SMSM Tuition & Policies

By paying tuition, the student and/or family agrees to the terms outlined on this policy page.

ENROLLMENT

School-year Lessons:

Students may enroll for the full academic year (both semesters I & II), for a single semester, or for the prorated remainder of the current semester. Each semester includes 17 lessons; adjusted if the student begins within a semester.

Summer Lessons:
During the summer, lesson quantities are flexible and based on both teacher and student availability.

Scheduling:
Upon receiving a new student registration, we send an email formally assigning the student to one of our teachers. They have 24-48 business hours to respond to & accept each student placement. Lesson days and times are arranged directly between the teacher and student, based on the teacher’s availability and room scheduling throughout the year. *SMSM reserves the right of final say in teacher assignment. Thank you for understanding.

Important Dates:

Semester I

Week of August 24-Week of January 11th, 2026

Semester II

Week of January 18th-Week of June 1st, 2026

Summer Term

Begins the week of June 7th and ends the week of August 23rd, 2026

Students do not need to re-register semester to semester and are considered enrolled until we receive notice of discontinuation. Please see below for withdrawal information.

TUITION FEES

School-Year (Semester I & II) Cost Breakdown:

20-minute lessons

$600 per semester (17 lessons)

$120/month via ACH

30-minute lessons

$700 per semester (17 lessons)

$140/month via ACH

45-minute lessons

$935 per semester (17 lessons)

$187/month via ACH

60-minute lessons

$1,105 per semester (17 lessons)

$221/month via ACH

Summer Lesson Cost Breakdown:

There is no fixed number of summer lessons provided. Before completing the summer registration form, please consult with your teacher to determine a mutually agreeable number of lessons based on your availability and theirs. Register for whatever amount works for both of you.

Price is per lesson in summer, due in full at time of registration:

$36/20 minute lesson

$42/30 minute lesson

$55/45 minute lesson

$65/60 minute lesson

Please note: Refunds are not issued for summer lessons missed by the student.

ANNUAL FEES

Annual Membership Fee

*To opt out of the fee, see note below

At the time of registration, we charge a non-refundable $50 membership fee per student. This fee helps cover the costs of recital venue rentals and accompanist services. Recital opportunities are available in the fall, winter, and spring, and are open to all students.

Annual Group Class Fee

*To opt out of the fee, see note below

Group classes are an excellent way for students to build confidence, have fun, develop skills, and stay motivated through weekly sessions with peers at a similar level. Information about available group classes—including participating teachers, locations, and times—will be shared through our newsletters, emails, and bulletin boards. A registration form will also be posted on our website once scheduling details are finalized. Our goal is to maintain consistent days and times from year to year.

Students who choose to enroll in group classes will be assessed a $200 annual fee or $100/semester ($10/class). Students who want to join a group class mid-semester must contact the Director to see if there is room: director@mankatosom.com.

NEW THIS YEAR!!

Avoid all annual fees by participating in SMSM fundraising!

The Southern Minnesota School of Music is a 501(c)3 nonprofit (Tax ID 36-3263269) and, as such, relies on grants, donors, and fundraisers to assist with overhead costs. Students may waive annual membership & group class fees by participating in fundraisers throughout the year. If you select this option during registration, a member of our fundraising committee will contact you with available opportunities.

PAYMENT INFORMATION

All tuition payments must be made directly to the school. Teachers do not handle or accept payments, regardless of lesson location.

Tuition Structure
Tuition is billed by the semester and includes 17 lessons per semester. New students may begin at any time; tuition will be prorated based on the number of lessons remaining in the semester. Payment is due at the time of registration unless paying monthly. Monthly payments require enrollment in ACH (automatic withdrawal), which is processed on the 3rd of each month.

Payment Methods
Full semester payments can be made by:

Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) via your Square invoice, sent upon registration if paying in full
Check or Cash, which may be:
- Deposited in the drop box at our Mankato location
- Mailed to the school

To pay via ACH, please indicate this preference on your registration form. Our office will send a secure DocuSign form to complete the setup.

