If you’re a prospective college student, the cost of college is likely your primary concern. This is for a good reason, too, and it’s known as tuition inflation. Among the struggle of tuition inflation are online student fees.
For perspective, students today pay 23 times higher tuition than their 1960s counterparts. Between 1963 and 2024, college tuition increased by 747.8% (adjusted for currency inflation). From 2010 to 2020, the 5-year average annual inflation rate was 17%. In contrast, the general inflation rate was 14%.
The bottom line: The cost of college education increased faster than the cost of basic goods. Tuition inflation outpacing general inflation is, indeed, a cause for concern.
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And it isn’t only tuition per se that significantly increased since the 1960s. Even online student fees kept pace with the increase in tuition.
This isn’t surprising, as tuition and fees are interconnected. When tuition increases, so will student fees. Even when tuition doesn’t increase, student fees will likely increase.
The foremost reason is that there are restrictions to tuition increases among colleges. This is particularly true among public colleges where federal and state regulations apply.
Online colleges cannot increase tuition without suffering the consequences, too. Foremost is decreasing enrollment since students can’t take the financial burden anymore.
Many online colleges are also adopting tuition freezes. This is to increase affordability and accessibility to higher education among diverse populations. The University of Illinois, Purdue University, and the University of Wisconsin System imposed long-term tuition freezes. Liberty University continues its long-term tuition freeze.
So, how can online colleges fund their operations without increasing tuition? Online student fees are the usual answer. Increasing student fees can offset the effects of the tuition freeze. Plus, their increase can be comparatively more subtle than per-credit or per-semester tuition increases.
On another note, you must understand the stages of student fees. Like tuition, student fees are an admission-to-graduation thing. You will encounter student fees even before admission through application fees.
Why understand the admission-to-graduation stages of student fees? We can give three reasons.
- Being able to compare tuition and fees results in informed decision-making. If affordability is your main concern, the comparison leads to affordable colleges.
- Budgeting for student fees ahead of enrollment becomes possible. There should be little to no unpleasant surprises when payment time comes.
- Maximizing your financial aid for tuition and fees is possible, too.
Indeed, your awareness of online student fees contributes to better financial planning. In turn, it means reduced student debt and improved academic performance.
In the following sections, we’ll discuss the common online student fees. We’ll also provide tips on reducing their impact on your college budget.
Application Fees
Your first exposure to student fees is application fees. These are non-refundable fees that cover the cost of processing applications. The application process includes reviewing the application forms and their supporting documents. Admission officers also determine the applicants’ fit with their online colleges.
You must be discerning about the online colleges you’re submitting applications to. Otherwise, you can pay hundreds in application fees.
Note that application fees range from $50 to $100, depending on the college’s status. If you’re applying to four online colleges, you can spend at least $200 in application fees. But you can only accept one admission offer if you’re granted admission to all four colleges. This means spending $150 for nothing.
But all’s not lost either. You can manage application fees, even skip them, by keeping these tips in mind.
- Consider online colleges without application fees. Colorado Technical University, Capella University, and Baker College are notable examples.
- Look at online colleges with low application fees. The University of Florida Online, Florida International University Online, and University of Central Florida Online have $30 application fees. Colorado State University Global imposes a $24 application fee.
- Ask about application fee waivers and discounts. These are granted based on financial need, military service, and specific populations. Many are also granted as part of special promotions and employer programs. The following online colleges are among many that offer application fee waivers.
- University of Maryland Global Campus
- Liberty University Online
- Arizona State University Online
- Purdue University Global
- Colorado State University Global
- Take advantage of fee waivers offered by testing agencies and application platforms. Ask the College Board and ACT Inc. for application fee waivers when taking their standardized tests. Online colleges that use Common App may also offer application fee waivers.
When you adopt these tips, you’re getting an early start to manage college costs. During your research into application fees, you can also gather other information. Ask about tuition and other student fees while you’re at it.
Tuition Fees
We must again emphasize that tuition fees are separate from student fees. Tuition fees, or tuition, pay for the primary costs of education, particularly instruction. Student fees, or fees, pay for the secondary costs, such as student support services.
Online colleges impose tuition in two ways:
- On a per-credit basis. You will pay tuition based on the number of credits you’re enrolled in for the term. The less number of courses you enroll in, the lower your tuition. But your fees may or may not stay the same depending on policy.
- UF Online, for example, charges $111.92/credit (in-state, tuition only). If you enroll in four 3-credit courses, you’ll pay $1,343.04 (tuition only). Fees are $17.26/credit.
