Where does your tuition go?
Rebecca Jordan
News Editor
Fees paid in addition to tuition costs can add hundreds of dollars to your tuition bill and leave you wondering where the money goes once it leaves your pocket.
Tuition payments are the most obvious payment that students make. The spring 2016 semester cost in-state residents $2,050 and out-of-state residents $6,150. In the fall, students are also required to pay a non-refundable $50 tuition deposit fee if they do not file the FAFSA with the college before the deadline set by the college.
Many extracurricular activities on campus are made possible as a result of the records and activities fee. This semester, the fee amounted to $128 per full-time student and is spent on campus clubs, athletics, student transcripts, and graduation. Without this fee, the paper you are reading now would not be possible as all club budgets are taken out of the student activity fee.
The technology fee only applies to students taking three or more credits and costs full-time students $300 this semester. This fee cannot be waived, even for students who opt to use their own laptops or computers at home. The money from this fee funds the upkeep of Blackboard and student email accounts as well as the maintenance of college technological equipment.
The health fee is a $30 fee that makes it possible for there to be a registered nurse available who can provide health counseling and assist injured students. This fee does not cover visits to the Dental Clinic, which charges an additional $10 registration fee for adults over 13 years of age who come in to have their teeth cleaned.
If students wish to drive themselves to school and park on college grounds, they have to pay the vehicle registration fee in addition to filling out the appropriate paperwork to get their parking sticker. This fee charges students $86, but can be waived for those who do not want to park on campus. Parking violations are not covered under this fee.
The laboratory fee varies based on the lab course a student is taking, and if a student is not taking any courses that require lab time, this fee does not apply. The fee is $10 and up depending on the lab course taken. This fee pays for lab upkeep and materials, though some classes expect students to purchase additional supplies.
Other miscellaneous fees students may encounter include the $10 transcript fee for students to request their transcripts be sent to another school and the $9 ID card replacement fee to replace a stolen or lost student ID card. There are other varying fees for broken or lost college property.