How can I pay for it?
- Talk to us! You belong at Blue Mountain Academy and we want to do all we can to help you be successful.
- Get summer employment. Some of the options include:
- Work at a job in your community to save for school.
- Work at Blue Mountain Academy. BMA employs students during the summer at our industry, maintenance and a few office jobs. See the Student Labor section under Financial Information for more details.
- Work at a Summer Camp. Pennsylvania Conference operates Laurel Lake Camp and there are other camps around the Northeast. Scholarships are available to supplement your earnings.
- Cool Camp is a series of day camps operated around the state of Pennsylvania that provides employment for academy age youth while the bring the joy of Jesus to young people.
- Pennsylvania Youth Challenge offers the opportunity to witness as well as save money for school.
- Evangelistic Series. Pennsylvania Conference and other organizations provide mission opportunities to preach the Gospel of Jesus in other countries.
- Work during the school year. Students can work on campus during the school year at various jobs. Campus Industry provides the most opportunity for earning money, from longer hours to production incentives. Students who work hard have opportunities to excel and increase their earnings.
- Matching Grants. Many churches offer financial assistance to the youth in their congregation. Blue Mountain Academy affirms their support and works with the local conference to provide matching funds. For more information, please contact our Business Office.
Pray. God has many doors to open to make it possible for you to attend Blue Mountain Academy.
Many students are able to pay over half of their tuition though work earning and financial assistance. Please call Enrollment Services at 484.662.7007 for more information.
TUITION, ROOM, AND CAFETERIA
Blue Mountain Academy has adopted the 10-month installment plan for tuition, room, and cafeteria. Tuition will be charged as long as a student is earning academic credit. Room charges will be in effect as long as the dorm room is occupied.
Discounts
Monthly Family Discounts will be given where there are two or more students from one family as follows:
Dorm – 2nd child $179.50
Dorm – 3rd child $269.25
Village – 2nd child $114.40
Village – 3rd child $167.10
Early Down Payment Discounts (1st monthly installment plus registration fee) are offered as follows:
Payment by Discount
July 1 – $50
July 15 – $35
Aug. 1 – $25
Early Down Payment Discounts will apply to full cash payment only. Neither student labor nor student aid will be applied to early down payment.
Fees
Application Fee: A $20 non-refundable application fee must be submitted with the application for admission to Blue Mountain Academy.
Registration Fee: Every student will be charged a yearly NON-REFUNDABLE registration fee. This fee covers library use, health services, student accident insurance, matriculation, achievement tests, computer lab use, Internet and e-mail services, locker rental, religious activities, Appalachian, Echoes, Student Association membership, dorm club and class dues, dorm laundry fee or village student fee.
Late Registration: Students registering or arriving late for either semester will be charged a $50 late-registration fee. In addition, late registrants will be required to pay the normal down payment equal to one month’s tuition, room and cafeteria, the non-refundable registration fee, and the room deposit. Textbooks must also be purchased for cash at registration.
Standard Cafeteria Charges: The Cafeteria operates under an à la carte plan, with a minimum of $366 charged per month. The cafeteria charge is based on a daily minimum of $15.60 for each in-residence day in the school calendar. Students will be charged monthly for any food taken in excess of this minimum. Students are encouraged to take all they want, but to eat what they take. Vegetarian menus are planned on a three-week cycle. The menu is subject to change. Refunds will not be given for missed meals. Exceptions may be made when the student is absent for an extended period of time (a minimum of two weeks) due to illness. Any refund would begin with the third week of such an absence. Students working during home leave will be charged a nominal rate for meals taken at the cafeteria.
Room Deposit: Students are responsible for any damage to their room beyond normal wear. A $50 room deposit is required of each dorm student, refundable when the student leaves school, provided no damage has occurred.
Textbooks: Textbooks and class supplies are not included in the basic installment fee. Students should expect to pay $300 to $350 in cash for their books at registration. Textbooks are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and the cost varies. At year-end, the academy will purchase back hardcover textbooks that are in good condition, provided they will be used the following year.
