UNIVERSITY REGULATION
PART V – FINANCE AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Chapter 05.10 - Tuition and Student Fees

R05.10.030. Authority to Set Tuition Rates.

1. Basis of Charge: Students will be charged tuition on a per credit hour basis depending on the level of the courses taken, rather than upon the student’s class standings. For example, a graduate student taking an undergraduate course will be charged tuition for that course at an undergraduate tuition rate. 
2. Community Colleges and Extended Community Campuses: Tuition rates at a community college or an extended community campus may differ from the rates set for the regional campus centers. Requests for differential rates must be submitted by the respective chancellor to the university president prior to the September 30 that falls at least 22 months before the beginning of the academic year to which the requested differential rate is proposed to apply. The request should include the proposed tuition rate, the revenue impact of the proposed change in rates, the rationale or justification for the differential rate, the level of local or community support for the campus, and the recommendation of the campus advisory council. This procedure does not apply to the annual inflation or other standardized rate adjustments. 
3. Summer School: Summer school tuition rates will be the same as those established for the regular fall semester; however, a self-support fee for summer school may be charged at the discretion of the respective chancellor. 
4. WWAMI Medical Education Program: Tuition for students enrolled in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) Medical Education Program will be set at the amount charged by the University of Washington to residents of the state of Washington. 
5. Accounting for Tuition Receipts: Tuition receipts will be allocated or assigned to the campus or campuses that provide the program and program support necessary to earn the tuition. The university’s chief finance officer may issues guidelines and directives for the allocation or assignment of revenues.
   
   For purposes of this subsection, "campus" means:
   

   UAA	UAA Anchorage Campus
   	KPC Kachemak Bay Campus KPC Kenai-Soldotna Campus Kodiak College Matanuska-Susitna College Prince William Sound Community College SW Higher Education for Armed Forces
   UAF	Troth Yeddha' Fairbanks Campus
   	Bristol Bay Campus Chukchi Campus Interior Alaska Campus Kuskokwim Campus Northwest Campus Community and Technical College
   UAS	Juneau Campus
   	Ketchikan Campus Sitka Campus

6. Installment or Deferred Payment Plans: Formal installment payment plans and deferred payment plans shall be approved by each university's chancellor or designee prior to implementation. The chancellor or designee may approve informal deferred payment arrangements based on the circumstances of individual students and groups or consolidated billings.

(06-16-23)

R05.10.040. Special Tuition and Tuition Surcharges.

1. Universities considering a programmatic tuition surcharge for undergraduate or graduate programs must develop a compelling proposal for review and approval. The chancellor of the requesting campus will recommend to the president for approval a proposal that meets the following criteria:
   1. Quality of the student experience. The proposal will address how the programmatic tuition surcharge maintains an already high level of program quality or how it substantially increases the quality of the learning experience for participating students. 
   2. Program costs. The proposal must include a justification explaining the variance in the component program cost(s). This applies to cost of instructional delivery, faculty salaries and other contributing factors the chancellor deems pertinent. 
   3. Program demand, employment and earnings potential. The proposal must be based on factors such as program demand, graduate employment and program graduate earnings potential compared to a similar program utilizing base or regular tuition funding of a non-specific nature. 
   4. Enrollment and affordability. The proposal must include a detailed analysis of:
      1. a. current enrollment, retention, graduation and affordability; 
      2. existing financial aid, scholarships and other funding support available within the program; 
      3. the impact of implementation.
         
         The analysis shall also include description of an advising process that enables the student to anticipate future cost increases and (if necessary) how to seek additional aid to cover the programmatic surcharge amount over base tuition.
   5. Peer and process review. A campus must use their protocols and procedures, and the guidance provided by these regulations, to formulate and review proposals. Reviews should include practices at peer institutions in the United States. Proposals will be presented to the Academic Council (AC) for vetting and to verify (or in some cases facilitate) cross system discussions that could result in surcharge alignment. AC will review each proposal and provide the president with their recommendation. 
   6. Student consultation. All proposals for existing programs must show evidence of consultation with students who will be affected. 
   7. Accountability. Tuition surcharge reviews are to include an operational analysis detailing resources, expenditures and outcomes under baseline. Following implementation of the surcharge, subsequent reviews of the surcharge will follow the universities normal program review cycle.

