Tuition Surcharge FAQs
- What is the tuition surcharge?
- Who is affected by tuition surcharge?
- What counts in the 140 semester hour allowed before the surcharge applies?
- Is there anything that doesn't count in the 140 semester hour limit?
- How much will the tuition surcharge be?
- How will transfer credit affect the 140 semester hour limit?
- What if a student attends summer school at a community college in North Carolina?
- What if a student has over 140 semester hours but graduates in 4 years or fewer?
- What happens if a student's degree program requires more than 128 semester hours?
- How does the 140 semester hour rule apply to students seeking a second undergraduate degree?
- Is there an appeal process for tuition surcharge?
What is the tuition surcharge?
In 1993, the North Carolina General Assembly (Senate Bill 27, Section 89b) enacted legislation directing the UNC Board of Governors to impose a 25% tuition surcharge on students who take more than 140 degree-credit hours to complete the first undergraduate baccalaureate degree in a four-year program or more than 110% of the credit hours necessary to complete a five-year program. In 1994, the legislation was modified (Senate Bill 1505, Section17.10) to exempt students who complete the degree in eight regular term semesters or the equivalent (or ten semesters for a five-year program). Effective fall 2010, the surcharge increased to 50%.
Who is affected by tuition surcharge?
All undergraduate degree-seeking students admitted to UNCG beginning fall 1994 are affected. The surcharge applies to transfer students, in-state and out-of-state students. Students enrolled at UNCG prior to fall 1994 are exempt.
What counts in the 140 semester hour allowed before the surcharge applies?
- all semester (fall and spring semester) academic credit hours attempted (includes repeated course work and failed course work); and
- all transfer credit hours accepted by UNCG except those taken during the summer.
Is there anything that doesn't count in the 140 semester hour limit?
The undergraduate credit (semester) hours to be excluded in the calculation of the tuition surcharge are:
- College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) credit;
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or similar programs' credits;
- Credit earned through any UNCG advanced placement, course validation, or similar procedure;
- Credit earned in summer sessions;
- Credit earned from an extension division of any UNC institution, including UNCG;
- Credit earned while enrolled as a high school student;
- Credit associated with courses officially dropped by the student consistent with UNCG policy.
How much will the tuition surcharge be?
The surcharge is 50% of the tuition (tuition only, not fees) for the hours in excess of 140 s.h. The surcharge applies to in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition.
How will transfer credit affect the 140 semester hour limit?
All transfer credits will count toward the 140 semester hour limit except summer credit. Credit hours earned through UNC degree-credit extension programs are also exempt. (If a student transfers over 97 semester hours, he or she is allowed 31 semester hours before the surcharge applies.
What if a student attends summer school at a community college in North Carolina?
All credits earned at a community college with the exception of summer sessions count in the 140 semester hour limit.
What if a student has over 140 semester hours but graduates in 4 years or fewer?
The 140 semester hour limit applies only to students who take longer than eight regular term semesters to earn a four-year baccalaureate degree or ten regular term semesters in a degree program designated by the Board of Governors as a five-year program. Transfer credit is included in this calculation.
What happens if a student's degree program requires more than 128 semester hours?
For students earning a first baccalaureate degree in a UNC Board of Governors board approved program that require more that 128 credit hours, the surcharge shall be applied to all hours that exceed 110 percent of the credit hours required for the degree. Such programs include those that have been officially designated by the Board of Governors as five-year programs, as well as those involving double majors or combined bachelors/master's degrees.
How does the 140 semester hour rule apply to students seeking a second undergraduate degree?
The surcharge will be applied when the student exceeds 110% of the minimum number of additional hours required for the second degree.
Is there an appeal process for tuition surcharge?
Students may request a waiver for military service obligation, serious medical debilitation, disability, or other extraordinary hardship, as defined under BOG 1000.1.5 [R].
