Tuition and Fee Payment Policies

Payment of Tuition and Fees

Payment due dates are term specific. Tuition and applicable fees must be paid no later than the date specified for each term.  A $100 late fee will be assessed to all accounts not paid in full by the due date.  Information regarding these due dates is available on the GSU website and is also communicated to students via the students’ GSU e-mail.

Electronic payment plan options for each term are available on the GSU website or the myGSU portal. There is a $40 non-refundable fee for setting-up a payment plan.  Refer to the “Payment Plan” section of the catalog for more information.

Students who fail to pay by the published due dates will be placed on University hold list and are at risk of being dropped for nonpayment. This includes those students who receive financial aid, tuition waivers, and work/organization sponsored tuition assistance.

If you do not plan to attend GSU and your classes have not been dropped for non-payment, it is your responsibility to drop your classes by the 100% refund deadline.

Payment Options

Governors State University offers various types of payment methods, as follows:

• Online - via myGSU portal using credit card or electronic check (checking or savings account).
• By phone - using credit card by phoning the Cashier’s Office at 708.534.4055.
• In person - at the Cashier’s office using cash, money order, check or credit card.

By mail - using money order or check by mailing payment to:

Governors State University
Cashier’s Office
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484-0975

The University accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover.  A $25 service fee will be assessed for any check returned by the bank.  Information on payment options is available on the GSU website and is also communicated to students via the students’ GSU e-mail.

Payment Plan

The University offers several payment plan options for each term through the TouchNet system (online).  A $40 non-refundable payment plan set-up charge will need to be paid at the time of enrollment in the plan.

TouchNet payment plans include feature that will automatically deduct the monthly payments from the student’s or parent’s debit or credit card.  As part of enrolling in the plan, payments are scheduled and processed on the due dates without additional action needed on the part of the student or parent.  It is the student’s or parent’s responsibility to make payments according to the payment plan schedule.  If payment declines or does not go through due to insufficient funds, the student’s account will be assessed a $25 late fee for each installment that is late.   Failure to have met prior payment plan obligations may prohibit you from entering into a payment plan with the University for future semesters.

Information on payment plan is available on the GSU website and is also communicated to students via the students’ GSU e-mail.

On-Campus Tuition Schedule

Undergraduate Guaranteed Tuition Plan

Under the Guaranteed Tuition Plan, the tuition for undergraduate students who are Illinois residents is assessed at a per-credit-hour tuition rate during the term they first register and the same tuition rate will apply for each of the following consecutive eleven terms (fall, spring, or summer). If the undergraduate student has not yet completed their undergraduate degree at Governors State University after the initial 12 consecutive terms then tuition will be assessed at the guaranteed rate of the year following the student’s initial enrollment. This new rate will then be assessed for a maximum of 6 consecutive terms (fall, spring, or summer).

For the 2019-2020 academic year, per-credit-hour tuition rates for undergraduate students who are Illinois residents are as follows:

Undergraduate Tuition for 2019-2020 (per credit hour)

Master’s Degree Tuition for 2019-2020  (per credit hour)

Specialist Degree Tuition for 2019-2020  (per credit hour)

Doctoral Degree Tuition for 2019-2020  (per credit-hour)

Undergraduate Indiana Resident

Undergraduate students who are residents of Indiana pay the same per-credit-hour tuition rate as the one established for that same academic year for students who are new to GSU and who are Illinois residents. Indiana students do not qualify for the Illinois Guaranteed Tuition Plan.

Fees

The fees listed in this section of the catalog are subject to change for any subsequent term. Please check the GSU website for any changes. All students who have applied and been admitted to an on campus academic program or enrolled as an on campus non-degree seeking student at Governors State University must pay these fees. All practicum and internship classes are classified as on campus classes. Therefore, mandatory on campus fees will be assessed to students taking practicum and internship classes.

Mandatory Fees

The following are the mandatory fees for the 2019-2020 Academic Year:

Explanation of Fees

Amounts are for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Audit Fee.  A non-refundable fee of $75 is assessed per audited course in lieu of tuition.

Career and Counseling Fee.  A fee of $5 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled students. The fee supports programs that will increase the academic success and retention of all students. This fee supports students throughout their education and the transition process by helping students prepare for employment after graduation. Services include career, personal, and academic counseling programs; mental health counseling; and disability services.

Doctoral Application Fee.  There is a non-refundable doctoral student application fee of $75 per application submitted.

Facilities Fee.  A fee of $39 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled students. The fee is used for the maintenance and renewal of all GSU physical facilities, infrastructure, and operations.

Graduation Fee.  A non-refundable graduation processing fee is assessed at the time students file their applications to graduate. The fee is $125 for an undergraduate or graduate degree.

Health Services Fee.  A fee of $5 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled on-campus students.  The fee supports the operations of an on-campus Student Health Services Center where professional staff members are available to students seeking assistance with a variety of primary, non-emergency health care problems and concerns.

Installment Payment Plan Fee.  Students opting to pay tuition and fees via an installment plan are charged $40 per term.