Lab Fees: Some courses require a fee to cover equipment and supply costs. Most lab fees are included in the registration fee. Those not included are listed individually under each course description.
Music Lessons: Students taking private music lessons will be charged $140 per quarter for each different music lesson. This fee does not include books or supplies. A student who drops music lessons will be charged a minimum of one quarter. No refunds will be given.
Instrument Rental: The music department has a limited number of instruments available for use by students participating in private lessons or band for a nominal rental fee.
Local Area Transportation: Students needing transportation for medical purposes will be charged for this service, as the academy must employ someone specifically to make the trip. Students who need transportation for non-medical purposes should arrange for a driver and plan to pay at the time of service. Destination charges are listed below:
Medical
Hamburg $15
Reading 35
Mt. Penn 40
Allentown 55
Personal (cash only)
Hamburg $ 12
Reading 28
Kutztown 28
Allentown 45
Home Leave Transportation: Subject to a sufficient number of passengers, the academy will provide home leave bus service to the following areas: Southwest Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh, New England to Atlantic Union College, and New York City to Port Authority. Charges are made to each student to cover the cost of the trip and are generally competitive with commercial fares. Students are required to sign up and pay cash in advance for home leave trips. Home leave transportation schedules and fees are posted on www.bma.us.
International Student Fee: A non-refundable fee of $500 will be charged to international students who require an I-20 form.
Graduation Fee: Seniors will be charged a graduation fee of $100 to cover cap, gown, tassel, cords, diploma, and related graduation expenses.
Student Work Program
The work program at Blue Mountain Academy is a fundamental part of the educational program. The major objectives of the program are to:
- Encourage students to develop an appreciation for work as a vital part of life.
- Teach students good work habits.
- Provide for students to earn part of their school expenses.
Blue Mountain Academy believes that learning to work, being punctual, and faithfully performing assigned duties is as much a part of education as any other aspect of school life. For these reasons the school has adopted the following policy:
- Work opportunities are provided for all students.
- Supervisors will evaluate the student’s work at the end of each quarter.
- Work responsibilities may require the student to work alternate home leaves, half of Christmas break, and half of spring break.
- Poor work performance may jeopardize a student’s stay at Blue Mountain Academy.
- The work grade is part of the overall GPA. The academy makes provision for all students to spend part of each day working, and arranges classes so students have two to three hours of practical work experience.
- ALL work assignments and requests for changes are made through the Vice Principal’s Office.
- A student who wants summer work must follow the application procedure and be accepted for the next school year.
- Students must present their original birth certificate and social security card, a work physical, and work papers before they may be employed. Student must bring the original document with them for verification before they can start work.
Work Opportunities
Jobs may be available in the following areas: administrative offices, book store, cafeteria, computer support, custodial, dorms, industrial arts, industry, maintenance, music, readers, tutors.
Students needing to earn a greater portion of their school expenses or those receiving financial aid may be required to work at industry.
Summer Work
Industry jobs and a small number of on-campus positions are available during the summer months for students who have been accepted for the coming school year and who are at least 14 years of age.
Summer registrants are entitled to swimming pool privileges and participation in all planned student activities at no additional cost. Students who work at Blue Mountain Academy for any portion of the summer but do not enroll for the fall term will be charged room and cafeteria at the regular school-year rate.
Students may not come on campus to work until they have been notified by the Registrar’s Office that they have been accepted.
Summer room and cafeteria charges listed below are discounted in order to assist students in earning credit toward their down payment and registration fee.
Room $20 per week
Cafeteria $60 per week
Summer Registration Fee $100
Financial Aid
Blue Mountain Academy is able to offer a limited number of financial aid programs. Occasionally students find sponsors, often from their home churches, who are willing to help on a regular basis. Through the work-study program, our industry provides outside revenue for the academy. As much as possible, the work coordinator will assign students on financial aid industry jobs.
