Tuition, Fees and Refunds


Registration Fees

Tuition and other fees are due on or before the last day to pay (see the Academic Calendar and Tuition and Billing Important Dates). A student is not considered officially registered and may not attend classes until fees are paid or arrangements are made to pay fees. Arrangements to pay fees include, but are not limited to: acceptance of a financial aid award; acceptance of a tuition deferment for pending financial aid; third party billing, including payment by the Florida Prepaid College Program; participation in one of the University's payment plans (not available during the summer semesters); or matriculation or non-resident waivers. Florida Statutes do not allow FAU to register any individual who has debts with the University.

Tuition and fees are charged for each credit scheduled based on the course level and the residency status of the student. To view our full cost of attendance information page, visit https://www.fau.edu/finaid/other/cost-of-attendance/. Tuition and fees are subject to change by the Florida Board of Governors at any time. For the most current tuition fees visit www.fau.edu/controller/student-services/tuition-breakdown or www.fau.edu/regulations/chapter8.

The tuition and fees apply to all courses, to all degree- and non-degree-seeking students and for all semesters unless specifically noted otherwise in official University publications. To determine their fee schedule, students auditing classes should read the Registration for Auditors section in this catalog.

All degree-seeking students should read the Financial Assistance Opportunities section of this catalog.

Student Account Authorized Users

Students can authorize others, such as parents, guardians or sponsors, to view their accounts and pay their bills. To authorize a user, the student submits the new user’s email address and signs an electronic authorization on the FAU Billing website. Sign-up instructions can be found here.

Repeat Course Surcharge Fee
A student enrolled in the same undergraduate college credit course more than twice will be charged a Repeat Course Surcharge for the third and subsequent enrollments in the course. Individualized study courses and courses intended to continue over multiple semesters may be excluded from this charge. To view our full cost of attendance information page, visit https://www.fau.edu/finaid/other/cost-of-attendance/. See Repeat Course Surcharge in the Academic Policies and Regulations section for more details.

Sundry Fees

To view our full cost of attendance information page, visit https://www.fau.edu/finaid/other/cost-of-attendance/

Late Payment Fee*
$100
Late Registration Fee*
$100
Application (fee is non-refundable)
$30
Material and Supply Fee**
variable
Mandatory Photo ID Fee***
$10
Freshman Orientation Fee
Required Overnight Housing Fee
Freshman Orientation Guest Fee(fees are non-refundable)
$104
$35
$70
Freshman Tuition Deposit
(fee is non-refundable)
$200
Transfer Orientation Fee
Transfer Orientation Guest Fee
(fees are non-refundable)
$54
$27

Transfer Student Tuition Deposit (fee is non-refundable)

$100

eLearning Fee (per credit hour)
$30
Transportation Access
includes parking decal (fee is non-refundable)****
Summer
$32.04
Fall and Spring
$76.90/per semester


* See Academic Calendar for dates. An initial registration after the end of the Drop/Add period will incur a $100 late registration fee.

** Certain courses have been designated to include material and supply fees.

*** A mandatory photo ID fee must be paid during the first semester enrolled at FAU or for replacement of a lost photo ID. This is a non-refundable fee. Students must present a paid fee receipt at the photo ID office in the Student Union, Boca Raton campus (or other campus locations) to have the photo ID processed.

**** All students are assessed a transportation access fee at the time of registration to be paid along with their tuition. This fee supports the University's transportation infrastructure and increases student access to transportation services. Upon registration, a student will be eligible to obtain a permit online through myfau.fau.edu. Parking and Transportation Services is responsible for managing parking services on all FAU campuses. All students, whether part-time, full-time, day or evening or members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, are required to pay a transportation access fee, which is included in the tuition at the time of registration. Decals may be obtained online at myfau.fau.edu, under the "Students" tab. For more information, call 561-297-2771 or visit the Parking and Transportation Services website for a copy of the parking rules, an FAU map or visitor information.

Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Program for International Students

International students attending any of Florida's state universities or community colleges may be eligible to apply for admission as residents for tuition purposes. In order to qualify, students must be from one of the countries with which Florida Linkage Institutes are established. Students are required to return home after their graduate study or undergraduate study, for a length of time equal to their exemption period. The Institutes also have criteria for selection of students who will receive out-of-state fee waivers.

For information about the Linkage Institutes in Florida and the state universities/community colleges that process applications for each particular institute, click here. A student does not need to attend the Institute where the linkage office is located.

VA Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 – Assessment of Late Fees

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), Florida Atlantic University adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. 

Florida Atlantic University will not:

  • Prevent the student’s enrollment;
  •  Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
  • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
  • Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students are required to:

  •  Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or a Purchase Order Number (PO#) by the Last Day to Drop/Add class (per Academic Calendar). The PO# is replacing the VA Form 28-1905 and is equivalent to the authorization number;
  •  Submit a request to be certified;
  • Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

Estimates of Living Expenses

Click here to see estimated costs of attendance at FAU. The figures provide a rough estimate of the basic expenses for full-time, Florida-resident undergraduate and graduate students and for full-time, Non-Florida resident undergraduate and graduate students for an academic year (fall and spring semesters).

Fee Payment Drop Box
The Boca Raton campus is the only campus location that provides the convenience of a drop box. The drop box is available in the Student Support Services Building (SU 80). If the amount of fees due is known, students are encouraged to put checks in the drop box. Please write the Student ID number on the check. Do not deposit cash in the drop box. No envelopes are required. NOTE: By depositing check payments in the drop box, you are authorizing FAU to electronically process your check. The electronic debit to your checking account may be on the same day your check payment is processed.


Registration Cancellation by the University

Unless prior payment arrangements have been made with the Controller's Office, failure to pay all tuition and fees by the last day to pay as posted in the Academic Calendar and Tuition and Billing Important Dates will result in cancellation of the student's registration by the Controller's Office (i.e., all courses selected by the student).

Students cancelled for non-payment of fees may be reinstated. Reinstatement requires immediate fee payment in full using a Webcheck or credit card or requires other University-approved arrangements for fee payment (installment payment, deferment or third party billing), plus a $100 late payment and a $100 reinstatement fee. Reinstatement after the cancellation of classes requires an appeal to be filed with the Registrar's Office

Dishonored Checks
Pursuant to Florida law, individuals have 15 days from receipt of “notice to tender payment to Florida Atlantic University” to pay for the full amount of a dishonored check, plus a service charge of $25 if the face value of the check does not exceed $50; $30 if the face value of the check exceeds $50, but does not exceed $300; $40 if the face value of the check exceeds $300, but does not exceed $800; and 5 percent of the face value of the check in the amount of $800 or greater. Electronic check payments (WebChecks) returned due to entering an invalid account number will be assessed a $25 service charge.

Unless this amount is paid in full within the specified time, the dishonored check may be turned over to the state attorney for criminal prosecution and/or to a collection agency.

Individuals who do not tender payment within the 15-day period are also subject to cancellation of registration with fee liability.

Individuals who have given two or more dishonored checks will be placed on a cash, money order or cashier’s check basis for any subsequent registrations.

Note: Stopping payment on a check is considered the same as a dishonored check.

Dropping Courses
Once courses are selected for the semester, no changes in course status occur unless the student initiates the changes. To drop a course(s), the University's formal drop procedure must be followed by accessing the appropriate option within FAU Self-Service, available through MyFAU. Failing to attend the course(s), telling the instructor(s) of an intention to drop, failing to pay tuition and fees for a course(s) or similar action will not change the student's course selection status nor will it reduce fee liability. For more information regarding the drop procedure, refer to the Academic Policies and Regulations section of this catalog.

