Tuition Structures for Credit Instruction

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Policy Number:
UW-1049
Responsible Office:
Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

This policy describes the tuition structures applicable to students enrolled in for-credit courses.

Definitions:
Academic Division (School/College)
An academic group of the university, defined in UW-803 Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 3, that serves as a school, college or like unit and is led by a dean or director who reports to the provost.
Academic Program
An area of study that leads to a degree/major, certificate, minor or named option.
Academic Structure

A data-based representation of faculty and governance policy and actions associated with the academic units and academic programs of the university. The relationship of academic divisions to departments, and departments to academic programs, and programs to subject listings as approved by governance. The organization of the university by careers, academic divisions, departments, plans and subplans, and subject listings. 

Academic Unit
The academic and administrative home for an academic program or subject listing, also known as an academic department, housed within an academic division (school/college). The academic unit originates all program and curricular changes through academic governance; ensures the curriculum is appropriate and that courses are offered regularly; provides student support services such as advising; prepares all content for the Guide and assures the program and subject listing is represented accurately at all times; oversees the course evaluation process; coordinates assessment and program review; and receives allocation for program enrollment, degrees, certificates and credits in the information systems. Three types of academic units exist at UW-Madison:
Department
A group of faculty with a common field of knowledge or closely related scholarly interests. A department serves as the tenure home for faculty, exercises a broad range of functions and duties in relation to faculty academic life, and may house academic programs and course subject listings. A departments is approved as such by the University Academic Planning Council, the University Committee, and the Faculty Senate per UW-805 Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 5. In some cases, the academic division serves as the department.
Department-like Unit with Tenure

A group of faculty who are not all in the same department but who share responsibilities for departmental functions. This unit exercises a broad range of functions and duties in relation to faculty academic life, and generally houses at least one academic program (degree/major or certificate) or subject listing. A department-like academic unit usually does not serve as a tenure home. When a department-like academic unit is approved to serve as a tenure home, each faculty member’s tenure home will be approved on a case-by-case basis by the University Committee.

An academic organization that has department-like status and serves as a faculty tenure home, sometimes with restrictions, is approved as such by the University Academic Planning Council, the University Committee, and the Faculty Senate per UW-805 Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 5.

Department-like Unit without Tenure
A group of faculty who are not all in the same department but who share responsibilities for departmental functions. This unit exercises a broad range of functions and duties in relation to faculty academic life, and generally houses at least one academic program (degree/major or certificate) or subject listing but does not grant tenure or act as a tenure home.
Audit
Enrollment in a course for no grade and no credit. The student is responsible for attending the class lectures as an observer but will not complete assignments or take exams.
Career
A broad classification in the Student Information System that designates a student’s level of study as Undergraduate, Graduate, Law, Medicine and Public Health, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, University Special Students.
Differential Tuition
Amount charged in addition to base tuition to support additional services and programming for students. UW System policy refers to this as program-specific tuition.
Nontraditional Student
For purposes of this policy, a “traditional” student enters higher education after recently graduating from high school (typically, ages 18 to 22 years old), enrolls in a four-year program, and lives on or around a campus. A nontraditional student is defined as any student outside of this definition.
Segregated fees
Charges assessed to all students for student services, activities, programs, and facilities that support the mission of University of Wisconsin System institutions. Segregated fees are not charged for students enrolled exclusively in off-campus programs.
Tuition
In alignment with Wis. Stat. §36.27, the academic fees assessed all students for instruction at UW-Madison. For purposes of this policy tuition encompasses the academic fees paid by all students as well as the additional academic fees paid by international students, Minnesota residents and other non-residents outside the state of Wisconsin. Tuition does not include segregated fees or other fees.
Tuition structure
Type of tuition charged based on factors (e.g., program, program level, residency, credit load, etc.) approved by the UW System Board of Regents or designated authority.
Scope:

The Office of the Bursar assesses tuition for students enrolled in for-credit courses.

Policy:

Tuition assessment for all students enrolled in for-credit courses is based on the governance-approved academic and tuition structures of the university. The tuition structure, and tuition rate where applicable, for academic programs (plans and subplans) are maintained in Lumen Programs. Tuition structures reflect the type of tuition charged based on factors (e.g., program, program level, residency, credit load, etc.) approved by the UW System Board of Regents or designated authority.