- On a flat rate basis. Your tuition bill will be the same for the term regardless of the number of courses you’re enrolled in. If you take on a heavier course load to accelerate your completion, choose it.
- Western Governors University, Capella University, and the University of Wisconsin Extended Campus are good examples.
Undergraduate and graduate programs also have different tuition rates. You’re likely to pay more affordable tuition in bachelor’s degree programs.
Your residency status also affects the amount of tuition you’ll pay. In-state students pay significantly less tuition than out-of-state students in public schools. Private schools, in contrast, impose the same tuition for in-state and out-of-state students.
Many online programs also impose the same tuition for all students regardless of their residency. Western Governors University and Southern New Hampshire University adopt this approach.
The type of institution also affects tuition rates. Public online colleges tend to impose lower tuition than private online colleges. State subsidies for public colleges are one of the reasons.
The best ways to keep your tuition costs down:
- Consider affordable online colleges first. The affordable tuition and fees are a good start toward keeping your costs down.
- Apply for as many financial aid programs as you can. The more scholarships and grants that cover the cost of tuition and fees, the better. Always file your FAFSA regardless of your current financial resources.
Keep in mind that without financial aid, your tuition costs will be your biggest college expense. So, always check out the financial aid opportunities while looking into tuition and fees.
Online Course Fees
If on-campus courses have their course fees, then there are also online course fees. These cover a wide range of costs including but not limited to:
- E-books and textbooks, among other learning materials
- Access to digital libraries, including their databases and journals
- Laboratory kits, usually for virtual laboratory sessions
- Software and app licenses for courses that require them. Graphic design software is an example.
- Online platform fees, particularly for access to the learning management system. If premium features are available, extra course fees may be optional.
- Certification fees in case of professional certification programs
- Proctored exam fees, usually as payment for third-party proctoring services
- Shipping fees for mailing physical materials to your address
Online colleges can also charge other student fees, including:
- Enrollment fees for registration costs
- Orientation fees for freshman and transfer students
- Administrative fees to cover operational costs
- Late fees as penalties for late registration and late payments
- Transcript fees for processing your official transcripts and other academic documents
- Assessment fees to cover the costs of credit transfer and portfolio assessments
With so many possible student fees, you must always ask for an itemized breakdown. Your awareness of these fees is crucial in informed decision-making. Being able to choose an affordable online college within your budget is a start.
By understanding the fee breakdown, you can avoid paying for services and resources you’re not going to use. This is true for on-campus fees, such as transportation, parking, and athletic fees.
Technology Fees
Online colleges usually charge technology fees because these cover the costs of online learning.
- Hardware and software setup in the digital infrastructure demands significant investments. After their initial setup, these also require funds for their maintenance and upgrades. Online colleges will pass on these costs to students.
- Internet access costs are the foremost expenses for obvious reasons. Online colleges use high-speed Internet, too, for a seamless learning experience for students. High-speed Internet is a must for students to access their learning materials, watch live lectures, and participate in virtual discussions.
- Online learning management systems cost money, particularly when delivered by third-party providers. The availability of premium features and tools increases technology fees. These fees may or may not cover software licenses too.
- Technical support services demand physical items and manpower, too. Again, students shoulder part of the costs for their creation and maintenance. So, be sure to use these services as many times as you can.
- Cloud storage fees apply to the costs of maintaining cloud storage of students’ academic records and other information.
- Security fees cover the costs of maintaining the security of online environments against cyber threats.
Ask for a breakdown of technology fees, too, if possible.
Graduation Fees
These are the last student fees you’ll pay as a college student. Graduation fees cover the costs of your degree completion, including:
- Diploma fees, which cover the costs of printing and mailing your diploma to your address.
- Rental fees for your cap and gown. If you’re attending an in-person commencement ceremony, the traditional attire is a must.
- Commencement fees cover the costs of the graduation ceremony.
You may or may not be required to pay alumni fees. These are charges for membership in the alumni association and accessing its services.
Conclusion on Online Student Fees
When you’re budgeting for college, you must include student fees. While these may have smaller amounts than tuition, these add up over several years. By reducing your payments of student fees, you will enjoy cost-effective online education.
Better yet, you should consider affordable online colleges. These online institutions offer more affordable tuition and fees than other colleges. Many online colleges even have low tuition and fees, too.
Check out the University of Florida Online, the University of Central Florida, and Weber State University. Their quality of education combined with affordability and flexibility results in the best value.
From there, you can access financial aid opportunities. These result in significant cost reductions to your tuition and fees. If you’re savvy in financial aid, you may even enjoy free or ultra-low tuition and fees.