Fee Liability
Fee liability (meaning payment is due for all tuition and fees) occurs when a fee deferment is accepted (i.e., deferrals for financial aid applicants who are approved to receive aid), arrangements for fee payment are made or a partial payment is made. Formally dropping a course(s) before the end of the drop/add period relieves the student of fee liability for the course(s) that are dropped. Formally dropping a course(s) after the drop/add period does not change fee liability. Students must still pay for the course(s) that they drop. To view our full cost of attendance information page, visit https://www.fau.edu/finaid/other/cost-of-attendance/

Refund of Registration Fees

  1. Students who drop a class or withdraw from the University before the end of the first week of classes will receive a full refund, less non-refundable fees.
  2. Students who withdraw from all full-term semester courses during the second through fourth weeks of the semester (other than for exceptional circumstances) will receive a 25 percent refund, less non-refundable fees.
  3.  Students who drop a class after the fourth week of classes will not receive a refund unless the drop takes place due to exceptional circumstances, such as illness, military conscription or death of an immediate family member. Situations such as employment changes, relocation of home, transportation problems, dislike for the instructor/course, etc., are not considered "exceptional circumstances." For more information, see Exceptional Circumstance Withdrawal below.
  4. If a student drops a class after the drop/add period, a full refund, less any non-refundable fees, may be provided upon approval of the Fee Petition by the Office of the Controller, Tuition and Billing Services, SU 130. The Fee Petition form should be completed online and then printed and submitted along with the supporting documentation to substantiate the petition. The Fee Petition form must be submitted within six months after the last day of classes for the semester. Situations such as employment changes, relocation of home, transportation problems, dislike for the instructor/course, etc., are not considered circumstances for filing a fee petition.

Refund
Signing up for Direct Deposit will expedite receipt of refunds for financial aid and all other refunds due from student accounts. All other refunds will be generated through checks and mailed to the address on file.

Refund of Housing Fees

The Housing Contract cannot be cancelled after the opening date for housing. Any student who has not cancelled the Housing Contract before the opening date of housing will be responsible for all University housing fees for the academic year.

A full refund of housing fees will be granted if a student is denied admission to the University or is academically suspended and requests a cancellation before the opening date for housing.

Each resident is encouraged to become familiar with the terms, conditions and freshman residency requirement specified in the Housing Contract.

Exceptional Circumstance Withdrawal (Medical Withdrawal)
Students withdrawing from all classes in the current semester due to exceptional circumstances, such as illness of the student, military conscription, becoming primary care-giver to immediate family member or death of an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, sibling or grandparent), may receive a refund, less non-refundable fees, if the request for ECW is granted. Students seeking Exceptional Circumstance Withdrawals should contact the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at 561-297-3542 for the appropriate paperwork or visit www.fau.edu/dean/exceptional-withdrawal.php.

Withdrawal from the University

Students who withdraw from all full-term semester courses during the second through fourth weeks of the semester (other than for exceptional circumstances) will receive a 25 percent refund, less non-refundable fees. No refunds for withdrawal other than for exceptional circumstances will be granted after the fourth week of classes.

Undergraduate and graduate financial aid recipients who officially or unofficially withdraw from the University may be required to repay all or a portion of the grants and loans based on the last date of attendance at an academically related activity as documented by University records. For students who were originally enrolled in multiple parts of term, the last date of attendance would ONLY include all days attended in any parts of term within the semester, excluding any overlapping days attended. The Office of Student Financial Aid is responsible for calculating amounts that must be repaid by the student. Before withdrawing, please read all of the information on this topic here.

Delinquent Accounts/Collections
According to Florida Statute 1010.03, each University is directed to exert every effort to collect all delinquent accounts, including utilizing a collection agency and restricting the release of transcripts, diplomas and other University services. Therefore, any student account with a balance more than 90 days past due is deemed eligible to be sent to collections. Once a student account is placed with a collection agency, the account will be assessed significant collection costs, up to 33.33 percent, in addition to the original account balance.