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10 Surprising College Fees You May Have to Pay

By U.S. News & World Report

College Fees Add Up

While most people think of the rising cost of college as tied to tuition, that’s not the only charge to go up. School-related fees are being tacked on to raise additional revenue to fund academic and non-academic pursuits, experts say.

In some cases, college advisers say families may have to pay hundreds of dollars to more than $1,000 in additional college fees each semester, depending on the school. Here are 10 college fees that you may be asked to pay.

1. Orientation Fees

Orientation fees are typically due during registration for first-time, incoming students and sometimes involve attending a special preregistration session. The cost for this type of fee ranges — depending on the school — from as little as $50 to up to $300 at some institutions.

Florida Memorial University and the University of North Carolina–Asheville, to name a couple of schools, charged incoming students a $150 orientation fee in fall 2016.

2. Freshman Fee

Some schools charge a freshman fee, which is usually separate from an orientation fee.

The University of Arizona, as an example, bills its freshmen $10 a semester to cover first-year student support programs and services.

3. Campus Fees

Sometimes schools charge these extra costs under a lump item, billed as a campus fee, says Alicia Stewart, a college counselor at IvyWise, a New York City-based college advising firm.

“They’re called different things — they might be called a ‘campus fee,’ and that’s just covering campus maintenance or access to campus buildings,” she says.

4. Commencement Fees

A student may need to pay a commencement fee, or graduation fee, to participate in the school’s ceremony. Some schools, such as the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, automatically charge the fee to students who are in the first semester of their senior year.

Chicago State University and Ohio University, to name a couple, charge $50.

5. Lab Fees

Sometimes a class comes with an added expense during registration: a lab fee. These fees typically vary, depending on the type of course. A lab fee for a biology course might be used to pay for microscope repairs, slides and petri dishes.

Experts say lab fees — especially for science courses — such as chemistry or engineering, typically cost around $150.

6. Environment Fees

While usually nominal in price, some schools tack on environmental fees. At the University of California–Los Angeles, students are charged annually for the school’s green initiative fee; the cost for that fee in 2016-2017 was $14.40.

But UCLA isn’t the only school to charge this extra cost, the University of Texas–Austin, charges students $5 a semester for its “green fee,” which is aimed to advance projects that promote sustainability around its campus.

7. Campus Spirit Fee

While some schools charge fees that support athletic programs under an athletic or campus fee, some schools bill this item under a different name. Every year, at the University of California–Irvine, students pay a “campus spirit fee.” For the 2016-2017 school year, the school billed students $99 for this expense.

The fee is required of all undergraduate students and is used to support athletic and campus spirit programs on campus, according to the school’s website.

8. Tech Fees

Computer labs and campus-wide Wi-Fi are resources and services provided at many colleges and universities.

“Most schools will have a tech or a computer fee that’s for accessing Wi-Fi,” says Stewart from IvyWise. But there is an upside, “sometimes you can get free copies when you use their centers.”

9. Transportation Fees

Some college and universities offer their students shuttle buses for traveling around campus, and this fee varies among schools.

At the University of Central Florida, a $9.10 transportation fee is tacked on for every credit hour a student takes. So a student with a 15-hour course load would pay $136.50 in transportation access charges. Other schools bill this fee in one lump. The University of Akron, as an example, charges students $175 each semester.

10. Athletic Fees

At some schools, the athletic fee isn’t charged under the campus fee and is billed separately, experts say.

At the University of Virginia, students were billed $657 annually in 2015-2016 for athletics on top of a $418 mandatory fee for recreational facilities. College advisers say schools will find one way or another through fees or tuition to pay for their costs.

More About Paying for College

The search to learn more about college costs shouldn’t end here. Access our paying for college section to explore more ways to finance higher education.

You can also follow U.S. News on Facebook and Twitter to join the conversation and stay informed about the latest tips and advice on paying for school.

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10 Surprising College Fees You May Have to Pay originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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