Understanding SDSU Global Campus Tuition and Fees
San Diego State University (SDSU) Global Campus offers a variety of degree completion programs and courses. Understanding the tuition and fees associated with these programs is crucial for prospective students. This article provides a comprehensive overview of SDSU Global Campus tuition, fees, payment options, and potential waivers or discounts.
Tuition and Fee Structure
The California State University (CSU) system, including SDSU, strives to maintain affordable student costs. However, it's important to note that tuition and fees are subject to change, even after initial charges or payments, due to fluctuations in public funding. All listed fees, except mandatory systemwide tuition, can be modified without prior notice until the start of instruction for a specific semester or quarter. Therefore, all CSU-listed tuition and fees should be considered estimates pending approval by the Board of Trustees, the chancellor, or the presidents.
Mandatory Systemwide Fees
Mandatory systemwide fees may be waived for eligible individuals under the California Education Code. In addition to tuition fees and other systemwide fees, students are charged campus fees.
Optional Fees
The CSU Board of Trustees has implemented the Student Involvement and Representation Fee (SIRF) to provide consistent funding for the California State Student Association (CSSA), fostering student advocacy and policy engagement. The SIRF fee is optional and currently stands at $2 per semester.
Payment Information
Following enrollment, tuition and fees must be paid by the payment deadline, which can be found in the my.SDSU Financial Account Tile. Payments must be for the exact amount due; overpayments of $10.00 or less are only refunded upon request. If a payment is returned by the bank for any reason, registration may be canceled, and the student will be billed a $55.00 fee, comprising a $35.00 dishonored payment charge and a $20.00 late fee.
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Accepted Payment Methods
Payments can be made online or by check or money order. However, the university reserves the right to refuse personal checks or eChecks from individuals with a history of unpaid returned items. Students can log into their my.SDSU account to view charges, due dates, and make payments.
Payment Restrictions
Student Account Services does not accept credit cards for in-person payments of Basic Tuition and Fees. All administrative and financial holds must be cleared before enrolling in classes.
Credit Card Payments
In cooperation with Transact (a third-party payment provider), students may use credit cards (American Express, MasterCard, Discover Card, and Diners Club Card) to pay tuition and fees, Installment Payment Plan fees, and housing charges. Payment of student tuition and fees may be subject to a non-refundable credit card processing fee.
Liability for Payment
Students are responsible for paying all tuition and fees related to units held on or added after the close of business on the 12th day following the commencement of instruction, regardless of whether an invoice is received.
Non-Resident Tuition
Nonresident (foreign and out-of-state) students pay additional tuition in addition to basic tuition and fees and other systemwide fees charged to all students. Tuition will be charged for all units attempted. For fee-paying purposes, zero unit and half-unit courses are counted as one unit.
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Beginning Fall 2023, incoming Out of State and International students as well as future incoming cohorts will be required to pay an additional fee per semester until graduation. For the 2023-2024 Academic year the fee is $500.00 per semester, for 2024-2025 the fee is $1,000.00 per semester and for 2025-2026 the fee is $1,500.00 per semester. Nonresident tuition must be paid prior to the first day of classes. Nonresident and foreign students must pay or sign up for the Tuition Installment Plan for a minimum of 12 units (9 units graduate) at the time of registration.
Refund Policy
Regulations governing the refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, are outlined in Section 41802 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations. Mandatory fees are defined as systemwide and campus fees required for enrollment in state-supported academic programs at the CSU.
Full Refund
To receive a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees, less an administrative charge, students must cancel registration or drop all courses before the first day of instruction for the term.
Partial Refund
For state-supported semesters, quarters, and non-standard terms or courses of four weeks or more, a student who withdraws during the term or drops all courses before the campus-designated drop period will receive a refund of tuition and mandatory fees based on the portion of the term during which the student was enrolled.
Title IV Financial Aid
When a student who has received Title IV financial aid withdraws or fails to complete a period of enrollment, the institution must determine if unearned aid must be returned to the federal accounts. Calculations are based on the withdrawal date and the percentage of the enrollment period completed. If Title IV funds have been disbursed, the institution will return aid to the programs in the order required by law. Students may be required to repay any unearned aid disbursed directly to them.
