Tuition, Fees and Expenses

Tuition rates and fees are approved by the Board of Regents and may be revised during the year.

Northern State University requires full payment (tuition/fees/ room/board) at the time of fee payment the first week of each semester. Bills are posted on-line through WebAdvisor about three (3) weeks before start of semester. Payment may be made on-line through SDePay/WebAdvisor. Credit card payments must be made on-line. Northern State University accepts Mastercard, Discover and American Express (VISA is not accepted). Registration will be canceled for students who fail to pay their fees on time unless arrangements are made with the Finance Office.

Tuition

www.northern.edu/admissions/pages/costs.aspx

Fees

www.northern.edu/admissions/pages/fees.aspx

Return Check Policy 

It is understood and agreed that upon presentation of your check as the form of payment for any Northern State University transaction, you are entering a contractual agreement that obligates you and holds you responsible for any and all fees and expenses incidental to the principle obligation on any check that is returned non-payable. Returned checks, state surcharges, sales tax and incidental fees may be debited from your account electronically or by way of paper draft.

Residence Hall Rental

www.northern.edu/admissions/pages/reshallcost.aspx

Food Cost

www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSMW/NorthernState/MealPlans/

Estimated Cost of Attendance per semester 

To help prospective students estimate the cost of one 16-week semester (15 credit hours), a list of essential items follows. This does not include any allowance for clothes, travel or incidental personal items. The application fee is paid at the first registration only.

The student in professional education should anticipate an added cost for board and room during the ten weeks of full-time student teaching. 

Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes

Students enrolled in any state college or university shall be classified as resident or non-resident for tuition purposes by the appropriate institutional officer. Questions about residency should be referred to the Registrar.

Minnesota-South Dakota Tuition Reciprocity Program. Any student who is a resident of South Dakota for tuition purposes may attend a Minnesota public institution on a space-available basis and pay the established reciprocity fee for coursework.

Similarly, any student who is a resident of Minnesota for tuition purposes may attend a South Dakota public institution on a space-available basis and pay the established reciprocity tuition for coursework. Students enrolled in those programs where special contracts exist between states are not eligible.

Senior Citizens

Students who are 65 years of age and older receive a tuition reduction that is one-fourth of the regular tuition rate (state support courses). Extension or self-support courses are excluded.

Refunds

Canceled Registration

If a student’s registration is canceled, no tuition and fees are due. If payments have been made, a student is eligible for a full refund.

Dropped Courses

A student receives a 100% refund of tuition and related fees for courses dropped within the drop/add period as defined by the Board of Regents.

Drop/Add period:

The drop/add period is 10% of the number of calendar days between the first and last day of the class. The number of days to receive a full refund varies each semester.

The drop/add period for nonstandard classes is 10% of the number of calendar days between the first and last day of the class. Classes that meet for less than the full semester in the fall and spring are considered nonstandard classes. All summer classes are considered nonstandard classes.

Withdrawal from the University

Withdrawal Process: The Registrar’s Office (Dacotah Hall 103) must be notified if a student decides to withdraw from all courses at the University. The notification may be in writing, by phone, by e-mail, or in person. The student’s withdrawal date is the date the student began the withdrawal process or officially notified NSU of intent to withdraw by contacting the Registrar’s Office. For students who fail to officially withdraw, the institution may administratively withdraw the student. The withdrawal date for an administrative withdrawal will be determined at the University’s option to be 1) the midpoint of the enrollment period, or 2) the last documented date of attendance at an academically related event, or 3) the date an event occurred which prevented the student from officially withdrawing from the institution. Such events include illness, grievous personal loss, or other such circumstances beyond the student’s control. To be considered “withdrawn” a student must have ceased enrollment in all classes at all SD Regental Universities.

Refund Policy: Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from the University within the drop/add period receive a 100% refund of tuition and related fees.

Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from the University after the 60% point of the enrollment period will receive no refund.

Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from the University after the drop/add period and before 60% of the enrollment period has been completed may be entitled to a refund as identified below:

Students Who Do Not Receive Federal Title IV Financial Aid

The refund shall be determined by computing the percentage of the enrollment period remaining after the date of withdrawal times the tuition and fees originally assessed the student. At no time will refunds be awarded after the 60% point of the enrollment period.

Students Who Receive Federal Title IV Financial Aid

The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions to apply the Return of Title IV Funds policy for students withdrawing from a University who receive Title IV financial aid. Title IV funds include the following financial aid programs: Direct Stafford Loans, Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans, Direct Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), Federal Perkins Loans, Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and other Title IV assistance.

A student who withdraws after the 60% point of a semester is entitled to retain all Title IV aid for that semester. However, if the student withdraws prior to the 60% point of the term, unearned Title IV funds as determined by the federal policy must be returned to the various programs. These funds must be returned even if the University provides no refund to the student. This means the student could owe the University and/or the U.S. Department of Education a significant amount of money.

Title IV financial aid is earned by the calendar day, not class day. This includes weekends, holidays, and breaks of less than five consecutive days. The University is required to determine the amount of Title IV aid the withdrawing student has earned and then either disburse any additional funds the student may be entitled to up to the amount earned, or return funds in excess of the amount earned which the student has already received.

If an amount to be returned to a federal program is determined, then a further calculation is made to determine how much of the amount needs to be returned by the University and how much, if any, needs to be returned by the student. The amount to be returned is distributed in a specified order - Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Subsidized Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, PLUS Loan, Pell Grant, SEOG, other Title IV assistance, other federal, state, institutional, and private aid, and last to the student.

Any grant amount that is to be returned by the student will be reduced by 50% under the regulations. This provision does not apply to grant funds that must be returned by the University. The University has specified timeframes within which to disburse additional funds, return excess funds, and to contact and advise the student of what is occurring and of any needed actions on the student’s part.

The University strongly encourages students and parents to consult with the Financial Aid Office and/or Finance Office to determine the financial impact of withdrawing before making a final decision.

Room and Board

Refunds for room and board are based on the percent of the enrollment period remaining after the date of withdrawal. No refunds will be issued after 60% of the enrollment period has been completed. The balance of Flex plan dollars will be refunded at 100%.

Extensions and Waivers

The president of the University, or a designee, may extend or waive the time periods above in the following circumstances:

The death of the student;

The student’s disabling condition or severe illness;

The death, disability, or severe illness of an immediate family member causing severe financial hardship to the student; or,

Other extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control.

Military Service - Withdrawal Without Penalty

Students required to withdraw from the University before completing a semester may receive credit or refund privileges if they are regularly enrolled and belong to a military unit called for duty or are drafted and not eligible for deferment, and, the discontinuance of class attendance is on the last practicable day before reporting for duty as determined by the University. Eligible students who are required to report for military duty not earlier than four calendar weeks prior to the date a semester ends as stated in the official catalog of the University, or after completion of at least 75% of the enrollment period in a non-standard semester course, may, when authorized by the instructor, be given full credit for all courses for which they have an average of “C” or better. Eligible students who receive credit or an incomplete for any course for which they are enrolled shall not be entitled to any refund of tuition or fees paid. Eligible students who do not receive an incomplete or credit for a course in which they are enrolled shall be entitled to a full refund of tuition and academic fees.