Information for Students
What are alternative fee programs?
Certain online and self-support programs charge per-credit fees instead of standard tuition and fees. You can find a list of these approved programs in the link below. You will notice many of the online degree programs are alternative fee programs, and therefore charge an alternative fee rate per credit.
https://www.boisestate.edu/sfs/boise-state-university-fees/alternative-fee-programs/
The classes offered by these programs are not included when calculating a student’s part-time or full-time standard tuition and fees.
Which classes use alternative fees?
Classes utilizing alternative fees can be identified by either their section number or their class notes.
- Class section numbers will be between 1100-3999 or 4200-5600.
- Class notes will indicate whether a class charges alternative fees.
Can I enroll with a permission number?
Many classes utilizing alternative fees have additional prerequisites for declaring an alternative fee program (major). You can contact the instructor or department to request a permission number, but please see the potential impacts below. If you are not currently admitted to an alternative fee program, consider searching for non-alternative fee class options to avoid these impacts.
What impacts should I consider when enrolling in these sections?
If you are not currently admitted to an alternative fee program and choose to enroll in a class that charges alternative fees, you could experience:
- Higher total semester cost of attendance. The per credit rate for alternative fee classes is in addition to the standard tuition & fees charged for other credits, and no tuition plateau exists for enrollment beyond 11 credits. For example:
- Student A enrolls in 15 credits at standard tuition & fee resident rate for Spring 2024: $4,391
- Student B enrolls in 12 credits at standard tuition & fee resident rate + 3 credits at alternative fee per credit rate for Spring 2024: $4,391 + $1,125 = $5,516
- Potential loss of scholarship eligibility. Most scholarships for on-campus students require enrollment in 12 credits of standard tuition and fee courses each semester. Scholarship criteria are detailed in the scholarship award message listed in your Student Center within myBoiseState. You should contact scholarships@boisestate.edu with detailed questions regarding your scholarship situation.
- Loss of access to services/facilities/benefits funded through student fees (examples include, but are not limited to: Student Recreation Center, student tickets for athletic events, ASBSU elections and student legal services). More information about service restrictions can be found on this page: https://www.boisestate.edu/online/student-services/.
- Inability to use the employee tuition waiver. There is a limited number of alternative fee programs eligible for the employee tuition waiver. This includes classes in the programs that charge alternative fees. See this webpage for eligible programs.