All you need to know about payment

Options for Payment

We have partnered with a financial platform to make it easy to pay your tuition bill. Our platform allows families to link their bank with our billing software for an easy and secure ACH transfer from your bank. That being said, a couple local banks are not supported by the platform we use. If you find your bank does not work with our billing software, we recommend setting up bill pay through your bank so you have one less thing to think about each month and do not risk a late fee ($20). Since monthly tuition does not change over the 10-month billing cycle, this is the simplest route. You can usually find this option on your bank’s website or mobile app. You’ll need the payee (Hilger Higher Learning, Inc.), our mailing address (412 East and West Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350), the amount you need to pay monthly, our phone number (423-987-4276) and the date you want it sent (must be received by the 20th of the month). If your bank requires an account number, you can simply use your child/children’s name(s).

Another option is to drop off payment during school hours (Monday thru Thursday 8am – 4pm) at our front office or secure lock box which is located in our entry hallway. Remember, we do not have any classes and no one is at our facility on Fridays. You can pay by check, money order or cash (we give receipts for all cash payments). An automatic receipt for all payments will be sent to your email once payment has been posted on your account.

Last, you may mail a check or money order to: Hilger Higher Learning, 412 East and West Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350.

Application Fees

On our class listing, you will find the one-time application fee per class (which covers fall and spring semester). This is an up-front fee you pay when you apply. An additional note is that all application fees increase by $10 PER CLASS on June 1, and go back down by $10 once the new Application Season opens mid-March.

Tuition

On our class listing, the monthly tuition fee per class is listed in addition to the application fees. All classes, unless otherwise noted, are year-long classes. We start classes in August and end in May so we bill tuition for 10 months. While most of our families pay monthly, you may choose to pay by the semester or year. We invoice via email on the 1st or 2nd of each month for those who decide to pay on a monthly basis, and all tuition payments are due on the 20th of the month.

A preview of the financial part of the application…

Please note that the withdrawal fees for the Elementary Immersive Program differ from the 3rd-12th grade program. You can view those fees at the bottom of this page.

Our application form will ask you to agree to the following:

  • All invoices are due upon receipt and considered late if HHL has not received your payment by the 20th day of the month.

  • A $20.00 late fee will be added to each overdue monthly bill on the 21st of the month.

  • If a check is returned for any reason, a $45 charge will be applied to your invoice.

  • There is a $150 charge PER CLASS if your student withdraws from any class AFTER June 1.

  • If you withdraw your student AFTER August 1, you are responsible for the ENTIRE financial obligation of the fall semester and will be billed accordingly.

  • If you withdraw your student AFTER December 1, for any second semester class(es), you will be charged $150 PER CLASS.

  • If you withdraw your student AFTER January 1, you are responsible for the ENTIRE financial obligation of the spring semester and will be billed accordingly.

  • Unless you specify otherwise, we will charge your card on file for all withdrawal fees. The card on file is the one you use to pay the application fees.

  • All application fees and payments are non-refundable. On the rare occasion that a class does not form, we will contact you and refund the fees you paid.

  • If your account is not paid in full by the end of each semester, HHL will withhold your student’s grades. Furthermore, HHL reserves the right to inform your umbrella school of your student’s incomplete grade if deemed necessary.

  • If your account becomes overdue by 2 months or more, you will be responsible for all late fees and collections fees if you are delinquent in paying. Also, interest at 1% per month will be charged if your balance becomes over 60 days past due. Further, you agree to pay all legal fees, costs, and expenses associated with collecting your balance and any other efforts Hilger Higher Learning makes to enforce the terms of our application agreement/contract.

  • If your student is dismissed at any time of the year, all application fees and tuition payments will be forfeited.

  • If you are a current HHL family, have an overdue account balance and are applying for the next school year, we will hold (and not process) your application until you are current on your tuition invoices. In other words, if you apply in March but have not yet paid February’s tuition fees, we will NOT process your application until you’ve fully paid February’s tuition fees.

    If you have not paid the withdrawal fees by the due date, and if we have not heard from you after two attempts to contact you, or if you are non-compliant, we will charge your card on file for all withdrawal fees. Your card is on file from the application fees that you will pay today to submit this application.

    Elementary Immersive Program Withdrawal Fees

  • If you withdraw your student AFTER June 1, you are responsible to pay a $150 withdrawal fee.

  • If you withdraw your student AFTER July 1, you are responsible to pay a $250 withdrawal fee.

  • If you withdraw your student AFTER August 1, you are responsible to pay a $250 withdrawal fee plus the ENTIRE financial obligation of the fall semester and will be billed accordingly.

  • If you are planning on finishing out the fall semester, but not returning the spring, and you withdraw anytime before December 1, there is a $250 withdrawal fee.

  • If you withdraw your student AFTER December 1, you are responsible for the ENTIRE financial obligation of the spring semester and will be billed accordingly.

Please Note

We base our budget, staff and teacher salaries, and facilities payments on enrollment. Your financial commitment is critical to planning for and meeting these costs. In order to meet our commitments and financial obligations to others, we have set up a withdrawal policy that every family must agree to and abide by. These are clearly stated on our application. If you end up applying and being accepted, your completed application serves as a contractual binding agreement with Hilger Higher Learning, and you will be obligated to pay all stated fees.