Graduate Catalog — Tuition, Fees, and Payments

Important Reminders

Students are liable for registered courses. For a small fee, payment arrangements can be made with an outside tuition management agency. Such arrangements must be made before the semester begins. Information about this option is available at the Bursar's Office at 617.287.5350. Aside from the external agency, the university does not offer any deferred payment plans.

The financial requirements of the university, changing costs, state and legislative action, and other circumstances may require adjustments in the tuition and fees stated or estimated below. The university reserves the right to make such adjustments in these charges as may from time to time be required by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education or the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees. Students acknowledge this reservation by submitting applications for admission or by registering for classes. Tuition and application fees are charged at different rates for residents and non-residents of Massachusetts. Prospective students should be sure to refer to the information under the "Residency Status" section of this publication.

Tuition is also charged at different rates for graduate and undergraduate students. Graduate students taking undergraduate courses must pay graduate tuition rates.

All charges are set by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education or the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees.

*Please note: Some UMass Boston courses are offered both through the university's Colleges and through the Division of Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education (CCDE), a self-supporting component of the university. CCDE course costs differ somewhat from those shown in this chart, and CCDE courses are charged separately. Students who take 12 or more credits and enroll in one or more CCDE courses during a given semester should be aware that their course costs for that semester may exceed the 12-credit maximum.

**Please note: These fees vary with the number of credits taken. Total fees per credit appear under "Total Mandatory Fees per Semester."

***Please note: These fees do not vary with the number of credits taken.

The figure of $976.00 for health insurance is the current estimate of the fee for the full academic year. A reduced fee is available for spring semester and summer enrollment. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the University's student services website at www.umb.edu/students.

Under the provisions of the Massachusetts Universal Health Insurance Statute, graduate students who can show that they already have equivalent coverage may waive the university's medical insurance plan. This regulation applies to both degree-seeking and non-degree students. International graduate students may not waive the university's medical insurance plan. For complete information, see the "University Health Services" section of this publication.

Initial Fees

Application Fee

Each application for admission to the University from a student seeking a degree must be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee payment of $40 for qualified Massachusetts residents, $60 for non-residents. For complete information on qualifications for Massachusetts residency, see the “Residency Status” section of this publication. Checks should be made payable to the University of Massachusetts Boston and submitted together with completed application forms.

Fees Charged Only in the First Semester

Each degree-seeking student is charged three fees at the beginning of his/her first semester as a degree-seeking student. The pre-registration/orientation fee ($100.00) helps to support orientation events for new students. The recreation fee ($145.00) helps to support the university's recreational programs and facilities. The registrar's service fee ($100.00) is a prepayment for the copying of transcripts or any other official record. All such records will be photocopied and sent to the student when requested, or forwarded to a third party, at no further charge. This is a “lifetime” fee, entitling students to these services while they are enrolled at UMass Boston or at any time after graduation. These fees may not be cancelled or refunded unless the student withdraws before the first day of classes.

Explanation of Charges in "Tuition and Fees per Semester" Table

Tuition (In-State Rate)

As a state institution, the University of Massachusetts Boston offers a low rate of tuition to all students entering from the Common-wealth. Eligibility for admission under the low residential rate is determined according to a policy established by the Board of Trustees and detailed under “Residency Status.”

Mandatory Fees

The student activities fee is used to support programs and activities beneficial to students, such as recognized student organizations and the University Cultural Events Committee. The health service fee supports University Health Services and its programs. The athletics fee supports the university's athletics program. The Technology Fee supports additional student technology requirements beyond the level of support currently maintained by the campus. The Campus Center Fee supports the debt service for the campus's first new building in over two decades, the focal point for student-related activities and services. The identification card fee is used to support the cost of making identification cards (with photographs); all continuing students are charged this fee each fall, and all new or re-entering students are charged the fee before the first semester of attendance. The Education Operations Fee provides funds for the goods and services needed to run a university. Employed students seeking employer reimbursement for this fee can obtain from the Bursar's Office a “support letter” describing the need for the fee and how the proceeds are used much as tuition would be at a private institution.

Optional Fees

Charges for optional fees appear on the bills of degree-seeking students; but these students may choose not to pay these fee charges, providing they notify the university before payment for these charges is due. The MassPIRG fee supports the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, a student-interest advocacy group.

Health Insurance Plan

The Student Health Insurance Plan provides coverage for health, medical, and surgical care during a twelve-month period for injuries or illness during the school year, holidays, and summer vacation. Students who register for the fall semester have only one opportunity to enter or reject this program each year; it is offered on spring semester bills to new spring registrants only. Non-degree students must pay the fee before the end of the add/drop period. Dependents of married students are not covered under this plan, but coverage for dependents is available at additional cost; students wishing such coverage should inquire at University Health Services. Please note: Under the provisions of the Massachusetts Universal Health Insurance Statute, graduate students who wish not to be covered by the university's medical insurance plan must show that they already have equivalent coverage. This regulation applies to both degree-seeking and non-degree students. For complete information, see the “University Health Services” section of this publication.

Program Fee

Each degree-seeking graduate student is required to maintain continuous registration until the degree that the student is seeking has been formally awarded. If a graduate student does not register for course, thesis, or dissertation credits during any semester, the student must pay a program fee to maintain continuous registration. The program fee for all students is $175.00 per semester. The fee must be submitted with the Program Fee Form, signed by the student's graduate program director, by the last day of the registration period. Note: Payment of the program fee does not extend the time limit for completion of the degree, nor does it make students eligible for student loan deferments.

