Tuition

Undergraduate programs

• Full-time traditional undergraduates:
  • Defined as taking 12+ credit hours per semester for billing and federal financial aid purposes.
  • Typical load: 15 credit hours per semester.
  • The Illinois MAP Grant requires at least 15 credit hours for the maximum award.
  • Tuition: Fixed for 12–17 credit hours.
  • Part-time: Charged per credit hour for 1–11 credits.
  • Overload: Additional charge for each credit hour over 17.

Degree-completion (undergraduate/graduate):

• Charged based on the tuition schedule for nontraditional or graduate programs, typically billed per credit hour. Review current tuition rates for all programs.

Housing charges

• Traditional undergraduate students: Must follow the university’s housing requirement.
• Resident students: Live in university-operated housing (residence halls or apartments) and are billed each semester for housing.
  • Housing contract: Applies for the first three years (or remainder thereof) and is binding and non-transferable.
  • Academic year: Begins in fall and ends in spring.
• Break housing: Additional charges apply for winter break, spring break, and summer housing.
• Single rooms: Additional charge for students living in single rooms without roommates.
• Graduate housing: Students in graduate student housing follow specific housing guidelines and are billed monthly for rent.

Meal plans

• Resident students in residence halls: Must purchase a university meal plan.
• Resident students in apartments: May choose to purchase a meal plan, but it’s not required.
• Commuter students: Meal plans are also available.

Learn more about current meal-plan options and pricing.

Miscellaneous fees

• Course add fee: Charged for adding courses after the registration period or during late registration.
• Lab/course fees: Applied to courses requiring special equipment, supplies, or other specific requirements.
• Resident activities fee: Supports student activities for resident students, billed each semester.
• Parking stickers: Required for parking on campus, purchased at the time of application.
• Overload fee: Applied to traditional undergraduates registering for more than 17 credit hours per semester.
• Finance charge: 1.5% monthly fee on unpaid account balances.
• Late payment fee: Charged for late payments beyond the due date.
• Tech fee: Supports campus technology; billed per semester for undergraduates, per credit hour for graduate/adult students.
• UPass fee: Full-time traditional undergraduates receive a UPass for unlimited CTA rides during the school year

Tuition and housing deposits

• Tuition deposit: Required for all traditional undergraduate and graduate students. It is applied to your first semester’s tuition.
• Housing and food deposit: Required for resident students. Used for potential damage or losses in campus housing.
  • Damage assessments (e.g., room damages, excessive food waste) may be deducted.
  • This deposit does not appear as a credit on your bill.
  • Any remaining balance is refunded upon graduation or withdrawal, provided your account is paid in full.

Financial aid on your bill

• Pending aid: Financial aid appears as “pending” on bills and is detailed separately in your financial aid package. Some aid requires student action to qualify.
• Disbursement: Most aid is applied to student accounts by week 4 of the term. The Financial Aid Office will notify students if additional documents are needed.
• Status changes: Switching from resident to commuter or dropping below certain credit-hour thresholds may reduce aid. Verify with Financial Aid before making changes.
• Work-study: Federal work-study is not applied to bills. Students are paid for hours worked and can use earnings toward payments.
• The financial aid section in Self-Service: Check for awards, missing documents, and aid details online.

Student account policies

Billing

Charges are billed in advance each semester based on registration, housing, and financial aid. Payments are due by the following dates:

• Fall semester: August 15
• Spring semester: January 15
• Summer semester: May 15

Changes in registration may affect charges. Unpaid balances incur 1.5% monthly finance charges. Payments must be made in U.S. funds through Student Accounts, with options including a monthly payment plan and online payment methods. Learn more about payment options and associated fees.

Account clearance for registration and housing

To register for classes and confirm campus housing, returning students must meet the following requirements:

• Outstanding balances: Must be paid in full from prior semesters.
• Current semester charges: Must be paid by the due date or satisfactory payment arrangements made with Student Accounts.
• International students (F1/J1 Visa): Must have their balance paid in full by the due date to avoid status issues.
• Registration and transcripts: Students with outstanding balances will not be allowed to register for the next semester or receive transcripts/diplomas until all balances are settled.

Delinquent accounts

Accounts that become delinquent may be sent to a licensed collection agency. Collection agencies may report to National Credit Bureaus, and any associated collection costs may be added to the delinquent account.

Refund policy

Students who withdraw from classes may be eligible for a full or partial refund based on how many weeks have passed in the semester. Refer to the billing policies for withdrawn students below for refund details.