(06-19-23)

R05.10.050. Nonresident Tuition

A. Generally, tuition, surcharges and financial aid should consider education quality, access, and ability for a student to pay. It is reasonable for nonresident students to pay a larger share of instructional costs than resident students, in closer alignment with the full cost of instruction, when the market allows. Nonresident rates should be competitive with those charged at peer institutions and sensitive to institutional nonresident enrollment changes and objectives. Surcharges may be differential by university to support additional services and programming for students at a particular institution. If a university determines that a student meets residency requirements, that determination shall be honored by the other universities.

B. Chancellor Authority. The president delegates to the chancellors the authority to assess a nonresident tuition at the university or program level on individuals who do not qualify as Alaska residents and who have not otherwise been exempted under this chapter.

C. Definition of Alaska Residency: For the purpose of tuition assessment under this chapter,

1. a resident is a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen who, at the end of the add/drop period for regular semester-length courses,

a. is physically present in the state with the intent to remain in the state indefinitely;

b. has maintained the person’s domicile in the state for at least the 12 consecutive months preceding the end of the drop/add date; and

c. is not claiming residency, or obtaining benefits under a claim of residency, in another state, territory, or country.

2. In this definition, "eligible non-citizen" shall have the same meaning as that term is used in determining eligibility for federal student financial aid.

3. To prove physical presence in Alaska, a student must be physically present in Alaska and provide at least one of the following:

a. documentation that the student moved household goods to Alaska at least 12 months ago;

b. documentation of the lease, rental, or ownership of real property in Alaska for at least the prior 12 months;

c. documentation of permanent employment in Alaska for at least the prior 12 months; or

d. other indicia of Alaska residency for the twelve months deemed satisfactory by the university chief enrollment officer or designee.

4. Proof that the person has received or has been qualified by the State of Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Division to receive an Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend within the last 12 months creates a presumption of residency for purposes of this provision.

5. Students applying for resident tuition assessment must file an application for resident tuition with the appropriate university admissions office prior to the published end of the add/drop period for regular semester-length courses for the semester for which residency is sought. Failure to file and provide adequate proof of physical presence by this date will waive any claim that the student was eligible for resident tuition assessment for that semester or prior semesters unless otherwise determined by the university chancellor or designee. Applicants with prior documented Alaska residency will be granted a 60-day extension to the above deadline to prove their residency.

6. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections 1-5 above, a student will not qualify as a resident for purposes of this regulation if:

a. during the 12 months of claimed residency, the student was absent from Alaska for an aggregate of more than 90 days, other than documented absences due to illness, or attendance at another educational institution while maintaining Alaska residency;

b. during the 12 months of claimed residency, the student did any act inconsistent with Alaska residency such as claiming residency in another state or voting as a resident of another state, or currently retaining a driver’s license in another state;

c. during the 12 months of claimed residency, the student has registered as a resident in an educational institution in another state.

