Grant-funded students (Alberta Human Services grant), and Student Loan students often have payments paid directly to the College. In cases where the student is sent a portion of their funding (ie. money for books), the student must bring this money to the front office on or before the first day of classes – or as instructed by their program, to ensure that their account with the College is in good standing.

Students applying for loans and/or grants through another province (not with Alberta Student Aid) will be treated as a self-paying student as we do not have access to the online registration systems from other provinces and therefore cannot do tuition remit requests. In this case, the student is required to commit the Fee Payment Schedule, regardless of when the loan is provided.  Out-of-province loans also may not cover the entire tuition for your program. Students should do their research. Students must be living in Alberta for 1 year to be eligible to apply for an Alberta Student Loan if they have lived in another province for a year or more. Students may not apply for loans in multiple provinces for the same program. Your Admission Advisor will discuss with you your financial options.

• $200.00 of the learner’s program tuition fees is retained for a non-refundable program registration fee for both Full-time and Part-time students. The non-refundable registration fee applies to all courses excluding Bridging Programs – College Prep.
• For International learners this fee is $500.00.
• A non-refundable registration fee may be extended for a period of one year from date of receipt. Registration would be required once past one year.
• Please refer to the specific program section of the Academic Calendar for a listing of course fees.

• The fee for auditing a course or program is 100% of the tuition as well as all other regular fees.
• Part-time or Full-time students who register for courses after the registration deadline will be responsible to pay the late registration fee prior to being registered into the applicable courses.
• Note: Late registration submissions need to be approved by the Office of the Registrar prior to being registered and attending courses.

When registering into a course for the second time, a learner pays the full cost of the course registration, less the course-related text fees. However, if the course has been revised since the last registration, he/she must purchase the new course-related text material, and the course-related text fees will be added to his/her re-registration fee.

Credit by Challenge

• The Credit by Challenge evaluation method allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter including intellectual or other skills that would normally be found in one of the courses offered at Columbia College. These skills are demonstrated by successfully completing a course final exam or other assessment as outlined by the Program Chair. Please review the “Credit by Challenge Procedures” document for details.
• Learners who want to register for a “Credit by Challenge” must pay the full tuition fee of the course being challenged. The Credit by Challenge fee is a non-refundable fee.
• Learners have the option to challenge a course without purchasing the course learning resources. Students who require the course learning resources must include the cost of the resources as part of their Credit by Challenge course registration fees. Credit by Challenge fees are non-refundable

• Students who wish to have courses taken at other institutions evaluated for credit towards a Columbia College program must pay the following transfer credit fees:
• Course evaluation fee for institutions outside of Alberta (per course being evaluated): $25.00
• Course evaluation fee for institutions inside of Alberta: $0.00
• The Transfer Credit fee is non-refundable.
• Columbia College has removed transfer credit fees for students applying for transfer credit for courses taken at Alberta post-secondary institutions. The Transfer Credit fee is non-refundable.
• Students should be aware that if a transfer of credit is granted, it may affect their status as full-time students for government grant funding and Student Loan funding purposes. See definition of full-time and part-time student.
• Please review the “Transfer Credit Procedures” document for further details about the Transfer Credit method of evaluating prior learning. All requests for transfer credits from full-time students must be made at the admission stage, prior to a student starting their program.

The Portfolio Assessment evaluation method allows students to submit a portfolio assessment as evidence that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter including intellectual or other skills that would normally be found in one of the courses offered at Columbia College. Please review the Portfolio Assessment Procedures document for details.

• Fees must be paid in full before the portfolio is evaluated, and does not guarantee that credit will be awarded.
• The Portfolio Assessment fee is a non-refundable fee.

Example: If a student submits a portfolio and wants 4 courses evaluated, the total fees would be:

Once a student has been accepted and all finances are in place, a Fee Payment Schedule will be available which indicates the dates and amounts of tuition and other fees due to be paid to the College. Most payments come directly to the college except for books and supplies.

• It is up to the student to make these payments based on the Fee Payment Schedule due dates. Failure to do so will result in late fees.
• The Late Payment Fee is $35.00. This fee is not charged on fee payment extensions that have been approved by the Accounting department.
• If a student must change their Fee Payment Schedule, it is advisable to meet with the student advisor prior to payment due dates to avoid penalty charges or textbooks being withheld.

Early and Deferred Examination Fee

• Students must pay a Early and Deferred Examination Fee prior to being scheduled for their exam. Early and Deferred Exams must be approved by the Office of the Registrar.
• The fee for this service is $50.00.

Examination Re-Write Fee

• Students required to re-write an exam or re-do an assignment may be subject to pay the exam re-write fee prior to being scheduled for the exam (or the grading of a resubmitted assignment).
• The fee for this service is $75.00

Lab Exam Re-Write Fee

• Students required to repeat a lab evaluation may be subject to pay the Lab exam re-write fee prior to being scheduled for the evaluation/exam.
• The fee for this service is $100.00.
• Depending on the type of lab evaluation/exam required, further fees may apply.

Students who need to extend their credit course for up to 1 month are subject to a course extension fee.

• The fee for this service is $100.00.
• Course extensions do require approval from the Program Chair/Director. If a student wishes to extend their course for a second month, they would have to pay another $100 course extension fee for the second month.
• Students cannot extend their courses over 2 months from the end of the semester without approval from the Office of the Registrar.

A student shall be considered to have a delinquent account and be indebted to Columbia College when monies for fees or any form of materials or services have not been paid, or equipment of any kind has not been returned.

Indebtedness to Columbia College may result in:

• withdrawal of student from his/her program;
• not being allowed to register in further courses;
• cancellation of registration;
• withholding transcript and graduation certificates, T2202A’s and other official documents;
• withholding marks statement;
• withholding student loan funding or any refund;
• withholding the ability to write an exam or final exam
• student’s account being turned over to a third-party collection agency.

• In the case where a student has an outstanding Columbia College account, the College may use a third party collection agency to collect the outstanding account.
• All costs of collection and legal fees connected with the account will be the responsibility of the student.
• The College is entitled to a portion of or all of a student’s loan to pay fees owed to the College. If the loan amount is less than the total fee amount, the balance is subject to normal payment regulations and deadlines.

It may be of advantage for a student to request in writing an extension of the fee payment date.

• This request should be made a minimum of 5 days prior to the due date for payment.
• This request would be considered, based on unusual circumstances that prevent a student from meeting his or her financial obligations.
• The fee for this request is $20.00.

• For any student whose fees remain unpaid at the close of the payment date identified on his/her individual fee payment schedule, the student will be assessed a $35.00 missed payment fee for each such occurrence. 
• A simple interest charge of two percent per month (24 percent annually) will be added to the outstanding principle amount. The charge will be added to the outstanding principle amount at the close of the first working day of each successive month in which the account remains unpaid.
• This fee is not charged on fee payment extensions that have been approved by the Accounting department.
• Any payments made shall be applied first against interest accrued and thereafter, against the principle balance owing. Interest charges may be waived upon written confirmation of a student loan, sponsorship or scholarship.