Students are required to pay fees at the time of enrollment in classes. Any debt on a student's account is subject to the student being dropped from their course within the payment deadline period. Students with a past due balance may also receive a hold on their account, which will prevent them from future enrollment and access to some optional services if dropped from all courses. Please review the payment deadlines on the Important Dates webpage for more details.

Enrollment fees are subject to change as directed by the California State Legislature. All other fees are subject to change as directed either by the legislature or by the MiraCosta College Board of Trustees in accordance with Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. 

Detailed information about fees, financial aid, and scholarships can be found in each semester's class schedule, in the Financial Aid Office (located in Building 14, First Floor, Room 14155 on the Oceanside Campus), and on the Student Resources webpage. 

Enrollment Fee

MiraCosta College is required by state law to charge each student a per-unit enrollment fee for credit classes. The enrollment fee is $46.00 per unit. Nonresident students are charged an additional fee per credit along with the enrollment fee. Please note:

• Fees are subject to change.
• Payment is due at the time of enrollment for classes. Please visit the Important Dates webpage and click on "detailed list of dates and deadlines" for payment/drop deadlines.

If a third party is paying your fees (Department of Rehabilitation, scholarships, tuition assistance, or Workers Compensation), please contact the Cashiers’ Office prior to the start of the term to ensure all paperwork is approved and received.

Exemptions

Exemptions from the enrollment fee are available for students who have one of the following completed:

• California College Promise Grant (CCPG).
• MCC Promise Grant.
• Students who have turned in an approved TA authorization.
• An approved Third-Party Vendor: Paperwork must be submitted before the start of the term.
• Noncredit classes.
• Approved Apprenticeship Program classes only: Please contact Admissions for more information.
• Concurrently enrolled high school students: Please contact Admissions for more information.

Additional financial aid may be available to those who qualify. Please see Financial Aid for more information.

Non-Resident Tuition

The nonresident tuition is $369.00 per unit. This fee is in addition to the enrollment fee of $46.00 per unit for any student who is not a resident of California.

Exemptions

Permissive exemptions from non-resident tuition include the following (per Education Code, sections 76140 and 76140.5):

• All nonresident students enrolling for 6 or fewer units.
• A student who is a citizen and resident of a foreign country who demonstrates financial need and this required exemption.
• All students, other than nonimmigrant aliens under 8 US Code Section 1101(a)(15), who meet the following requirements:
  • high school attendance in California for three or more years;
  • graduation from California high school or attainment of the equivalent thereof;
  • registration or enrollment in a course offered for any term commencing on or after January 1, 2002;
  • completion of a questionnaire form prescribed by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office verifying eligibility for this nonresident tuition exemption; and,
  • in the case of a student without lawful immigration status, the filing of an affidavit that the student has filed an application to legalize his/her/their immigration status or will file an application as soon as he/she/they is eligible to do so. 
•  A nonresident student who enrolls in a credit English as a Second Language (ESL) course at the district and who is any of the following:
  • a recent immigrant, as defined in 8 US Code Code Section 1101(a)(15);
  • a recent refugee, as defined in 8 US Code Section 1101(a)(42); or
  • a person who has been granted asylum by the United States, as defined in 8 US Code Section 1158.

This exemption applies only to individuals who, upon entering the United States, settled in California and who have resided in California for less than one year. This exemption applies only to the tuition fee for credit ESL courses.

For questions regarding residency, please contact the Student Services Office.

Upper-Division Fees

The biomanufacturing bachelor’s degree is an additional $84.00 per credit. The total amount per unit is $130.00.

Instructional Materials Fee

Some courses require a materials fee as a condition of enrollment in a class. When required, this fee is noted in the course description. The fee is used to purchase materials such as tools, equipment, and clothing that not only are necessary for achieving the respective course's objectives but also have a continuing value to the student outside of the classroom setting.

Health Services Fee

All students enrolled in credit courses and taking any number of units at the Oceanside Campus, San Elijo Campus, or Community Learning Center are required to pay a state-mandated health services fee. The fee covers the cost of secondary student accident insurance and helps fund the operational expenses of the Health Services Center. This fee is $22 per term.

Students enrolled in credit courses conducted at other locations must also pay the health services fee. However, companies or school districts that arrange for MiraCosta to conduct classes at off-site locations may request a waiver of the health services fee by providing proof of accident insurance. Arrangements for a fee waiver need to be made with the Office of Instruction when off-site class negotiations are conducted.

The following students are not required to pay the health services fee:

• Students who depend exclusively upon prayer for healing in accordance with the teachings of a bona fide religious sect, denomination, or organization. 
• Students who are attending a community college under an approved apprenticeship training program. 
• Students who are enrolled in noncredit courses are not required to pay the health services fee; however, they may elect to do so if they want to avail themselves of the services. 
• Students who are in an approved apprenticeship-training program.

Parking Fees

All student vehicles parked on campus must be registered with the Parking/Campus Police Office, and vehicles not displaying a parking permit will be ticketed. A parking fee is charged for registration of each vehicle each semester with some exceptions, which are listed in the class schedule, and the fee varies with the type of vehicle:

• Parking permits are required for all students who park on campus.
• $35.00 for automobiles per term for spring and fall ($17.50 for summer term).
• $20.00 for automobiles per term for students who qualify for CCPG waiver for spring and fall terms.
• $17.50 for licensed moped or motorcycle in spring and fall ($8.75 for summer term).

