WSU Fee Structure FAQ
Q: How will student fees be changed for students?
Q: What are the rates?
Q: How will the refund policy change?
Q: When will this change take place?
Q: What is the difference between a flat fee and a per-credit-hour fee?
Q: What will the difference be for undergraduate and graduate students?
Q: How will students benefit from this change?
Q: How will the university benefit from this change?
Q: How will student fees be changed for students?
A: Wichita State plans to eliminate the current per-credit-hour fee and replace it with a more equitable tiered system. Students will fall into one of three tiers based on the number of credit hours they take. All the students within a tier will pay the same flat fee to support athletics and access to student services.
Wichita State continues to face uncertainty as the Kansas Legislature considers budget plans that may still include additional funding cuts to higher education. The new fee structure will spread any increase more equitably.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS3
| TIER | Fall/Spring1 | Summer2 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 or more credit hours | $658.00 | $329.00 |
| 6-8 credit hours | $439.00 | $219.50 |
| Up to 5 credit hours | $220.00 | $110.00 |
GRADUATE STUDENTS3
| TIER | Fall/Spring1 | Summer2 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 or more credit hours | $658.00 | $329.00 |
| 4-6 credit hours | $439.00 | $219.50 |
| Up to 3 credit hours | $220.00 | $110.00 |
1) Amount to be assessed in each semester per student.
2) Summer I and/or Summer II per student.
3) Students enrolled in online majors are exempt from the semester fee.
Q: How will the refund policy change?
A: The university will discontinue its prorated refund schedule in 2017-18. Though the details are being worked out, the plan is for students to be eligible for a 100 percent refund for a short period of time at the beginning of each semester (or after a class begins). After that period of time, refunds will only be given through the tuition refund petition process. Students will still have the option to switch to another class with the same credit hours without penalty.
Q: When will this change take place?
A: Fall 2017
Q: What is the difference between a flat fee and a per-credit-hour fee?
A: The flat fee means that within a tier, each student will pay the same price regardless of how many credit hours they are taking. Before, student fees were assessed on a per-credit-hour basis, meaning that student paid incrementally more in fees for each credit hour they carried.
Q: What will the difference be for undergraduate and graduate students?
A: Undergraduate students and graduate students will be on different tier systems. For instance, undergrads will enter the top tier at 9 hours, while graduate students will enter the top tier at 7 hours. This is an adjustment allowing for the fact that grad students take fewer credit hours.
Q: How will students benefit from this change?
A: The change was spurred by student concerns that the fee structure forced full-time students to pay considerably more than part-time students for equal access to services.
Q: How will the university benefit from this change?
A: There is no benefit from a university standpoint other than creating a more equitable system of paying for access to student services. The new fee structure, undertaken in response to student concerns, will spread any increase in student fees more equitably.