Frequently Asked Questions - Differential Tuition
Q: Some of the classes I intend to take next semester will be affected by differential tuition, but others will not. How can I figure out how much tuition I will pay next semester?
Your tuition cost depends on several factors, including:
- Your residency status
- The number of credit hours you plan to take
- Whether your courses include First Day Materials or course fees
- Whether any of your courses are billed at differential tuition rates
You can estimate your tuition for an upcoming semester in three simple steps:
Step 1: Plan Your Courses
Identify the courses you intend to take and note the number of credit hours for each.
Step 2: Identify Tuition Types
Determine the tuition type for each course based on your residency status. Courses may fall under one of the following categories:
- General Tuition, Non-Resident Classroom Tuition, or Non-Resident Online Tuition
- Differential Tuition A
- Differential Tuition B
Step 3: Calculate Your Total
Calculate the cost for each tuition type, then add them together to estimate your total tuition for the semester.
Consult the college's tuition schedules for more information on general and differential tuition for in-state resident and non-resident students.
Q. Why do some disciplines fall under Differential Tuition A and others under Differential Tuition B?
To qualify for differential tuition, the cost of a discipline’s courses had to be at least double the College median for two or more consecutive years.
Courses falling under Differential Tuition A cost the College between 2.0 and 3.9 times the median for two straight years. Courses falling under Differential Tuition B cost the College more than 4.0 times the median for two straight years.
Q. Will the list of disciplines falling into Differential Tuition A and Differential Tuition B change in the future?
Possibly. Disciplines affected by differential tuition will be reassessed each year based on the cost of offering courses in those disciplines.
Q. I am a student whose tuition is paid for by my employer. What should I do?
If you have a tuition sponsor such as an employer or another third-party agency, confirm directly with your contact in that agency whether differential tuition will be covered.
Q. I am a military veteran. The Veterans Administration is paying my tuition. What should I do?
If your tuition and fees are paid directly to the College by the Veterans Administration through Chapter 33, or paid to you directly, confirm with the College’s Veterans Office that your certification includes any applicable differential tuition.
Q. I am currently a member of the military, which is paying my tuition. What should I do?
If your tuition and fees are paid by a military tuition assistance program, confirm that the reimbursement amounts on the tuition assistance authorization form include any applicable differential tuition.
Q: What about cross-listed courses? I’m interested in taking a Fashion Design and Clothing Course that is also listed as an Art course.
Students taking officially cross-listed courses – those that appear under two disciplines – will be charged the lower of the two tuition rates. Cross-listed courses affected by differential tuition are listed at the bottom of the tuition schedules.
Courses that are shown as options in Program displays (e.g., CIS 136 or TEC 130) are not cross-listed classes. Each of these courses will have the tuition applied to the discipline based on the course prefix.
Q: Some of my classes have course fees as well as differential tuition. Will those fees continue to be assessed?
Yes. Most course-specific fees cover the materials used in the course. They are unrelated to the discipline-wide costs that are addressed by the assessment of differential tuition.
Q: Will high school students who take part in high school dual-enrollment classes be affected by differential tuition?
No.
Q: Will Full Academic Year classes be affected by differential tuition?
Yes. Full Academic Year courses with differential tuition prefixes will be assessed with differential tuition.