D. Exceptions to residency requirement for resident tuition.

1. The following are to pay at resident tuition rates:
   a. Active duty members of the United States Military; their spouses and dependents; members of the National Guard and Reservists; their spouses and dependents; and United States Veterans eligible for Veterans Administration education benefits; their spouses and dependents. (For purposes of United States active duty military and individuals receiving VA benefits, their eligibility for in-state tuition and fees shall be consistent with Regents’ Policy or requirements to maintain approval for VA education benefits under applicable law, whichever is more favorable).
   b. Residents of other states or provinces (e.g., Yukon Territory) for as long as those other states or provinces have a reciprocal agreement exempting/waiving nonresident tuition rates for Alaska residents.
   c.Participants of the University of Alaska College Savings Plan, the John Hancock Freedom 529, and the T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan, who meet eligibility criteria as may be established by the Education Trust of Alaska.
   d. Students designated by the UA Scholars Program as UA Scholars for a period of 12 months after UA Scholars designation.
   e. Students that graduated within the past 12 months from a qualified Alaska high school. “Qualified Alaska high school” shall have the same meaning used to determine eligibility for the UA Scholars Program.
   f. Spouses or dependent children of UA employees.
   g. Students who have a parent, step-parent or grandparent (natural or adoptive) currently living in Alaska that qualifies as an Alaska resident (also known as the “Come Home to Alaska” program).
   h.Students participating in the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP).
   i. Students from the three Freely Associated States, which are the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau.
2. The following are to have their nonresident tuition adjusted:
   a. Nonresident students participating in the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) will be assessed a nonresident tuition as may be determined by the university’s chief finance officer at an amount not to exceed 150 percent of the resident tuition charge.
   b. Tuition and fees for incoming and outgoing participants in the National Student Exchange Program shall be charged in accordance with the terms and conditions of the National Student Exchange. In general, the student will pay resident tuition at either the student’s host or home institution depending upon the exchange plan selected.

3. At the discretion of each chancellor, subject to any terms or limitations the chancellor may specify, each university may enact policies charging resident tuition to:
   a. Students at other universities that exempt UA students from nonresident tuition based on reciprocal agreements; b.Students from foreign cities and provinces that establish sister city or sister province relationships with the State of Alaska, or Alaska municipalities;
   c. Dependent children of Alaska residents;
   d. Graduates from a UA baccalaureate program who have participated in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) who earn Alaska residency status upon or after completion of a UA undergraduate degree; participants must meet Alaska residency requirements as listed above with an intention to remain in Alaska.                                                         (08-19-24)

R05.10.060. Tuition Rates.

Tuition rates effective for the respective academic year, fall through summer semesters, are as follows: 

UAA and UAS	AY2025		AY2026
	Resident	Nonresident1	Resident	Nonresident1
Lower Division	$234	$800	$241	$841
Upper Division	$282	$848	$290	$890
Graduate	$513	$1079	$528	$1128

 

UAF	AY2025		AY2026
	Resident	Nonresident1	Resident	Nonresident1
CTC Tuition2	$234	$800	$241	$841
Undergraduate3	$289	$855	$298	$898
Graduate	$539	$1105	$555	$1155

¹In 2023, Board Policy P05.10 was changed to replace the term “nonresident surcharge” with “nonresident tuition,” however for FY26, the nonresident surcharge will stay in place and increase from $566 to $600 (6%) and be applied to all resident tuition rates. 

² Applies to CTC, Bristol Bay, Chukchi, Interior Alaska, Kuskokwim, Northwest Campuses (all offerings are 100-200 lower division).

³ The UAF lower division and upper division tuition rates have been combined into a single rate called “undergraduate”. Applies to academic programs offered through Troth Yeddha’ Campus to include the university system definitions “Fairbanks Campus” and “Rural College”. Both include 4-year and graduate degree programs offered on the Troth Yeddha’ location.

(11-08-24)

R05.10.070. Student Fees.

