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Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Services

Tuition and Fees

Student Accounting

Tuition

Tuition is determined by the student's residency status, the number of credit hours for which the student is registered, the student's course of study and the student's classification level.

Descriptions of fees

Calculator

Use the calculator to determine an estimated cost of attending VCU.

Forms

Determination of Student Classification for In-state Tuition Purposes

Source: VCU Undergraduate and Professional Programs Bulletin, Appendix D

Residency Status

Residency refers to the present, fixed home of an individual to which he or she returns following temporary absences, and at which the individual intends to remain indefinitely.

The student's residency classification will determine whether his or her tuition will be calculated at the in-state or out-of-state rate. Eligibility for in-state tuition is governed by the Code of Virginia.  All applicants to VCU who wish to be considered for in-state tuition rates as Virginia residents must submit the Application for Virginia In-state Tuition Rates.  The residency determination of the applicant is conveyed at the time of admission.

New and continuing students initially classified as non-Virginians for tuition purposes may request a review of the initial residency determination by contacting the Residency Appeals Officer in the Office of Records and Registration.

An additional source of information referencing the establishment of Virginia domicile is the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Classification and Credit Hours

Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students registered for 12 to 18 credits during any semester are classified as full-time. Tuition and fees are charged at a flat rate. An undergraduate student enrolled for more than 18 credits during any semester will be charged an overload tuition fee.

Graduate students
Graduate students enrolled for 9 to 15 credits during any term are classified as full-time. Tuition and fees are charged at a flat rate. A graduate student enrolled for more than 15 credits during any term will be charged an overload tuition fee.

Part-time students
Students registered for less than a full-time course load are charged a per credit hour rate based on the course level. Undergraduate courses are classified as 100 to 400 level, graduate courses are classified as 500 to 700 level. Evening students enrolled on a part-time basis, pay the same per-credit tuition and fees as day students.

Non-degree Seeking Students
Non-degree seeking students who hold a bachelor's degree are classified as DHG (Degree Holder Graduate) if they enroll in one or more graduate courses. DHG students are charged by the level of the course, unless they enroll for nine or more credits, at which point they are charged at the full-time graduate rate.

Non-degree seeking students who hold undergraduate degrees are classified as DHU (Degree Holder Undergraduate) if they enroll in all undergraduate courses. DHU students who enroll in twelve or more credits are charged at the full-time undergraduate rate. If they make changes to their course enrollment by the end of the add/drop week, their classification and charges change in accordance with these guidelines.

Virginia Commonwealth University
Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Services
Student Accounting Department
827 W. Franklin St.
P.O. Box 843036
Richmond, Va. 23284-3036
Phone: (804) 828-2228
E-mail: stuacctg@vcu.edu
Site Last Update: November 19, 2009
Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services
The Student Accounting Department is responsible for the assessment, billing and collection of tuition, housing and dining charges, and other university fees. The department also bills third-party payers for VCU charges and issues refunds to eligible students.