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.
The university reserves the right to revise or alter all tuition and fees, regulations pertaining to student tuition and fees, and collection procedures at any time.
Descriptions of fees
A mandatory fee charged to all full-time and part-time Monroe Park Campus students. This fee supports activities scheduled throughout the academic year, such as concerts, plays, student organizations and publications.
A mandatory fee for all full-time and part-time non-resident, on-campus students. The fee was mandated by the Virginia General Assembly to reimburse the State for debt service costs attributable to non-resident students related to financing of buildings and equipment.
A fee charged to certain foreign language courses to support the language learning lab. The fees are available under the Special course related fees section.
A fee charged to selected Biology, Chemistry, and Forensic Science courses to cover the cost of lab materials. The fees are available under the Special course related fees section.
A mandatory fee for all students living in university housing. The fee covers cable TV and internet access.
All undergraduate students living on both campuses, except for Gladding Phase I, Ackell Residence Center, Broad and Belvidere, Capital Garage Apartments and RAMZ Hall, are required to subscribe to a Residential Board Plan. Students living in university-operated apartments or commuting from off-campus may purchase meal packages or subscribe to one of the board plans. Costs vary according to plan.
The charge for dishonored checks returned to the university. Effective January 2010, the charge is $50.
A mandatory fee for all full-time students on both campuses. Part-time students may participate on an optional basis but must pay the full fee. The health fee covers unlimited visits to University Student Health Services for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. The student health fee does not cover accidental injury and hospitalization. The university offers to students an approved insurance plan providing substantial benefits at group rates. Additional information may be obtained by contacting University Student Health Services.
The cost for attending an intensified mini session during the break between the fall and spring semesters. Holiday Intersession courses are considered part of spring registration, however, these courses are not computed in the calculation of the spring tuition cost. The charge for Holiday Intersession is included on the spring invoice as a separate charge amount.
A non-refundable fee for any student who elects to participate in the University Installment Payment Plan. To participate, the student must have current tuition, fees, housing and dining charges of $100 or greater. The plan distributes the costs for a semester into four equal installments. The plan is offered during the fall and spring semesters only.
A fee charged to any student whose payment for tuition and fees is not received by the established payment due date.
A per credit hour fee for undergraduate students enrolled for more than 18 credit hours and graduate students enrolled for more than 15 credit hours. The overload tuition fee does not apply to first professional programs.
A fee charged to all Health Administration Executive Master's Program students to cover costs associated with program administration.
A tuition differential fee charged to all full and part-time School of the Arts majors. The arts majors differential overload fee is also charged to undergraduate students enrolled in more than 18 credit hours and graduate students enrolled in more than 15 credit hours at the per credit hour fee rate. The revenues are allocated to the individual departments for the cost of materials, services and/or equipment.
A fee charged to all non-arts major students enrolled in private music lessons to cover the cost of the lessons.
A required comprehensive fee charged to all full- and part-time School of Business majors. The fee is used to fund programs within the School of Business.
The fee is charged to non-business major students who enroll in 300 level business courses and above. The revenue is used to support instructional costs in the School of Business.
Fee charged to all offsite MBA students to offset costs associated with off-site course delivery.
Fee to pay for membership in the American Student Dental Association.
Fees charged for instrument rental for first and second year students and instrument purchase for first year Dental Hygiene students.
Fees charged for instrument rental for first through third year students and instrument purchase for first and second year School of Dentistry students.
Fees charged to all dental students to pay for student related activities in the school.
A fee charged to students enrolling in athletic training courses.
A fee charged to graduate education students to pay for honorariums to teachers who assist with student teaching.
A fee charged to all School of Medicine students. The fee is required for medical students under accreditation guidelines.
A fee charged to first professional medicine students studying on the INOVA Campus. The fee supports student recreation, student health, and student counseling programs. The fee is in lieu of the University Fee, Student Health Fee, and MCV Government Fee charged to students studying on the MCV Campus.
A mandatory fee for all full-time first professional students and students enrolled in the M.D./Ph.D. program in the School of Medicine. This fee is in addition to the SGA fee and funds an expanded student orientation, a student newsletter, and other events of student interest.
Fee charged to students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate clinical laboratory courses to cover the costs for clinical laboratory supervision.
A fee charged to all pharmacy doctoral students enrolled in the School of Pharmacy. The fee offsets the cost of clerkship site development, expansion and other costs associated with the practicum experience.
A mandatory fee for all students enrolled in the Pharmacy Doctoral Program in the School of Pharmacy. This fee is in addition to the SGA fee and supports conferences, guest lecturers, student activities and other projects.
A fee charged to all graduate and doctoral pharmacy students enrolled in the School of Pharmacy. The fee provides increased access to computers and other instruction related technology improvements.
Fee charged to Social Work students for costs associated with field instruction and placement in participating agencies in Virginia, Washington D.C. and neighboring states.
A mandatory fee for all students enrolled in the Off-Campus Social Work program in the School of Social Work. This fee supports conferences, guest lecturers, student activities and other projects.
A mandatory fee charged to all full-time and part-time students on the MCV Campus. This fee supports social, cultural and other MCV Campus activities.
A mandatory fee for all undergraduate, graduate and professional students in all programs. This fee is used to support university-wide technological initiatives.
A mandatory fee charged to all full and part-time students on both campuses. Full-time students pay a flat rate. Part-time students pay a per credit hour rate. This fee is used by the university to support Recreational Sports facilities, the Student Commons, campus development, intercollegiate athletics and other programs.
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.
Effective July, 2006, a student with in-state status for tuition purposes who exceeds 125 percent of the credit hours needed to complete his program will be assessed a tuition surcharge.
Classification and Credit Hours
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students registered for 12 or more credits during any semester are classified as full-time.
New Undergraduate Students:
Students who are newly admitted to an undergraduate degree or certificate program beginning in or after the Fall 2013 Semester are classified as new for tuition assessment purposes.New undergraduate students registered for less than 15 credit hours are charged a per-credit-hour tuition rate. If registered for 15 or more credit hours, tuition for the additional credits (15 or more) will be assessed at a reduced per-credit-hour-rate. The mandatory fees are charged at a per-credit-hour rate for one to 12 credit hours. The mandatory fees cap at 12 credit hours.
Continuing Undergraduate Students:
Undergraduate students who were enrolled in a degree or certificate program prior to the Fall 2013 Semester and are not required to reapply for admissions to the University are classified as continuing for tuition assessment purposes. Tuition and fees are charged at a flat rate for continuing undergraduate students enrolled in 12 to 18 credit hours. A continuing 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 their classification/program.
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 graduate tuition rates. DHG students who enroll in nine or more credits 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 are assessed tuition and fees as a new student. 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.
