Tuition and Fees

As a public honors university attracting outstanding faculty and very talented students, UMBC is a great higher-education value. This chapter details the university’s tuition and fees and describes typical expenses for housing, meals, and textbooks.

NOTE: Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other university publication, the university reserves the right to make changes in tuition, fees, and other charges at any time such changes are deemed necessary by the university and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents.

Policy on Student Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes

To extend the benefits of its system of higher education while encouraging the economical use of the State’s resources, it is the policy of the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland (USM) to recognize the tuition categories of in-state and out-of-state students for the purpose of admission and assessing tuition at USM institutions. The USM Policy on Student Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes, with criteria, is available on the USM website.

To review veterans and military personnel benefits afforded by law and the USM Policy on Student Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes, please see Military Personnel and Veterans . 

Useful information, Q&A, and UMBC’s procedures for Petitioning for In-State reclassification may be found on the Residency page of the Registrar’s Office website.

Application Fee

The non-refundable $75 application fee for undergraduate programs and summer and winter sessions helps defray the cost of processing UMBC admissions. By written request, students may update their applications by one semester or term without paying an additional application fee.

Enrollment Fee

A non-refundable $200 enrollment confirmation deposit is required of all new degree-seeking first-year and transfer students. This deposit is applied toward tuition and fees.

Orientation Fee

A non-refundable $225 orientation fee is required of all enrolling, degree-seeking undergraduate students in their first semester at UMBC. Students are responsible for paying the orientation fee regardless of attendance at the mandatory new student orientation programs.

Matriculation Fee

A non-refundable $100 matriculation fee will be charged to all undergraduate, degree-seeking students, in their first semester at UMBC.

Tuition and Fees 

Please use the figures below as a guide, but be aware that these figures will change. Each semester’s current charges are available on the Tuition page of the SBS website.

Full-time

Expenses for full-time undergraduates enrolled for 12 or more credits:

Maryland Residents (In-State)

Residents of other states and countries (Out-of-State)

Part-time

Mandatory fees for part-time undergraduates enrolled in fewer than 12 credits (those taking 12 or more credits in a regular semester pay full-time fees):

Maryland Residents (In-State)

Non-resident tuition (Out-of-State)

Explanation of Mandatory Fees

Non-refundable Athletic fee supports intercollegiate athletics and recreation including club sports, intramurals, fitness programs, and open facility usage.

Non-refundable Campus Engagement fee supports services and programs available at The Commons.

Non-refundable Transportation fee supports the maintenance of parking facilities, shuttle buses, and the campus program of traffic control.

Student Activities fee covers the costs of various student activities and student publications administered by the Student Government Association.

Auxiliary Facilities fee supports the development and maintenance of facilities essential to UMBC’s programs.

The Technology fee supports the computer infrastructure on campus: computer networking, internet infrastructure, myUMBC portal, site, student labs, wireless systems, and the Information Technology Help Desk

International Student Fee charged each semester for Undergraduate and Graduate International Students.

Other Fees

Retriever Integrated Health Fees

Fees are charged to students receiving services at Retriever Integrated Health. International students on certain non-immigrant visas are required to have health insurance and will be charged appropriately each semester. Students may contact Retriever Integrated Health at 410-455-2542 to determine the exact amount and conditions that apply and for more information on fees.

Shriver Center Programs Fees

The Shriver Center requires a fee for enrollment in a mandatory practicum course linked to all center programs, including cooperative education, internship, community service and learning, and international work and service programs. More information on Shriver Center charges is available on the Shriver Center website.

Course and Materials Fees

Some courses may have additional course and materials fees that are not outlined in this publication. Specific information is published in the Schedule of Classes.

Audit Fees

Audited courses are charged at the same rate (tuition and fees) as per-credit courses.

Golden ID Program Fees

Tuition is waived for Golden ID students.

Golden ID students are responsible for the fees below:

Golden ID Degree-Seeking

Golden ID Non-Degree Seeking

Please note that Golden ID students may also incur course fees, materials fees, lab fees, etc., and those fees are the responsibility of the student.

Please refer to the Admissions to UMBC  section of the catalog, for admission requirements for Golden ID students.

Expenses

Lodging and Meals per Semester

Students living in residence halls are required to have a meal plan. Students living in the residence apartments are not required to have a meal plan, however many elect to do so.

Residence Halls

Note that a communications fee is included (in each room rate above) that covers cable and high-speed internet.

Additional information on Residence Halls is available on the Residential Life website.

Meal Plans

Additional information on meal plans is available from the Dine on Campus website.

Textbooks and Supplies

Information on textbooks and supplies is available at the UMBC Bookstore website.

Billing

Billing is electronic. Students receive emails when e-bills are available online and access them through myUMBC. Other payers (parents, spouses, etc.) can be granted access (by students) to view e-bills and make payments online.

Bills may be paid online by credit card, electronic checks (ACH), International Wires, and Campus Cards. A processing fee of 2.75% is charged on credit card payments. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted online. There is no charge to pay by ACH or Campus Card.

