TUITION AND FEES POLICY

GMC Prep School Tuition And Fee Payment Policy

We believe tuition payments are an investment in your child’s education and character formation.  For full disclosure and understanding, the Chief Financial Officer created the tuition policy outlined below.  The Tuition Policy has been approved by the GMC President and Board of Trustees.    

It is the responsibility of GMC Officers to ensure adequate financial resources are available for the school and enrollment is available and reasonably affordable to all families.    Georgia Military College Preparatory School contracts for significant expenses on an annual basis on behalf of the student body prior to the beginning of school and teachers are hired based upon total number of students per class.  To plan and maintain these services for the year, we rely on a stable income from tuition charges.  

Tuition and Fee Schedule

Each year, the GMC Board of Trustees reviews and adjusts the Tuition and Fee Schedule for the Prep School.  Typically, rates for the upcoming school year are approved at the January Board of Trustees meeting.   The Tuition and Fees invoiced to families each year include instruction, use of textbooks, yearbook, lab fees, and admission to most home Prep School athletic events.  Personal supplies, lunches, transportation to and from school, field trips, and uniforms are not included in the tuition and fee schedule.   Incidental charges for lost IDs, lost textbooks, parking tickets, etc., will be added to your student’s account throughout the year. 

Financially Responsible

The enrollment agreement  defines who has the financial responsibility to pay GMC per the Tuition Payment Options outlined later in this policy.  The parent or guardian who signs the enrollment agreement is responsible for timely payments to GMC.

Privacy

We value our parents’/guardians’ privacy and adhere to all government policies on sharing information concerning your student’s Prep School account.   Compliance with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), requires us to obtain consent to speak with related parties concerning your student’s account.  This authorization will allow the Accounting Office to release information in situations where another related party (divorced/separated parent or a grandparent) is assisting with the financing of your child’s education. 

Communication

GMC Prep School uses email as an official method of communication, and parents/guardians are responsible for reading the emails received from GMC.   By providing us with your email and cellular phone number, GMC or its agents are granted permission to use the information provided to contact your family concerning: 

• General Information

• Delinquent Student Accounts

• Other Debt owed to GMC

GMC and agents/contractors use automated telephone dialing equipment, artificial or pre-recorded voice or text messages, and person calls and email.   It is the family’s responsibility to keep records (addresses, phone/cell phone numbers, email addresses, etc.) up to date with our tuition billing provider.  It is the family’s responsibility to provide GMC with updated contact information for purposes of continued communication regarding any amounts that remain due and owed to GMC. 

Families may withdraw consent to call their cellular phone by submitting a request in writing to studentAR@gmc.edu or in writing to our tuition billing provider.   

Delinquent Tuition/Outstanding Balances from Previous Year(s)

All Prep School prior year accounts will be submitted to an outside Collection Agency for processing on June 30th of each year.   When accounts are turned over to a collection agency, the parents/guardian credit report may be adversely affected.   The parent/guardian is responsible for paying the collection agency fee which may be based on a percent of my delinquent account up to 33.3333% together with all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, necessary for the collections of my delinquent account.  Students will not be allowed to register for subsequent terms until the Collection Agency has been paid in full, and the Collection Agency has cleared the account with GMC.

Tuition Payment

All families must make tuition payments according to one of the following payment plans.  Each family’s preferred manner of payment must be submitted each year at the time of student registration.  All payments will be submitted using a GMC approved Online Payment System.  Families are responsible for viewing and paying accounts by the scheduled due date.   Failure to review an online account does not constitute a valid reason for not paying tuition on time. Online billing information is available at https://parent.smarttuition.com/ or (888) 868-8828.   GMC offers the following payment options:

• Full Payment

  • Under this plan, the entire amount of tuition is paid through the GMC approved online Payment System on or before the established payment date of the year prior to school year beginning.   

• Monthly Payment

  • Under this plan, the entire amount of tuition is paid on a monthly schedule to our Online Payment System.

Late Registrations

A. Families registering after July 1st or on the first day of school shall be expected to fulfill their obligations according to the tuition payment options outlined above.  

B. Tuition for students registering after the first day of school will assessed based on the length of time left in the school year as follows: 

                       1st Nine Weeks              100%  Tuition plus all Fees

                       2nd Nine Weeks              75% Tuition plus all Fees

                       3rd Nine Weeks              50% Tuition plus all Fees

                       4th Nine Weeks              25% Tuition plus all Fees

Withdrawals

Families withdrawing students prior to the first day of school shall be refunded the entire amount of tuition and fees paid for the current school year.   

After the first day of school, parents/guardians will be responsible for the Tuition (fees are nonrefundable) based on the schedule below:

                      1st Nine Weeks                  25%  Tuition plus all Fees

                      2nd Nine Weeks                50% Tuition plus all Fees

                      3rd Nine Weeks                 75% Tuition plus all Fees

                      4th Nine Weeks               100% Tuition plus all Fees  

Parents/guardians will be entitled to eligible scholarship funds based on the schedule below:

                       1st Nine Weeks                 25%  Tuition plus all Fees

                       2nd Nine Weeks               50% Tuition plus all Fees

                       3rd Nine Weeks                75% Tuition plus all Fees

                       4th Nine Weeks              100% Tuition plus all Fee

Late Payments

We understand an occasional monthly payment might be missed; however, we have established several late payment check points.

