FEE-BASED PROGRAMS AND STUDENT STATUS

The University offers both state-supported and fee-based degree programs. Fee-based programs and their classes do not receive direct financial support from the State of Washington. Regular (non-fee-based) classes are funded by both students’ tuition and the State of Washington.

The difference for students is that fee-based degree programs, in most instances, operate under different policies and procedures than tuition‐based programs. Additionally, students who are enrolled in most fee-based programs will use a different process to apply, register and pay for their courses than students in state-supported programs.

PROGRAM AND COURSE FEES IMPACTED BY STUDENT STATUS

FEE-BASED STUDENTS

Fee-based students may be allowed to take tuition‐based courses on a space-available basis. These students will pay course fees commensurate with their student status as fee-based matriculated students in MyUW with the PCE-Continuum College payment portal. There is an exception for dual-major students.

TUITION-BASED (STATE-FUNDED) STUDENTS

With the approval of the campus, college, school or department, any tuition-based student may request to enroll in a fee-based course. The student must contact the Continuum College Registration Services and pay a separate fee for the fee-based course(s), which is not included in the total number of credit hours of their state-funded program tuition.

When a department creates a joint state-funded section of a fee-based course, tuition-based students may register on MyUW for the state-funded section on a space‐available basis if there are no other course restrictions. The program may allow the state-funded student to enroll as part of their normal tuition cap.

DUAL-MAJOR STUDENTS IN BOTH FEE-BASED AND TUITION-BASED DEGREE PROGRAMS

If a student is concurrently enrolled in a fee‐based degree program and a tuition-based degree program, they will:

  • Pay the fee-based rate with Continuum College in MyUW with the PCE-Continuum College payment portal for their fee-based degree courses
  • Pay the state tuition rate in MyUW with Student Fiscal Services for their tuition-based courses

If a course satisfies both the fee-based and tuition‐based degree requirements, the student will pay the higher of the two degree rates.

DUAL-MAJOR STUDENTS IN FEE-BASED DEGREE PROGRAMS

If a student is concurrently enrolled in two fee‐based degree programs, “A” and “B”) they will:

  • Be added to two separate programs in the UWC2 Registration System (EOS) and the student database (SDB)
  • Pay the unique specified rate for courses in degree “A”
  • Pay the unique specified rate for courses in degree “B”

If a course satisfies requirements for both degrees, the student will pay the higher of the two degree rates in MyUW with the PCE-Continuum College payment portal.

NONMATRICULATED STUDENTS

Nonmatriculated students may be allowed to enroll in fee‐based degree program courses on a space-available basis. They will pay the associated cost for the fee-based course to Continuum College Registration Services.

TUITION EXEMPTIONS

A tuition exemption program is a waiver of state tuition revenue. Students cannot use tuition exemptions to pay for fee-based programs and classes as state tuition revenues do not fund these programs. For more information on the UW Tuition Exemption program, please visit the UW Registrar’s website.

POLICIES IMPACTING STUDENTS IN FEE-BASED PROGRAMS

Students in fee-based degree programs should be treated like any other UW student to the extent possible under federal and state regulations and at no additional cost to the state.

Students will be admitted specifically to a fee-based degree program, and University policies may require re-application to be admitted to another fee‐based or tuition-based degree program.

The number of students allowed in each fee-based degree course will be established by the instructor, department, campus, college or school.

Once admitted, fee-based degree students must commit to a curriculum in the fee-based degree program into which they are admitted. They cannot swap a required fee-based degree course for a different, non-required fee-based degree course.

If a degree program is terminated, there will be a reasonable opportunity for students enrolled in a fee-based degree to finish their program.

ENROLLMENT CONFIRMATION DEPOSIT (ECD)

All graduate and professional degree programs must collect an Enrollment Confirmation Deposit (ECD) from all new and returning students, per the UW Board of Deans and Chancellors (approved by the provost).

The ECD deposit secures a student’s space in the program and confirms the student’s decision to attend the University. This Enrollment Confirmation Deposit is supported by Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 478-160-246; the required deposit is a credit on account and is not a fee.

FINANCIAL AID AND VETERAN EDUCATION BENEFITS

Financial aid is available to fee-based degree students on the same basis as all other students, except for institutional financial aid programs supported by tuition from state-assisted students. The campus, school, college or department may also choose to provide program-funded financial aid generated from fee-based degree program revenue.

Students who qualify for veteran benefits should visit the UW Veterans Education Benefits Office online. Have more questions? See the UW Registrar’s Office student FAQ page.