Any student who is required to pay a program fee and does not do so by the last day of the registration period will be subject to the $50 late registration fee and will be administratively withdrawn from the university. If the student later seeks readmission or applies for graduation, the student must pay all accumulated program fees, as well as a $25 readmission fee.

Lab Fees

Some graduate programs have established lab fees for certain courses. These fees support course-related activities that would not otherwise be made available. Students enrolled in such courses accept the responsibility to pay the fee.

Commencement Fee

The university's annual commencement exercises and events are intended to be self-supporting; each student is therefore required to pay a commencement fee (currently $150.00) at the time he/she files for graduation. This fee is mandatory and must be paid whether or not the student attends the ceremony.

Cost of Attendance

A budget for the cost of graduate study at UMass Boston may be compared to any general budget familiar to most people, such as a household or personal budget. Within that budget, a number of factors may change from time to time due to rising labor costs, changes in the costs of goods and services, and other influences.

When individual applications for financial aid are considered, the university uses a sample graduate study “institutional budget” estimating the average cost of attendance. Copies of this sample budget are available from the Office of Financial Aid Services at 617.287.6300.

Payment Information

Bursar's Office

The Bursar's Office handles payments of tuition and fees and distributes checks to students receiving refunds or university financial aid. The Bursar's Office will begin to distribute these checks about five weeks after the start of each semester. Checks must be picked up by their recipients at the One Stop Student Service Center, which is on the upper level of the Campus Center. Telephone: 617.287.5350. Teller hours: weekdays, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Payment by Matriculated Students

University policy requires that no registration be considered complete until the semester charges are paid in full. Charges are computed on the basis of courses/credits for which students are registered. The initial bills are sent in July (for the fall semester) and in December (for the spring semester) to all students who have already registered.

Late registrants are billed after the registration period. Follow-up billings will be made periodically, reflecting any additional charges, payments, or credits that have occurred within the semester period. Each student must pay all charges in full prior to the due date indicated on the initial bill to avoid late charges or cancellation of registration and financial aid. No deferred payments are allowed by the university, except in the case of arrangements made with an external tuition management agency.
Overdue accounts will be considered sufficient cause for cancellation of registration, as university regulations prohibit final registration, graduation, or granting of credit for any student whose account with the university is unpaid. Any delinquent accounts will be cause for administrative withdrawal and must be paid prior to readmission to the university.

Unpaid accounts will be referred for collection action with an additional collection cost of 25% of the total unpaid.

Payment by Non-Degree Students

All non-degree students must pay in full when they register. If they are Massachusetts residents but fail to complete the residency section of the registration form, they may be charged tuition at non-resident rates.

Payments by Credit Card and Check

Degree-seeking students may make payments with VISA, Discover, or MasterCard, or by check. Payments must be made by mail or in person at the Bursar's Office.

Non-degree students may make payments with VISA, Discover, or MasterCard, or by check. Payments must be submitted with the non-degree registration form to the Office of the University Registrar.

Important Reminder for Financial Aid Recipients

It is the responsibility of all students receiving financial aid from sources other than the university to see that the university is adequately notified before bills are prepared. Credits for known scholarships are reflected in the bills; credit cannot be given for a scholarship award unless the Bursar has been presented with proof from the donor that the award has been made. If a student's bill does not show credit for an award, the student should contact the source of the scholarship to be sure that such evidence has been, or will be, presented to the Bursar.

Late Payment Fee

Any student who does not make full payment of his/her charges by the date specified on the bill in which the charges are initially listed will be required to pay a late payment fee of $50.00. This charge is cumulative. An additional $50.00 will be assessed on each subsequent bill until full payment is received.

Late Registration Fee

Any continuing degree-seeking student who does not register during the early registration period (usually near the end of the semester preceding the semester for which he/she is registering) will be required to pay a late registration fee of $50.00.

Refunds and Reductions in Tuitions and Fees

A student who voluntarily withdraws from the university for any reason before the sixth week of a semester will be granted a refund or reduction of tuition and fees according to the schedule below.
Note: Failure to attend does not constitute withdrawal. To withdraw, a student must confer with the director of the graduate program in which he/she is enrolled, and submit a completed withdrawal form to the Office of the University Registrar. The effective date of withdrawal is the date this completed form is received by the Office.

During the add/drop period, a full refund will be given for any course from which a student withdraws. After the add/drop period, no refunds will be given for course load reductions. Students withdrawing completely from the university before the sixth week of a semester, and receiving grades of “W” for all courses, will receive refunds in accordance with the schedule below. No refunds will be disbursed in other cases where grades of “W” are given. No refunds will be given in cases where academic credit has been awarded.

Refund/Reduction Schedule*

*Does not apply to Continuing Education or Summer Session refunds.

A financial aid recipient who withdraws from the university is advised to contact a counselor in the Office of Financial Aid Services so that the federally mandated refund policy can be explained and calculated, and so that appropriate accounts can be refunded. A student who is suspended or expelled from the university for disciplinary reasons forfeits all right to a refund. A student who has not paid in advance will be liable for any amounts due after the reduction in charges.

Please note: Fees charged only in the first semester will not be cancelled or refunded unless the student withdraws before the first day of classes. These include, for degree-seeking students, the pre-registration/orientation fee, the recreation fee, and the registrar's service fee. For non-degree students, they include the registration fee and the transcript fee.