Family & Community Alternative Learning
Massachusetts Proprietary Schools

Enrollment Agreements and Refund Policies

Massachusetts law requires that private occupational schools enter into an enrollment agreement with each student.

M.G.L. c. 75D, 603 CMR 15.13, and M.G.L. c. 93, 603 CMR 3.12 in summary states:

Each school shall use a student enrollment contract. This form shall be approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and be completed and signed by a student admitted to the school, with a duplicate copy provided to the student. This form shall include the following information: the title of the course or courses to be taken by the student, the total number of instructional hours to be taken by the student, the tuition charges and other charges (e.g., for tools, books, or other supplies), the method of payment, the refund policy, the entrance requirements, and the period beyond which late registration will not be accepted. (See M.G.L. c. 255 § 13K)

Each school must have a refund policy stated in the enrollment agreement. For-profit schools must use a refund policy that conforms to the requirements of M.G.L. c. 255, § 13K, or one that is more favorable to the student such as a pro rata refund. The law provides the required conditions of termination and refund policy that must be printed in the enrollment agreement used by for-profit schools with their students. All monies paid (see items 2 and 3) include registration fees and down payments.

Enrollment agreements which involved finance charges or more than four payments not including a down payment, are subject to review by the Supervisor of Loan Agencies, Office of the Commissioner of Banks, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02202 for conformity to required disclosures about terms and costs.

A sample enrollment agreement suitable for use in Massachusetts is provided below. The exact wording of the refund policy must be used.

Schools must add the following language to their enrollment agreement: "THIS SCHOOL IS LICENSED BY THE Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, OFFICE OF PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS. ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, OR CONCERNS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO proprietaryschools@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-6048."