For more information about Parking on Campus, please visit the Parking Regulations webpage on the Campus Police website.

Daily parking permit machines are located on all three campuses. San Elijo and Oceanside Campus permits may be purchased for $1, and the Community Learning Center campus permits may be purchased for $ .50. All visitors must purchase a permit to park on campus Monday through Saturday.

The Parking/Campus Police Office is located in Parking Lot 1A on the Oceanside Campus and on the east side of the entrance to the San Elijo Campus. Upon request, the office will provide a copy of all the rules and regulations that pertain to parking on campus. Students who violate the college's parking rules and regulations are subject to citations and fines.

Student Center Fee

A student center fee of $1 per credit unit with a maximum of $10 per academic year (summer through spring) is charged to students enrolled in credit classes. This fee is waived for students who provide the Financial Aid Office with documentation of their participation in AFDC/TANF, SSI, or General Relief. All concurrently enrolled high school students are exempt from this fee. 

Student Representation Fee

California Education Code (section 76060.5) requires community colleges to charge a student representation fee of $2.00 at the time of registration to support student organizations both locally and statewide.

Students can opt out of the Student Representation fee during registration by selecting the "Student Financial Tile," clicking "Make a Payment," and checking the box to confirm they wish to decline the fee.

Student Identification Card Fee (optional)

The student identification (ID) card, known as the Spartan Pass, is available to all students (noncredit and credit) for a $6 fee. The optional ID card provides many benefits on and off campus. For example, the Spartan Pass offers many discounts, including savings at retail shops, restaurants, museums, sporting events, and travel. View the Student ID cards and discounts webpage for more details. 

The funds received from the purchase of Spartan Passes go back to serving the students by allocating $5 to the Associated Student Government and $1 to the Chariot News Media. This money is then used to offer events, activities, ASG stipends and scholarships, and news publications for the MiraCosta College community. 

Students can pay for their Spartan Pass in SURF or at the Cashier’s Office. After paying, students can request their Spartan Pass by visiting the Engage webpage and completing the “Spartan Pass/Nursing ID Card Application.” 

Transcript Fees

The first two transcripts requested by the student are free of cost. Additional copies cost $5 each. An additional $2 processing fee is charged for transcripts ordered online. View the Transcript webpage for more details. 

Make a Payment

• To make a payment or view an online tutorial, please visit the Cashier's Office webpage.  
• To enroll in a monthly payment plan, please visit the Payment Plan webpage. 

California Veteran Dependent Exemption

The basic benefit is the waiver of tuition and required incidental fees at a California community college, California State University, or University of California. Dependents who may be eligible for this benefit include the following:

• A child or surviving spouse of a veteran who died in the line of duty or as a result of a service-connected disability.
• A child or spouse of a totally disabled, service-connected veteran.
• A child of a veteran who has applied for a service-connected disability, has received a rating of zero or more percent, and falls within the income guidelines.

Contact the MiraCosta College Veterans Services Office (760.757.2121 ext. 6285), the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, or the California Department of Veterans Affairs (916.503.8397) for information about how to apply for this college fee waiver.

Delinquent Debt Collection Charge

Students are responsible for paying all fees associated with their student account. If the California State Legislature changes the fees, students are responsible for any increases in fees for classes that remain on or are added to their SURF account. Failure to pay fees results in the balance becoming past due and subject to the collections process. It is essential for students to regularly check their SURF account, as accounts can be viewed through the student’s SURF portal.

Before Debt Is Sent to Collections

Before a delinquent debt is forwarded to collections, students will receive three official collection letters sent via mail. If the student does not pay the balance due to the District, their account will be sent to one of MiraCosta’s third-party collections processors: CEDAR Financial or COTOP.

• CEDAR Financial is a third-party collections agency that assists MiraCosta College with collecting outstanding student account balances, including both financial aid and non-financial aid debts. If an account is sent to CEDAR Financial, a $50.00 processing fee will be added to the student’s account.
• Chancellor’s Office Tax Offset Program (COTOP) is a program that allows the state to recover funds owed to MiraCosta College by intercepting tax refunds or lottery winnings. If a student’s account is sent to COTOP, a 25 percent processing fee will be added to the account.

Who Gets Sent to Collections

If a student’s account becomes past due, it is subject to being sent to a third-party collections agency. MiraCosta College will send three official debt collection letters via the United States Postal Service. The third letter is the final notice, giving students 30 days to respond before the account is sent to collections. Students who believe their debt balance is incorrect should contact the Cashier’s Office to review and resolve any discrepancies.

Student Responsibilities

It is the student's responsibility to:

• Regularly check their SURF account for updates on fees, balances, and payment deadlines.
• Respond to official collection letters in a timely manner.
• Pay fees promptly to avoid the collections process, which includes additional fees.
• Contact the Cashier’s Office if there are concerns or questions regarding their account balance.

For more information, please contact the Cashier's Office at 760.795.6835 or email at cashier@miracosta.edu