • Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies. 

    GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site.