Standard Undergraduate and Special

This common tuition structure applies to most undergraduate and special student programs. Separate rates are assessed for Wisconsin residents, Minnesota reciprocity students, non-residents, and international students. Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis with a plateau between 12 and 18 credits.

Program-specific differential tuitions are assessed for the College of Engineering, the School of Business and the School of Nursing traditional BSN program (plan code NUR 712) which offer academic programs with high operating costs.

Tuition rates are set annually based on a proposal from the chancellor to UW System Administration and the board of regents.

Standard Graduate

This common tuition structure applies to graduate programs such as PhD and research master’s programs. Separate rates are assessed for Wisconsin residents, Minnesota reciprocity students, and non-resident students. Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis with a plateau at 8+ credits.

Tuition rates are set annually based on a proposal from the chancellor to UW System Administration and the board of regents. The state legislature also offers perspectives on tuition rates.

Under certain circumstances master's-level programs or capstone certificate programs may meet the standards for either Market-Based (Service-Based) Tuition or Online/Distance (Service-Based)Tuition as described below.

Profession Specific

Applies to certain professional programs. Separate rates under this tuition structure include Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Health Professions, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nursing (Accelerated), Nursing (Collaborative), and School of Business full-time master’s programs. This tuition structure may include separate rates for Wisconsin resident, Minnesota reciprocity and non-resident students in some programs. While tuition is most often charged on a per-credit basis, a credit plateau exists in some programs.

Tuition is approved on a biannual basis by the board of regents, traditionally in December of even years.

Market-Based (Service-Based Pricing)

Per UW System Administrative Policy 805, Tuition and Fee Policies for Credit Instruction and UW System Administrative Policy 130, Programming for the Non-Traditional Market in the UW System, UW-Madison has the authority to set per-credit tuition, as approved by the UW System president, for programs designed to enhance the professional skills, be responsive to local and national labor markets, or are delivered in non-traditional formats that include accelerated, hybrid face-to-face/online formats, or part-time, weekend or evening formats. For eligible programs, the market-based tuition structure may allow for more competitive market pricing relative to peer and competitor programs and support enrollment growth.

Tuition revenue supports the costs of instruction for these programs. Segregated fees are charged to students; the credit plateau and residency status are not applicable in this tuition structure. Available tiers for this tuition structure are set by the Service-Based Pricing Program Committee.

Online/Distance (Service-Based Pricing)

Per UW System Administrative Policy 805, Tuition and Fee Policies for Credit Instruction and UW System Administrative Policy 130, Programming for the Non-Traditional Market in the UW System, UW-Madison has the authority to set per-credit tuition for online/distance programs if the programs are substantially supported by tuition revenue. These programs must meet the standard for online/distance-delivery (greater than 50% online) to assess online/distance program tuition.

No segregated fees are charged to students; the credit plateau and residency status are not applicable in this tuition structure. Available tiers for this tuition structure are set by the Service-Based Pricing Program Committee.

Standard Guest Resident and Non-Resident

Guest auditors are non-degree seeking students who enroll in all courses for audit. Per Regent Policy Document 4-10, Class Audit Policy, fees for guest auditors are assessed based on residency and are at lower rates than standard special student tuition.

Standard Guest Auditor Senior Special Status

Per Regent Policy Document 4-10, Class Audit Policy, Wisconsin residents 60 years of age or older are eligible to audit a course if space is available in the course and the instructor approves. The normal per credit academic fees are waived as of the first day of class.

Nondegree Cohort

Applies to non-degree programs (career code USPC) with identified student cohorts. Programs with this tuition structure charge students either a rate equivalent to standard undergraduate and special tuition for Wisconsin residents or a rate equivalent to standard undergraduate and special tuition for international students. The credit plateau associated with standard undergraduate and special student tuition applies.

Related UW-Madison Policies:
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:
External References:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Policy Manager:
Vice Provost for Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research
Contact:
Associate Director, Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research -- Michelle Young, MEYOUNG@WISC.EDU, (608) 262-2143
Effective Date:
06-19-2019
Revised Dates:

11-05-2020, 04-21-2023, 01-15-2024

Retrieved:
01-19-2025 08:42:21