Payment Deadlines

Semester I Tuition (Pay in Full):

Due the week of August 24 or upon registration

Semester II Tuition (Pay in Full):

Due the week of January 18 or upon registration

ALL monthly ACH Payments:

Withdrawn on the 3rd of each month, September through June

Summer Tuition:

Must be paid in full at the time of registration.

LESSON LOCATIONS

General Protocol
All lessons are held at SMSM-approved locations, including our partner program sites. When you register, feel free to select the location option that works best for you, and we will do our utmost to accommodate your request. All SMSM teaching locations are selected to ensure access to quality instruments, administrative support, convenient parking, a positive learning environment, and appropriate liability coverage.

In-Home Lesson Options
Some of our teachers offer lessons from their private home studios. If this is a setting you feel comfortable with, you are welcome to take lessons at a teacher’s home. Students also have the option to request that a teacher travel to their home for lessons. If the teacher agrees, the scheduling and arrangement of in-home lessons are managed directly between the teacher and the student. Teachers are required to carry their own liability insurance when teaching out of their homes or conducting in-home lessons at a student's residence, per our teacher contracts.

Virtual Lesson Options
Teachers with the appropriate equipment may offer online lessons as part of their studio offerings. Virtual lessons can be used as a convenient option during inclement weather, illness, for make-up lessons, or for any other mutually agreed-upon reason. These lessons are arranged at the discretion of the teacher and with the agreement of the student. SMSM does not offer a formal, school-wide virtual lesson program at this time.

MISSED LESSON AGREEMENT

SMSM is committed to delivering all lessons that families have paid for. Each teacher is required to present their missed lesson policy during the student’s first lesson. Additionally, the school will provide a digital copy of the policy via email.

The school defers to and enforces each teacher’s individual missed lesson policy. It is the students' and families’ responsibility to carefully review and understand their teacher’s policy at the start of lessons.

In extenuating circumstances—such as extended illness or a death in the family—that are not addressed in the teacher’s missed lesson policy, please contact the school director at director@mankatosom.com to discuss possible tuition adjustments.

WITHDRAWING & REFUNDS

This refund policy applies to students and families who pay tuition in full for enrollment at our music school. The purpose of this policy is to provide clarity and fairness to both the school and our students, ensuring the school can maintain operational stability while also considering the needs of our students.

Refund Eligibility

Withdrawal Before Program Start: If a student withdraws from the program more than 30 days before the official start date, 90% of the tuition paid will be refunded. The remaining 10% is retained as a non-refundable administrative fee.
Withdrawal Within 30 Days Before Program Start: If withdrawal occurs within 30 days prior to the program start date, 75% of the tuition paid will be refunded.
Withdrawal After Program Start: Once the program has started, refunds will be calculated based on the following schedule:
Withdrawal within the first two weeks: 50% of tuition will be refunded.
Withdrawal during weeks 3-4: 25% of tuition will be refunded.
Withdrawal after four weeks: No refunds will be issued.

Teacher Departure and Student Transition

If a teacher departs after lessons have commenced, the school will assign the student to another instructor who is qualified to teach the same instrument at an equivalent level. The family is required to continue with the newly assigned teacher for a minimum of four lessons before any refund request will be considered. This transition period is intended to ensure continuity of instruction and to provide the student with an opportunity to adjust to the new teaching arrangement.

Non-Refundable Fees

All registration, material, and administrative fees are non-refundable.
Any discounts or scholarships applied to the original tuition payment will be deducted from the refundable amount.

Special Circumstances

Requests for refunds due to serious illness, family emergency, or other extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Documentation may be required. Please note that, even in the case of a special circumstance, a non-refundable administrative fee equal to 10% of the tuition paid will be retained.

Refund Process

To request a refund, submit a written notice of withdrawal to the school administration, including the reason for withdrawal and any supporting documents.
Refunds will be processed within 60 days of receiving the official withdrawal notice and all required documentation.
Refunds will be issued to the original method of payment whenever possible.

Policy Acknowledgment

By paying tuition in full, students and families acknowledge and agree to the terms of this refund policy. The school reserves the right to modify this policy as needed to ensure fairness and sustainability.