Description of Tuition & Fees
Tuition
Oklahoma State University is committed to providing accessible and affordable higher
education for our students. The standard per hour tuition rate is based on the level
of the course and residency classification. All course offerings are listed by four-digit
numbers with the first digit indicating level of course. Undergraduate courses are
all courses with the first digit 0 through 4. Graduate-division courses are all courses
with the first digit 5 or above.
Our desire is to help students shorten the time to earn their degrees and assist with
financial budgeting. Beginning Fall 2014, OSU implemented a new block rate that includes
tuition and University-wide fees for undergraduate students taking 12 to 18 credit
hours. The block rate serves as one of OSU’s strategies to help students stay on target
and finish college in 4 years. Learn more about the block rate.
In 2007, the State of Oklahoma signed a law that allows in-state, first-time, full-time
students entering one of Oklahoma's 4 year universities the option to choose between
the standard variable tuition rate subject to change each fall versus a locked tuition
rate that will be guaranteed to remain the same for up to four (4) consecutive years.
For the 2009-2010 year, the average annual tuition increase for resident undergraduate
students over the most current four years has been 6.3%. For the guaranteed tuition
program to be the most cost beneficial choice, the nonguaranteed rates would have
to increase by an average of 9.4% over the next four years. The guaranteed tuition
rate program applies to undergraduate resident level tuition only and does not apply
to graduate tuition rates (5000 level or higher coursework) even if those courses
are required or eligible to apply to undergraduate degree programs. Outreach course
charges processed by the departments are NOT eligible for the lock tuition rates.
Outreach departments must recover the cost of instruction and may incur additional
delivery fees. Because outreach courses must be self-supporting, tuition rates differ
from general university courses. These funds can not be co-mingled so outreach courses
do not process into the general university tuition but into departmental accounts.
Learn more about Tuition Lock.
Fees
Fees are implemented only after careful scrutiny, and always in an effort to contribute
to the betterment and general welfare of the campus community, as well as the individual
students. In fact, the process of implementing fees consists of a detailed request
form that outlines why a new or increased fee is necessary, and exactly how the funds
will be utilized. In addition, part of the approval process required by our OSU Regents
and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, is to meet with various student
organizations to explain and receive feedback on each potential new or increased fee.
Interestingly, there are numerous fees that have been implemented and/or raised due
to student-driven initiatives.
Students regularly enrolled in the University are assessed facility, health, and activity
fees that entitle them to use the Student Union, the Colvin Physical Education Center,
and the Health Clinic, and that provide support for student governance, organizations
and programs. The activity fees provide partial support to such programs, services,
and organizations as the Student Government Association, collegial student councils
and related student organizations, Allied Arts, fine arts, athletics, intramural activities
and sports clubs, minority student organizations, and the Student Activities Office.
User’s fees, other fund-raising activities, and, in some cases, membership dues provide
the remaining support to make these positive, constructive, and meaningful programs
and services available to all students.
The advising and assessment fee provides for skills assessment and evaluation of students' capabilities at various
stages of their academic careers, and to get feedback from students regarding their
course work. This fee also supports the commitment to academic advising within each
college to create a collaborative decision-making framework which students can identify
and realize their educational goals. The goal is to preserve personalized advising
services, reduce the advisor/student ratio in high demand areas and to develop advising
technology such as degree audit systems to support an increased graduation rate.
Support is also provided to students with career development, employment and internship
services including expanded interview opportunities, placement preparation, and other
programs related to success after graduation.
The academic facilities fee funds renovation, maintenance, and construction of classroom and other academic
facilities necessary to support contemporary instruction and the demands of growing
enrollment.
The student facilities fee supports the continued upkeep and utility costs of the Colvin Center and the
Student Union. This fee also funds a bond issue for the Colvin Center renovations.
The academic excellence fee provides for new faculty positions and/or helps increase existing faculty salaries
up to peer averages. In order for OSU to remain competitive and provide the best
opportunities for growth and education for our students, it is imperative that we
are able to recruit and retain outstanding faculty. Historically OSU faculty salaries
have always been below our peer average. This trend became even more pronounced several
years ago when higher education institutions in Oklahoma suffered multiple years of
budget cuts in state appropriated funds. While OSU strives to have a moderate raise
program each year, to make up the affects of those budget-cut years, we dedicate additional
funds to improving faculty salaries above and beyond our annual raise program, as
well as adding faculty to improve our student-faculty ratio.
The library automation & technology fee defray the cost of equipment, software, and other aspects related to operating
the on-line computerized library service. This fee also protects student access to
heavily-used electronic journals and on-demand information services despite escalating
costs and the termination of services by outside library agencies.
The student union renovation fee is used for renovations and enhancement to the union. This fee will benefit students
and the campus for many years to come. Over the past years, students and administrators
have recognized that the "quality of life" facilities provided by the 54-year-old
Student Union have become outdated and do not support the type of campus life that
today's university students expect. Some examples include improvements to the following:
availability of computer kiosks and wireless connectivity, food service seating space,
product mix and service style of merchant shops, and mixes of quiet study and social
lounge space. These renovations include considerations to infrastructure (mechanical,
electrical, plumbing, and structural) as well as to accessibility and traffic flow
within the building and improved merchant space.
The university technology infrastructure maintenance fee provides for the maintenance of existing facilities, and the expansion and development
of central and collegiate facilities, software, and multimedia capabilities. This
fee also supports the IT Infrastructure which is dedicated to covering increasing
costs in multiple areas, including network and system infrastructure, hardware and
software costs and communications. Priority is to upgrade system security in an effort
to prohibit University computer networks from being susceptible to hackers.
Students are assessed a health services fee that includes a fee for comprehensive health and pharmacy services. Health and
pharmacy services are available to students enrolled in six or fewer hours if the
student chooses to pay the full fee.
The academic records maintenance fee provides for the basic graduation cost, the maintenance of the academic record
system, and issuance of official transcripts.
The student development fee is used to support student participation in orientation efforts which are linked
to recruitment and retention of freshman as well as transfer students. Development
and leadership opportunities for minority students will also be provided by these
resources. It is also used to support campus lifeto cover costs for the guest speaker
series, Student Union programs. and Student Union Activities Board. The off-campus
student organization initiatives such as Renter's Fair, Renter's Advisory Council,
and the printing of a housing guide also receive an allocation from this fee.
The O’Collegian fee supports the production and distribution of the newspaper, the Daily O’Collegian,
which is an award-winning campus newspaper.
The parking & transit fee helps with maintenance and operations of the OSU Transportation Services.
The life safety & security fee provides for the assessment and continued implementation of campus safety measures
that includes the “Code Red” emergency notification system to notify students and
staff via voice mail, email or text messages should there be an emergency situation.
The campus infrastructure fee provides support for campus-wide maintenance of facilities, upgrades to utility,
network and voltage systems and updates/enhancements to technology infrastructure
and equipment.
College Based Program Fees and Special Class Fees
College based fees are used for to support enhancements in instruction, technology,
continued equipment maintenance/upgrades, and facilities.
Each college also has certain courses, special services, supplies or equipment that
may be used. Costs for these are not normally covered by fees, tuition or departmental
operating budgets; therefore, the cost is incurred by the student enrolled in the
specific course. See the University Catalog and the course descriptions for these
special class specific costs.