Cash, Campus Cards, personal checks, and money orders are accepted in person at the Cashier’s Office. The Cashier’s Office does not accept credit card payments. Payments are not accepted by telephone.

More information is available on the SBS website.

Monthly Payment Plan

The university offers a monthly payment plan for Fall, Summer, and Spring. The monthly payment plan is available for those who find it more convenient to pay tuition, fees, room, and board, in installments. There is a nominal fee (charged per term) to enroll in the monthly payment plan.

More information is available on the Payment Plan page of the SBS website.

Refunds

In most cases, when financial aid awards exceed the amount owed, or an overpayment is received, a refund will be generated. All student refunds are processed electronically (e-refunds). Students choose the e-refund delivery option that best fits their needs. Plus loan refunds are generated (in the parent’s name) via paper check and mailed to the parent’s address on the Plus loan application. If parents designate their refunds to go to the student, Plus loan refunds will be processed electronically (via e-refund) and deposited as per the delivery option chosen by the student. More information on refunds is available on the Refunds page of the SBS website.

Entrance Counseling

Students accepting Stafford loans must complete entrance counseling prior to the first disbursement of their loans. More information on entrance counseling for Stafford loans is available by contacting the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship at 410-455-2387 or visiting the Financial Aid website.

Fines and Penalties

Late Payment Fee

Late payment fees are assessed monthly on balances not paid by the due date. The late payment fee policy is available from the Late Fees page of the SBS website.

Late Registration Fee

A late registration fee is charged when registering on the first day of the semester and later.

Change Registration Fee

A change registration fee is charged each time that changes are made to registration after the 10th day of class.

Replacement of Campus Card Fee

A replacement card fee is charged to replace a lost Campus Card.

Payment Plan Administrative Fee

An administrative fee of $20.00 is charged when students are dropped from the Monthly Payment Plan for non-payment. 

Parking Fines

Parking fines are billed by Parking Services and will not appear on student accounts. Specific details on Parking fines and billing of those fines are available at the Parking website or by calling Parking Services at 410-455-2551.

Returned Payment Fees

The returned check fee of $30.00 is assessed when personal checks (or online check payments - ACH) are returned unpaid. Additionally, a “Cash Only” flag may be placed on the student account, restricting payments to cash, money orders and official bank checks in person and credit card payments online.

Library Fines

Library fines are billed by the Library. Specific information on library fines charged and payment of those charges is available on the Circulation page of the Library website.

Information on other fees is available on the SBS website.

Student Debts to the University

Debts to the university (including debts at the collection agency) must be paid in full before university services such as registration and requests for diplomas will be granted.

University services (registration, official transcripts, diplomas, etc.) will also be denied for students with past due/defaulted Perkins loans and for Perkins loan recipients who have not completed all loan requirements (exit counseling, return of required documentation, etc.).

Please note that refunds or payments due to students may be applied to existing debts at the university and at the collection agency.

Uncollected debts will be turned over to the Central Collections Unit (CCU). Accounts transferred to CCU will be reported to the Credit Bureaus and assessed a minimum collection fee of 17 percent of the outstanding debt, plus attorney and court fees, if applicable. The university and CCU reserve the right to make changes in fees and other charges as may be deemed necessary to collect the debt. These fees are the student’s responsibility.

Refund of Tuition and Fees

Billing may change as a result of adding/dropping courses or withdrawing from the university. In some cases, students may be entitled to refunds of tuition and refundable fees (based on the schedule below) for term withdrawals and for dropping individual classes (Fall and Spring semesters). Please note that a stop payment on a check, failure to pay the semester bill, or failure to attend classes does not constitute withdrawal from the university. If a student is compelled to leave UMBC at any time during the semester, he or she must complete the requirements for withdrawal as stipulated by the Registrar’s Office.

This refund schedule below applies both to dropping individual classes and withdrawing from the university in the Fall and Spring terms. The Summer and Winter session refund schedule is available on the Tuition Information page of the SBS website.

Percentage of tuition and fees refunded (excluding non-refundable fees) once term begins:

Students can visit the Tuition Information page of the SBS website and select a specific term to view the tuition and fee refund schedule for that term.

Calculation of Title IV Refunds for Students Who Withdraw

The Federal Return of Title IV Funds policy mandates that students who officially or unofficially withdraw from all classes during a semester may only keep the financial aid they have “earned” up to the time of withdrawal. Financial aid funds that were disbursed in excess of the amount “earned” must be repaid. Calculations are done on a case-by-case basis after the withdrawal date is established.

Federal financial aid includes:

• Pell, SEOG, and TEACH grants
• Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans

The federal calculation determines the amount of Title IV aid the student is eligible to retain; however, the amount the student is charged for the semester is based on the Institutional Refund Policy. The application of these policies may result in the student owing a balance to the university that cannot be covered by Title IV financial aid.

Additional information about the Return of Title IV Aid policy is available on the Withdrawals and Refunds page of the Financial Aid website.