Tuition and Fees

• Tuition Classification
• House Bill 1023 Verification of Lawful Presence
• Standard Fees
• Late Registration Fee
• Mandatory Health Insurance Requirement
• Mandatory Immunization Requirement
• Student Dental Insurance

The Board of Trustees, the governing board of the College, reserves the right to alter any or all tuition and fees for any semester without notice.

Tuition and college service fees are determined by the trustees shortly before the beginning of each academic year. Information regarding tuition and fees can be found by accessing the Tuition and Fees Table on Metro State’s Web site: www.mscd.edu/studentaccounts. 

A student is classified as an in-state or out-of-state student for tuition purposes at the time of admission. This classification is based upon information supplied by the student on the application for admission and is made in accordance with the Colorado Tuition Classification Law, (Title 23, Article 7, of the Colorado revised Statutes of 1973), as amended. Once determined, a student’s tuition classification status remains unchanged unless satisfactory evidence that a change should be made is presented. If a student believes he or she is entitled to in-state status, the student must submit the In-state Tuition Classification form, along with evidence of in-state status to the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline dates.

The tuition classification statute requires that, in order to qualify for in-state status, a student (or the parents or legal guardian of the student in the case of students under 23 years of age who are not emancipated) must have been domiciled in Colorado for one year or more immediately preceding the first day of the semester for which such classification is sought.

Domicile for tuition purposes requires two inseparable elements: (1) a permanent place of habitation in Colorado and (2) intent to remain in Colorado with no intent to be domiciled elsewhere. Some examples of connections with the state that provide objective evidence of intent are: (1) payment of Colorado state income tax as a Colorado resident, (2) permanent employment in Colorado, (3) ownership of residential real property in Colorado, (4) compliance with laws imposing a mandatory duty on any domiciliary of the state, such as the drivers’ license law and the vehicle registration law and (5) registration to vote. Other factors unique to the individual can also be used to demonstrate the requisite intent.

Any questions regarding the tuition classification law should be directed to an admissions officer in the Office of Admissions or the Tuition Classification Officer with the Office of the Registrar. In order to qualify for in-state status for a particular semester, the student must prove that domicile began no later than one year prior to the first day of classes for that semester. Refer to the Academic Calendar (www.mscd.edu/academic/acal.htm) for dates to qualify and to submit petitions.

Graduate students, regardless of their tuition classification based on residence status, are not eligible for the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) even if they are registered in undergraduate level courses.

HB06S-1023 which was signed into law on July 31, 2006, requires institutions of higher education to verify lawful presence of all applicants for public, post-secondary education benefits.  The bill requires all citizens who apply for state benefits to provide proof of lawful presence in the US.  These benefits include in-state tuition, access to the College Opportunity Fund (COF), some types of state and institutional funding, and any other state-funded benefits that entail any payment or financial assistance.

Any student whose lawful presence is verified through the process of completing a College Opportunity Fund (COF) application or who is verified through the FAFSA may be considered to have met the requirements. Students who are not able to be verified through FAFSA must complete an HB 1023 Affidavit form and provide a copy of identification supporting lawful presence in the U.S.  Information about HB 1023 is available online at www.mscd.edu/registrar/HB1023.shtml.

Applicants who fail to meet verification requirements will be subject to nonresident tuition and removal of state funding.

An application fee is required of all applicants for admission to the College. This fee is nonrefundable and will not be applied to tuition.

Metro State will administer a $100 service charge to students registering for Term 1 Fall and Spring semester classes past the posted late registration date on the Academic Calendar and the appropriate fall/spring schedule. Term 1 classes are those scheduled during the full 16-week fall and spring semesters, including online classes, classes at Metro North and Metro South, and 2+2 courses. This fee does not apply to Winterim, Summer session courses or other parts of term classes. This fee is classified as a User Fee and Charge for Service under the Student Fee Plan and will be assessed at the time of registration. Exceptions include students registered only for non-Term 1 classes, Metro State employees who are taking advantage of the tuition-reimbursement benefit and not allowed to register prior to the first day of classes, and students who were placed on waitlists prior to the late registration date, yet absorbed later. Appeals will be handled initially through the Office of Enrollment Services and ultimately through Office of the Bursar whose decision will be final.

NOT included as exceptions:

• Part-time students taking Term 1 classes
• Non-degree students taking Term 1 classes
• Any other students taking Term I classes other than those described as exceptions above

All students (undergraduate and graduate) taking nine (9) credit hours or more in any given semester are required to submit proof of having health insurance that meets the College compliance standards, which include the current Federal requirements for health insurance. When submitting an “Insurance Selection” form students may select to participate in the College sponsored health insurance plan in order to fulfill this requirement or submit proof of existing outside health insurance that meets the College’s compliance standards. Students choosing to participate in the College offered plan will pay their insurance premium directly to a third-party insurance billing agency. When a student registers for nine (9) or more credit hours they will receive an automatic email sent to their Metro State email account that explains how to submit an Insurance Selection form online. In order to ensure timely processing, this form should be submitted immediately after receiving the automatic compliance requirement email from the College; no Insurance Compliance forms will be accepted after the compliance deadline for the current semester. Failure to comply with the College’s health insurance compliance requirement will result in having a registration hold placed on a student’s account which will prevent future registrations. This hold will remain in effect until health insurance coverage that meets the College’s compliance standards has been submitted, audited and approved. If you have questions related to the College insurance policy or the College-offered health insurance plan, call the Student Health Insurance Office at 303-556-2525 or stop by the insurance office located in Plaza Building 149. You may also go to the student insurance Web site at: www.mscd.edu/healthcenter/health_insurance/mscd_plans.shtml.

All students are required by the College to submit proof of immunization. During a student’s first semester of attendance (or anytime after a student has been given their college ID number) students must submit all of the required immunization documentation directly to the Auraria Immunization Office located in the Plaza Building 149. A “hold” will be placed on a student’s account preventing future registration(s) for those not complying by October 1 (for first-time-to-Metro State students beginning coursework in the Fall semester) or by March 1 (for first-time–to-Metro State students beginning coursework in the Spring or Summer semester.) For specific policy information stop by the Immunization Office located in the Plaza Building 149, adjacent to the Health Center at Auraria, or go to the Immunization Web site at: www.mscd.edu/healthcenter/immunization/metro.shtml.

Voluntary Dental Insurance is available to students taking one credit or more. Information and application forms can be obtained at the Student Insurance Office in the Health Center at Auraria (PL 150).