1. Student government fees shall be developed and administered in accordance with guidelines established by the student government in conjunction with the respective chancellor and approved in accordance with P09.07.050. Requests to establish or to change a fee shall include a description of the purpose of the fee, the amount of the fee and basis for assessment, the estimated annual revenue, the effective date of implementation, the recommendations of the student leadership, the recommendation of the respective chancellor, and a summary of the input or involvement of the affected students. 
2. Course, use, service, and administrative fees may be established if the respective chancellor or designee determines that such fees are reasonable and appropriate. Each chancellor will establish a process for approval which documents the rationale for assessment of the fee, amount of the fee, the estimated annual revenue, the proposed use of receipts from the fee, and the proposed effective date of any new or revised fee. The process for continuing review shall provide for student comment and input, including notice to students of any course-related fees and their purpose at the beginning of each semester. 
3. Course fees shall have a direct relationship to the supplemental cost of providing the course, such as the cost of expendable items that normally cannot be economically or conveniently purchased by students in amounts required for individual use or for the use of specialized instruments, laboratory, and other equipment.
4. Self-support course fees for noncredit instruction shall be approved by the respective chancellor or designee. Such fees shall be established considering the costs to provide the service, the needs of the community, and the benefit to the university. 
5. Summer school self-support fees will be assessed as a fee in addition to tuition. The respective chancellor or designee may establish the amount of such fees. In determining the fee requirement, the costs related to the program may be averaged across all summer school programs at a campus or assigned on some other consistent basis as approved by the campus chief financial officer. 
6. For sponsored courses, seminars, or other instruction offered for credit at any level with the direct instructional costs being paid for by an external sponsor, the respective chancellor or designee may approve charging an administrative fee to cover related facilities and administrative costs, such as charges for classrooms, registration, class lists, grades, transcripts, and other functions required to support the instruction. To the extent practicable, the fee should be established at a rate that will recover the institution’s full cost of instruction including applicable facilities and administrative costs. 
7. For credit-free courses, seminars, training programs, or other instruction offered to the general public with all direct instructional costs being paid for by the students in the course, the respective chancellor or designee may approve charging a base fee or supplemental fee to cover related facilities and administrative costs, such as charges for classrooms, registration, class lists, grades, continuing education credits, and other functions required to support the instruction. To the extent practicable, the fee should be established at a rate that will recover the institution’s full cost of instruction including applicable facilities and administrative costs. 
8. The university president may establish systemwide administrative, use, service, or course fees at the president's discretion. 
9. All student fees, including student government fees, course fees, use and service fees, and administrative fees, to the extent feasible, shall be published with the semester course schedules, student handbooks, and registration instructions. Each university shall maintain a web site that identifies all student fees and discloses for each the amount of the fee, its purpose, the basis for calculation or assessment, and an explanation of the use of the proceeds. The campus academic catalog shall include an information disclosure of the various fees that may be charged to students. Courses listed in the academic catalog that traditionally or normally have an associated course or other fee shall be noted as such with a specific designator that will direct the reader to the appropriate web site that contains up-to-date fee information. 
10. Fees must be established far enough in advance to be published in the semester course schedule. No unpublished fees or fee increases shall be charged to students, unless the reason for not publishing the fee was beyond the control of the department receiving the proceeds and the fee or fee increase is specifically authorized by the respective chancellor. This approval authority may not be delegated beyond the provost or vice chancellor.
11. The university’s chief financial officer shall provide an annual report to the university president and the board regarding tuition and fees and comparisons with prior periods and similarly situated programs of other western states.

(06-19-23)

R05.10.080. Tuition and Fee Waivers.

1. Under the authority granted to the president by Board of Regents’ Policy 05.10.080, the president or respective chancellor may waive student tuition and fees, including tuition surcharges and special tuition, upon a determination that such waivers are in the best interest of the university. Such authority cannot be further delegated. 
2. By September first of each year, each university must report the amount of tuition and fee waivers granted during the preceding fiscal year to the university’s chief financial officer.
3. To be eligible, for tuition and fee waivers under AS 14.43.085 as described in P05.10.080.C., an eligible child or spouse of a recipient must:
   1. establish eligibility for the waiver prior to tuition payment deadlines. Waivers do not cover tuition or fees for non-credit courses, fees that are voluntarily incurred by the student (e.g., fines, late fees, housing, parking, insurance), fees imposed by student government, or fees unrelated to student status;
   2. be enrolled as a student in good academic, financial aid, and student code of conduct standing in accordance with institutional standards of the campus attended; and
   3. have been the spouse or financially interdependent partner of the officer or member of a fire department or the armed services at the time of the officer or member’s death or listing as a prisoner of war or listing as missing in action; or
   4. have been a dependent child at the time of the officer or member’s death or listing as a prisoner of war or listing as missing in action. For purposes of this provision, “child” includes a natural or adopted child, stepchild, acknowledged illegitimate child, or child to whom the officer or member stood “in loco parentis” for at least three years before the officer or member’s death or listing as a prisoner of war or listing as missing in action.                               (06-19-23)