• Guarantee a seat for the Upcoming School Year

  • Due to GMC’s waiting list, all families will be required to complete the registration process and make the May and June payment for the upcoming school no later than June 30th.   If the registration process and payments are not completed, the student’s seat may be given to a new student and scholarship funding (if applicable) will be forfeited.

• First Day of School

  • Students will not be allowed to begin school until the Tuition Payment Options outlined above are paid up to date.  Under no circumstances will a student with a prior year balance be allowed to attend classes.  The prior year balance must be paid in full with a cashier’s check, cash, or debit/credit card.

• Mid-Year

  • Students will not be allowed to begin school in January until the Tuition Payment Options outlined above are paid up to date.  Under no circumstances will a student with past due account be allowed to attend classes after the Christmas break.  

• Registration for the Upcoming School Year

  • Families with past due balances will be allowed to register during returning student registration; however, the registration will be cancelled if the family’s past due balance is not paid in full by April 30th.

• Year End Extracurricular Student Activities/Athletic Tryouts/Summer Practices/Camps/Summer School

  • Participants will be required to complete the registration process for the upcoming school year. Complete Registration Process defined:

    • Current school year balance must be paid in full.

    • Parent/Guardian has completed the SMART Online Enrollment process and is making payments.

    • Completed Financial Enrollment Agreement for the upcoming school year must be on file with the Resource Management Office.

  • Families who have not completed the Registration Process for the upcoming school year  will not be allowed to participate in the activities listed above.

• Graduating Seniors

  • Tuition, fees, and fines for graduating seniors must be paid in full by April 30th of the Senior year.   Students will not be eligible to participate in graduation exercises or receive a diploma until the account balance is paid. 

Late Fees

Late fees will be assessed as outlined in the parent agreement with SMART Tuition.

Scholarships

GMC is committed to providing the maximum number of scholarships GMC can afford.  All recipients of scholarship funds are expected to remain in good academic standing, exhibit exemplary behavior and remain current in their financial obligations to the school.  Failure to comply with any of these expectations may result in termination of the scholarship.  GMC faculty/staff or coaching staff are not authorized to discuss payment arrangements or scholarships with parents or guardians.  

How Do I Apply for Scholarships?

Each year a student is enrolled, parents/guardians must submit an online scholarship application, most recently filed tax return, and any requested documentation to SMART Aid by the stated deadline. The deadline to apply for scholarships for the upcoming school year will be posted on GMC Prep parent notification systems and the GMC Prep School website. Families may begin the application process by clicking on the following link https://smartaidforparents.com.

GMC currently offers the following Scholarships

How Do I Apply for Scholarships?

• The GMC Presidential Scholarship is a need-based scholarship and subject to availability of institutional funds.

• The Active Duty Military Scholarship (10% tuition reduction) is awarded to children whose parent/parents are active duty members or called up for active duty service.   Verification of active duty service members orders must be uploaded to studentAR@gmc.edu.   The scholarship does not apply to those attending weekend drill and two weeks of active duty in the summer, IRR members, or retirees.   The scholarship cannot be additive to other scholarships the school may already offer.   The scholarship begins upon the date the service member is placed on active duty and is not retroactive. When the service member is no longer on active duty, the scholarship ends.

• GMC offers tuition scholarships for families with multiple children enrolled at GMC as follows:  

  • First Child   0% Tuition Scholarship

  • Second Child 10% Tuition Scholarship on the second child only  

  • Third Child 20% Tuition Scholarship on the third child only  

  • Fourth Child  50% Tuition Scholarship on the fourth child and additional children.

• The GMC Foundation and Alumni Association offers a limited number of GMC Prep School scholarships based financial need and additional varying criteria.   If a student is awarded a Foundation Scholarship, additional information may be required.

Notification of Financial Aid

Once your application is processed, SMART Aid forwards a financial aid recommendation to Georgia Military College Resource Management Office.  All final financial aid decisions, including notification of an award amount (if any) will be made by the Georgia Military College Resource Management Office.  Award notifications will be received by April 30th.  If you have not received notification regarding financial aid, contact the Georgia Military College Resource Management Office at 478-387-4847 (option#1) or email studentAR@gmc.edu.

Scholarship Forfeiture

To avoid forfeiture of scholarship award, each family must complete the registration process by June 30th.  The complete registration process is defined as:

• Current school year balance must be paid in full.

• Parent/Guardian has completed the SMART Online Enrollment process.

• Completed Financial Enrollment Agreement for the upcoming school year must be on file with the Resource Management Office.

• Payments (May and June) are current in accordance with the new SMART Online Enrollment schedule.