Tuition is low at SCC--only $66.50* per credit hour, up to a maximum of $1,064.00* per semester, for North Carolina residents. Tuition and fees for one semester in 2011-2012 (fall or spring) for a student who is a North Carolina resident taking 16 or more credit hours are:

Living at home with parents  

Married students should also expect higher costs for housing and other personal expenses. 

The cost of books and supplies varies according to the programs in which students are enrolled. Students in allied health programs must purchase malpractice insurance (approximately $17.50), clinical uniforms, and shoes; they must obtain the necessary immunizations and drug screen required by the programs. In addition, nursing students are required to purchase testing and laboratory supplies (totaling approximately $230). Additionally, clinical sites may require background checks for students costing approximately $70.

Cosmetology students must buy a cosmetology kit required by the state of North Carolina (approximate cost $525), white uniforms, and white duty shoes. Esthetics students must buy a kit required by the state of North Carolina (approximate cost $410), white uniforms, and white duty shoes.

Registration fees for occupational extension and community service continuing education classes are set according to the total number of hours a course is scheduled to meet. The fee schedule for these classes follows:

The registration fee is waived for EMS, fire service, and law enforcement officers enrolling in courses designed to meet their training requirements as well as for North Carolina residents age 65 and older enrolling in special interest classes. Some continuing education classes are subject to insurance fees on a semester basis. The registration fee is not charged for Basic Skills Programs, which include Adult Basic Education, General Educational Development (GED) High School Equivalency Diploma, Compensatory Education, and English as a Second Language. There is a $7.50 fee for official GED testing.

A registration fee is not charged for Basic Skills Programs which include Adult Basic Education, High School Diploma Equivalency Certificate (GED), Compensatory Education, and English as a Second Language. The testing fee is $7.50 for new examinees and $2.50 for students retesting in writing.

Effective July 1, 2010, the General Assembly modified the continuing education fee waiver to authorize the tuition waiver of one (1) occupational extension class per semester for legal residents of North Carolina age 65 and older. For more information, call (910)642-7141 ext. 296 or 397.

Continuing Education Refund Policy

Registration fee refunds are made only under the following circumstances:

A full refund will be made if the college cancels a class.

A student who officially withdraws from a continuing education class(es) prior to the first class meeting shall be eligible for a 100 percent refund.

After the respective class begins, a 75 percent refund shall be made upon the request of the student if the student officially withdraws from the class prior to or on the 10 percent point of the scheduled hours of the class. (Note: This rule is applicable regardless of the number of times the class meets or the number of hours the class is scheduled to meet.)

A 100 percent refund shall be made if the student officially withdraws from a contact hour class prior to the first day of class or if the college cancels the class. A 75 percent refund shall be made if the student officially withdraws from a contact hour class on or before the tenth calendar day of the class.

Refunds of registration fees for community service self-supporting classes and activities will be granted only in the case of paid pre registration, if requested in writing to the VP of Continuing Education and Economic Development prior to the first session of the class .

If a student who paid the required registration fee dies during that semester, all registration fees for that semester or term may be refunded to the estate of the deceased.

A full refund of registration fees will be granted to military reserve and National Guard personnel called to active duty or active personnel who have received temporary or permanent reassignments outside the state of NC. In addition, the college will buy back textbooks through the college's bookstore to the extent possible.

Student Activity Fee 
Students who take at least one curriculum course on campus and who enroll for eight or more hours pay a Student Activity fee of $32 each semester during the academic year. During the summer term there is no fee. The fees are used by the Student Government Association (SGA) to support activities such as intercollegiate athletics, dances, competitions, student clubs, entertainment, and academic and athletic awards. 

Student Identification Card 
Students pay $1.25 ID fee for each semester for a photo I.D. card. The card is updated with a sticker when the semester Student Activity Fee is paid each term.  The card admits the student to SGA-sponsored activities and entitles the student to admission discounts to other college events. Students enrolled in the Adult High School Programs, Upward Bound or similar programs will be issued a non-photo I.D. card. A separate, computer-coded library card is issued to students free of charge; replacement cards cost $1. 

Student Insurance
Low-cost student accident insurance is required for all curriculum students for a fee of $1.25 per semester (fee subject to change by the insurance company). 

Malpractice insurance is required for all students enrolled in all allied health programs that have a clinical lab. 

Residency
North Carolina residents are eligible for a lower tuition rate than non-residents. The controlling North Carolina statute (G.S. 116-143.1) states that "To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must have established legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for at least twelve (12) months immediately prior to his/her classification as a resident for tuition purposes." Ownership of property in or payment of taxes to the State of North Carolina does not automatically qualify one for the in-state tuition rate. 

An out-of-state student's tuition paid by an in-state employer will be charged at the in-state rate. 

Residency status is determined by the Registrar. The student is notified of his/her classification by letter. 

If the student does not agree with the classification, he/she has 14 days to appeal the decision to the Campus Residency Committee (the Records Officer, the Vice President of Student Development Services, and the Vice President of Operations and Finance). The Committee hears the appeal and notifies the student of the decision by letter. The student then has an additional 14 days to appeal to the State Residency Committee. This procedure is explained in the Residency Manual, which is available in the office of the Vice President of Student Development Services. Appeals must be made within the semester in which the residency classification occurs. 

The North Carolina Administrative Code specifies the circumstances in which tuition refunds can be made. A refund shall not be made except under the following circumstances: 

A full refund will be made if the college cancels a class. 

A pre-registered student who officially drops a curriculum class before the first day of the semester is eligible for a 100 percent tuition refund for the class if the credit hours enrolled are reduced to less than 16. A pre-registered curriculum student who officially drops  from the college before the first day of the academic semester is eligible for a 100 percent tuition refund. In both of the above instances, the request must be in writing (forms are available in the Registrar s Office.) 

If a pre-registered student officially drops an off-cycle class prior to the first day of class and makes a written request for a refund, the student will be eligible for a 100 percent tuition refund for the class. 

After classes begin, a 75 percent refund may be made upon written request of the student if the student officially drops from the class(es) prior to or on the official 10 percent point of the class(es) or the 10 percent point of the semester if the student officially drops from the college. At the time the student officially drops under this policy, the college shall notify the student of the right to receive the refund. Requests for refunds will not be considered after the 10 percent point. For contact hour classes 10 calendar days from the first day of the class(es) is the determination date. 

Where a student, having paid the required tuition for a semester, dies during that semester (prior to or on the last day of examinations of the college), all tuition and fees for that semester may be refunded to the estate of the deceased. 

To comply with applicable federal regulations regarding refunds to individuals or groups, federal regulations will supersede the state refund regulations stated in this rule. 

Students who fail to follow proper drop procedures forfeit all refunds. If the student has any outstanding debts with the college, all refunds will be applied toward the debt. Any refund remaining after the debt is paid in full will go to the student. Processing time is required for any refund. 

The same policies stated above apply to refunds for occupational extension classes except as noted in the "Continuing Education Refund Policy" of the "Continuing Education" section. 

*Subject to approval by the North Carolina General Assembly.

Graduation Fee
A $40 fee is charged all graduating students to cover the cost of the cap, gown, and diploma. (The fee is subject to change without notice.)