Late Payment Fee.  There is a non-refundable fee of $100 charged for late payments.

Late Registration Fee.  There is a non-refundable fee of $100 charged for those registering for courses within 2 weeks before the term begins; those registering with permission after the term begins is charged $200.

Master’s Application Fee.  There is a non-refundable master’s student application fee of $50 per application submitted.

Off-Campus Program Fee.  A fee of $32 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled students under a totally off-campus program.  The fee supports the coordination and delivery of programs held at locations other than the main campus.

Online Program Fee.  A fee of $32 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled students under a totally online program.  The fee supports the development and delivery of online degree programs and course offerings to meet the growing demand for choice in how education is delivered and received.

Parking and Walkway Fee.  A fee of $38 per term is assessed to all currently enrolled on-campus students and University employees to maintain the operation and maintenance of the parking lots and walkways, snow removal, repair, replacement, etc. along with quick-start/escort service, and the campus shuttle. University employees pay for parking through payroll deduction. Students are assessed parking fees with their enrollment fees.

Strategic Initiative Fee.  A fee of $16 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled students. The fee supports targeted initiatives that enhance the student learning experience.

Student Activity Fee.  A fee of $11 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled on-campus students. The fee supports Student Life programs and activities to enrich the extracurricular life of students including entertainment and educational events, student  organizations and initiatives, Student Senate, student leadership development, Home Coming, Salute to Grads, student travel, and the student newspaper.

Student Center Fee.  A fee of $16 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled on-campus students. The fee provides access and use of Recreation and Fitness Center facilities at no additional costs, funding for both club and competitive sports teams, and the operation of the Student Center and related programs and services.

Technology Fee.  A fee of $13 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled students. The fee supports technology infrastructure and utilization including, but is not limited to, campus and classroom computers, upgrades to labs, wired/wireless internet services, and software for expanding computer access to students and upgrading computer hardware and software.

Transcript Fee. GSU charges a fee of $10 per official transcript.

Undergraduate Application Fee. There is a non-refundable undergraduate student application fee of $25 per application submitted.

Program and Service Fees

Amounts are for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Assessment Fee.  Fees are based on the current academic year undergraduate extended learning tuition rate. Students at GSU who submit a CEEL portfolio, or Interdisciplinary Studies (IDSS) students who elect to do a portfolio, are charged an assessment fee equivalent to tuition for one credit-hour for submission of a portfolio, and 40 percent of tuition for one credit-hour for assessment of each course or section. International portfolio fees are equivalent to tuition for two credit-hours.

Assessment of each course or section is 40 percent of this amount. To learn how to write and submit a portfolio that can be assessed for possible academic credit, students may attend a Portfolio Seminar with a fee approximately equivalent to tuition for one-half of a credit hour. Qualified students may enroll in an online or on-campus course with advisor approval. For those unable to attend a seminar, a Portfolio Seminar notebook and self-paced video are available at the GSU Bookstore. Military transcripts, which need to be sent to outside evaluators, are charged fees approximately equivalent to tuition for one-half of a credit-hour for this assessment.

For further information, call the Interdisciplinary Studies Office (IDSS) at 708.534.4092.

Library Fees.  Most University Library services are free. However, copying, printing, and lost or damaged materials have a fee.

Student Health Insurance.  Participation in a student health insurance program is optional. Information on basic annual plans for a single student is available from private companies. Information on these health insurance plans and fee rates for spouse and/or dependent coverage is also available in the Student Life Center (A2100).

Determination of Undergraduate/Graduate Tuition Rates

Undergraduate tuition rates apply to all students who have not earned a baccalaureate degree, including degree-seeking, undeclared, and non-degree seeking students.

Graduate tuition rates apply to all students holding a baccalaureate degree, regardless of the level of course work in which they intend to enroll. This policy includes degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students.

Students will be billed for tuition based on their status at the time of fee assessment. However, if delayed posting or retroactive changes to a student’s record affect this status, tuition will be reassessed and the student billed or refunded any difference in tuition. Tuition adjustments will only be made for the current term.

Residency

To be considered residents, students must have lived in Illinois for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the beginning of any term for which they register at the University and must continue to maintain bona fide residence in the state while enrolled at GSU. An individual may be eligible for residency if his/her parents or spouse qualifies as an Illinois resident using the above criteria.

See the Appendix  of this catalog for additional information on resident status.

Refunds

Students who drop from courses on or before the published 100 percent refund deadline are entitled to a full refund of tuition and fees.

Refunds of tuition and fees may also be made because of excess of tuition payments, Financial Aid, student’s death, disability, extreme hardship, or institutional error.  Additional information is available on the GSU website and at the Registrar’s Office.

Refunds may be made via check or direct deposit.

Unsatisfied Financial Obligations

Unsatisfied financial obligations to the University are pursued through placement with a collection agency, litigation, and/or placement in the Illinois Comptroller’s Offset System. Collection costs incurred by the University in collecting monies due will be assessed to the debtor.

University Holds

University holds are a means of identifying students with unsatisfied immunization, financial or academic obligations to the University. Students with holds may not register until holds are released.