The engineering fee is need-based and important for ensuring the continued availability of the necessary resources to support engineering students including: the continuing need for modernization of instrumentation and materials for instructional laboratories and student projects, improvements to instructional space and aging facilities, and adequate staff support to ensure the effective maintenance of instrumentation and technology in the daily operation of the instructional laboratories.
Yes. The university computes that engineering costs $117 more per credit hour than the overall university average. This cost makes engineering the most expensive undergraduate program at the University, or the second most expensive program if you include the graduate level College of Veterinary Medicine.
Yes. The money collected from the Engineering Fee is passed to the College of Engineering. The revenue does not supplant the College’s current base funding.
The money collected from the engineering fee is used to improve the instructional program in engineering. Expenses include equipment used in the instructional program, facility improvements related to instructional labs, or personnel support for people working in instructional labs.
A description of how the engineering fee has benefited a number of departments can be found can be found in the 2009 Engineering Now.
Yes. The College has been making improvements with engineering fee funds since 2007.
Beginning in Fall 2007, $30 per credit hour was charged for all 1000-level engineering courses. At the undergraduate level, the engineering fee was phased in over a four year period. Beginning in Fall 2008, all students taking 1000- and 2000-level courses were charged the engineering fee. Students taking 1000-, 2000-, and 3000-level courses were assessed the engineering fee in Fall 2009. Beginning in Fall 2010, all engineering courses 1000-4000, are assessed the engineering fee.
The graduate engineering fee was phased in over a 3-year period. In Fall 2007, incoming graduate students were assessed a flat fee of $270 per year. The flat fee increased to $540 per year beginning in Fall 2008, and $720 per year beginning in Fall 2009.
The current tuition and fee structure can be found on the University Bursar's website. The engineering fee charged to each student is based on the number of engineering courses taken during the academic year. The table below provides an estimate of the annual fee by class.
| Freshmen 1000-level classes |
$270 |
| Sophomores 2000-level classes |
$540 |
| Junior 3000-level classes |
$720 |
| Senior 4000-level classes |
$720 |
Full-time graduate students pay $720 per year. Part-time graduate students pay one-half that amount, or $360 per year.
To ensure costs are equitably distributed to all students taking engineering courses and students in joint degree programs, the undergraduate engineering fee is applied in relationship to the number of engineering courses taken. Off-campus students and online students equally participate. Charging the engineering fee per credit hour means a lower total cost for freshmen and sophomores and a greater charge for juniors and seniors based on the expected number of engineering courses taken and thus the demand on instructional services which drives costs.
At the graduate level, the declaration of major is very stable, thus a flat charge can be created based on the average number of credit hours expected at the full-time and part-time level. This ensures the least complexity on the graduate tuition remission program for graduate students on assistantships.
Yes. Virginia Commonwealth University charges a $422 tuition premium for Engineering, plus $65 per course for lab fees. George Mason University charges an additional $12 per credit hour and/or lab fees from $25 to $130 for Information Technology & Engineering courses.
Yes. Additional resources will be provided through the student financial aid office to ensure accessibility.
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