Differential Tuition

Differential tuition is tuition charged to students according to the specific courses they take after they have reached 60 credit hours.  Those 60 credits include any AP or IB credits the student transferred from high school coursework. The exception is courses in the College of Business, for which differential tuition is assessed after 30 credit hours.

Differential tuition is not assessed for any student who is classified as a freshman.

Many universities assess differential tuition beginning the freshman year.  At CSU, we believe that every student needs the flexibility and time to explore possible majors.  Again, for most students except those taking College of Business courses, students have two full years before differential tuition is assessed.

What is Differential Tuition Used For?


Differential tuition amounts are charged according to three variables:  student demand; cost of instruction; and the job market value of the degree.  When student demand is high and the cost of instruction is high (specialized facilities and equipment; need for additional teaching faculty) more pressure is put on the instructional budgets within Colleges.  In addition, classes are smaller at the upper division level and thus more expensive to teach.  And if the degree from a College has higher earning power (using national data on job placement by discipline), the return on investment for a student is greater.

As a result of the above variables, differential tuitions are charged to bring additional revenues to the Colleges in order to better serve and prepare students.  Colleges use these revenues in a variety of ways, but most often to hire additional faculty; improve lab and research facilities; fund career center support; hire additional advisors; increase field and research opportunities; and purchase equipment and innovative technologies that students may use in their future employments.  All in all, differential tuition enhances the student learning experience once they are in their major and better prepares them for their next steps.

Undergraduate Differential Tuition Charges


Undergraduate Differential Tuition, Fall 2022/Spring 2023/Summer 2023 

Subject Code Cost per Credit FR SO JR SR
AA 75.00 - - Y Y
AB 58.00 - - Y Y
ACT 99.00 - Y Y Y
AGED 58.00 - - Y Y
AGRI 58.00 - - Y Y
AHS 58.00 - - Y Y
AM 75.00 - - Y Y
AMST 58.00 - - Y Y
ANEQ 75.00 - - Y Y
ANTH 58.00 - - Y Y
AREC 58.00 - - Y Y
ART 75.00 - - Y Y
AS 58.00 - - Y Y
ATS 99.00 - - Y Y
BC 75.00 - - Y Y
BIOM 99.00 - - Y Y
BMS 75.00 - - Y Y
BSPM 58.00 - - Y Y
BTEC 75.00 - - Y Y
BUS 99.00 - Y Y Y
BZ 75.00 - - Y Y
CBE 99.00 - - Y Y
CHEM 75.00 - - Y Y
CIS 99.00 - Y Y Y
CIVE 99.00 - - Y Y
CM 58.00 - - Y Y
CO 58.00 - - Y Y
CON 99.00 - - Y Y
CS 99.00 - - Y Y
CT 99.00 - - Y Y
D 75.00 - - Y Y
DM 75.00 - - Y Y
DSCI 99.00 - - Y Y
E 58.00 - - Y Y
EAP 58.00 - - - -
ECE 99.00 - - Y Y
ECOL 58.00 - - Y Y
ECON 58.00 - - Y Y
EDAE 58.00 - - Y Y
EDCL 58.00 - - Y Y
EDCO 58.00 - - Y Y
EDCT 58.00 - - Y Y
EDHE 58.00 - - Y Y
EDOD 58.00 - - Y Y
EDRM 58.00 - - Y Y
EDUC 58.00 - - Y Y
EGSC 99.00 - - Y Y
ENGR 99.00 - - Y Y
ERHS 75.00 - - Y Y
ESS 58.00 - - Y Y
ETST 58.00 - - Y Y
F 58.00 - - Y Y
FACS 58.00 - - Y Y
FESA 58.00 - - Y Y
FIN 99.00 - Y Y Y
FSHN 75.00 - - Y Y
FTEC 75.00 - - Y Y
FW 58.00 - - Y Y
GEOL 75.00 - - Y Y
GES 58.00 - - Y Y
GR 58.00 - - Y Y
GRAD 58.00 - - Y Y
HDFS 75.00 - - Y Y
HES 99.00 - - Y Y
HIST 58.00 - - Y Y
HONR 75.00 - - Y Y
HORT 58.00 - - Y Y
IDEA 99.00 - - Y Y
IE 58.00 - - Y Y
INST 58.00 - - Y Y
INTD 99.00 - - Y Y
IU 58.00 - - Y Y
JTC 58.00 - - Y Y
KEY 58.00 - - Y Y
LAND 58.00 - - Y Y
LASL 58.00 - - Y Y
LARA 58.00 - - Y Y
LB 58.00 - - Y Y
LCHI 58.00 - - Y Y
LEAP 58.00 - - Y Y
LFRE 58.00 - - Y Y
LGEN 58.00 - - Y Y
LGER 58.00 - - Y Y
LGRK 58.00 - - Y Y
LIFE 75.00 - - Y Y
LITA 58.00 - - Y Y
LJPN 58.00 - - Y Y
LKOR 58.00 - - Y Y
LLAT 58.00 - - Y Y
LRUS 58.00 - - Y Y
LSPA 58.00 - - Y Y
MATH 75.00 - - Y Y
MECH 99.00 - - Y Y
MGT 99.00 - Y Y Y
MIP 75.00 - - Y Y
MKT 99.00 - Y Y Y
MLSC 58.00 - - Y Y
MSE 99.00 - - Y Y
MU 75.00 - - Y Y
NB 75.00 - - Y Y
NR 58.00 - - Y Y
NRRT 58.00 - - Y Y
NSCI 75.00 - - Y Y
OT 58.00 - - Y Y
PBHL 58.00 - - Y Y
PH 75.00 - - Y Y
PHIL 58.00 - - Y Y
POLS 58.00 - - Y Y
PPA 58.00 - - Y Y
PSY 75.00 - - Y Y
REL 99.00 - Y Y Y
RRM 75.00 - - Y Y
RS 58.00 - - Y Y
SOC 58.00 - - Y Y
SOCR 58.00 - - Y Y
SOWK 58.00 - - Y Y
SPCM 58.00 - - Y Y
SPMT 58.00 - - Y Y
STAA 75.00 - - Y Y
STAR 75.00 - - Y Y
STAT 75.00 - - Y Y
SYSE 99.00 - - Y Y
TH 75.00 - - Y Y
VM 75.00 - - Y Y
VMBS 75.00 - - Y Y
VS 75.00 - - Y Y
WR 58.00 - - Y Y
WS 58.00 - - Y Y


Graduate Differential Tuition Charges


Graduate Differential Tuition, Fall 2022/Spring 2023

Graduate Differential Tuition, Summer 2023