The following programs are available for students requiring financial assistance:
Matching Grants
Many Pennsylvania Conference churches participate with Blue Mountain Academy in a matching grant plan which provides funding for constituent students who need financial assistance. Matching grants are also available for other churches and certain conferences. A student accepted on any of these programs is expected to meet and maintain average or above average grades in scholarship, work, and citizenship. Participants must be willing to work in an industry job as assigned by the work coordinator. Contact the Blue Mountain Academy Business Office or your local pastor for application and availability in your area.
Note: No matching grant offers full coverage for tuition, room and cafeteria. The parent or guardian is responsible for the balance due each month.
Summer Youth Scholarship
Blue Mountain Academy participates in the scholarship plan for students who work at Adventist summer camps and youth evangelism initiatives. Anyone desiring additional information should contact his/her conference youth department.
Student Earnings
In keeping with Blue Mountain Academy’s philosophy, all students are required to work part of each day. In addition to minimum wage, the Campus Industry offers the opportunity to earn additional funds through a production incentive program. It is expected that students’ earnings be applied to their school bill each month.
Summer Work on Campus
Industry jobs and a small number of on-campus positions are available during the summer months. See details above.
Insurance
The school provides a student accident insurance policy. Expenses not covered by the policy are the responsibility of the parent or guardian. The school insurance does not include coverage for illness or previous medical problems or medical-related travel expense. It is the student’s responsibility to file a claim within 24 hours of an accident resulting from work or non-work activities.
Parents are responsible for the cost of medical fees including prescription medication, doctor fees, hospitalization, or transportation. Charges will be billed directly to the parents from the physician’s office. Dental and medical examinations should be scheduled during vacations or home leaves.
Note: Local medical providers require copies of medical insurance cards; therefore, insurance cards must be presented as part of the registration process.
Payments
The 1st installment of tuition, room and cafeteria, registration fee, and room deposit are due on or before registration day. In addition, textbooks must be paid for on registration day. Subsequent billings will be mailed monthly, and payment of the balance is due the 20th of each month. All checks, drafts, or money orders should be made payable to Blue Mountain Academy and sent directly to the Business Office. Checks returned due to insufficient funds will incur a $35 charge for handling and local bank fees.
Delinquent Accounts
Outstanding accounts from other schools must be settled before a student is admitted to Blue Mountain Academy. Any outstanding balance from a previous year’s schooling must be settled before a student is admitted for the following year. Delinquent accounts from siblings must be settled before another student from the same family may enroll. Unpaid accounts are considered delinquent after the 20th of each month, and a finance charge of 1.5% of the unpaid balance will be added to the account.
Refunds
A student who withdraws from school prior to the beginning of May will be eligible for a room and cafeteria refund from the first installment on a pro-rated basis. Tuition will be charged as long as the student is receiving academic credit. Students who are suspended will not receive a refund of school fees. Refunds other than those stated above will be made only at the discretion of the Student Finance Committee.
Exam Permits
Semester exam permits will be issued only to students whose accounts are current. Dorm and library financial obligations must also be met prior to receiving an exam permit.
Student Bank
Experience has shown the wisdom of safeguarding personal funds through the use of the student bank provided by the Business Office. Blue Mountain Academy is not responsible for the loss of money not deposited in the student bank.
It is the parents’ responsibility to provide sufficient money for student transportation, clothes, and personal needs. This should be arranged between the parent and student before such money is needed.
Due to bank policy, Blue Mountain Academy cannot provide check cashing services. Students who need cash must make their own arrangements. Except for the cash incentive allowed students working at industry, the school does not permit students to withdraw cash against their account.
Tithe
Students are encouraged to pay tithe on their earnings. A tithe deduction form is available from the Business Office. Receipts for tithe deducted from the students’ earnings will be provided by the Pennsylvania Conference of Seventh-day Adventist.
Revision of Rates
Because of the uncertainties of business conditions and monetary values, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to revise published rates without notice.