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Non-Title IV Aid
Even though the Return to Title IV policy only affects Title IV aid, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will apply the same percentage of earned aid to any non-title IV aid. In instances where state or institutional aid is used to pay registration fees that are canceled as the result of a withdrawal, Cal Grant, Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) and State University Grant (SUG) are returned to the source account.
Parking Refunds
Refunds are not automatic and must be requested through Parking & Transportation Services. The refund amount is rounded down to the nearest dollar, and an administrative fee of $21 applies to all refunds not due to system errors.
Late Fees and Withdrawal Procedures
A Late Registration fee ($50) applies to students who have not registered for at least one course before the first day of classes. Students who need to cancel their registration or withdraw from all classes after enrolling must follow the university's official withdrawal procedures. Failure to do so may result in an obligation to pay fees, failing grades, and the need to apply for readmission.
Students receiving financial aid funds must consult with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships before withdrawing from the university.
Appeals Process
An appeals process exists for students who believe their circumstances warrant exceptions from published policy. Students should file a “Petition for Special Consideration” at the University Bursar’s Office.
Fee Waivers and Exemptions
Several categories of students may be eligible for fee waivers or exemptions:
- Veterans and Dependents: Veterans eligible to receive assistance under Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code, or the eligible dependents of veterans with service-connected disability or death (California Education Code, Section 32320) will have eligible tuition and fees paid or waived.
- Foster Youth: Current or former foster youth who meet specific criteria may be eligible for fee waivers.
- Alan Pattee Scholarships: Surviving spouses or children of deceased California residents who were employed by a public agency, or were a contractor or an employee of a contractor, performing services for a public agency, and were killed or died as a result of an industrial injury or illness arising out of and in the course of the performance of their principal duties of active law enforcement or fire suppression duties.
- Exonerated Individuals: A person who has been exonerated, as that term is defined in Section 3007.05(e) of the Penal Code; completes and submits the FAFSA; and meets the financial need requirements established for Cal Grant A awards.
- Senior Citizens: San Diego State University offers a fee waiver program for California residents 60 years of age and older. The program waives the admission application fee, the basic tuition fee, the health and Wellness fee and the Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) fee.
Open University
With Open University, you can participate in SDSU undergraduate and graduate classes on a space-available basis - without applying to San Diego State University. Open University offers hundreds of college course focused on a variety of topics, including business and finance, computer science, education, history, marketing, professional development, and environmental studies. Courses cost $336 per unit for undergraduate courses and $403 for graduate courses.
Global Campus Degree Completion Program Costs
The SDSU Global Campus offers various degree completion programs with specific costs per unit. These costs generally include fees, but do not include required texts and learning materials, as well as incidental fees related to a student’s application for admission and graduation.
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Online Degree Completion: $599 per unit. The total cost of the program is $31,148 if all 52 units are completed.
- Bachelor of Science in Child Development Online Degree Completion: $519 per unit. The total cost of the program is $33,735 for the 65 required units.
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Online Degree Completion: $629 per unit. The total cost ranges from $47,804 (76 units) to $49,692 (79 units).
- Bachelor of Arts in Communication Online Degree Completion: $519 per unit. The total cost ranges from $24,912 (48 units) to $26,469 (51 units).
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Online Degree Completion: $539 per unit. The total cost ranges from $25,872 (48 units) to $35,574 (66 units).
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics Online Degree Completion: $559 per unit. The total cost is $31,863 if all 57 units are completed.
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Degree Completion - VISTA: $325 per unit, plus $21 per unit accommodation fees. The total cost is $20,760 if 60 units are completed. *Note: this program is only available to students experiencing incarceration at SDSU’s only approved PEP location, Centinela State Prison.
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health Online Degree Completion: $532 per unit. The total cost is $30,207 if all 57 units are completed.
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology Online Degree Completion: $559 per unit.
Additional Financial Resources
Tuition Discounts
Tuition discounts are available on select SDSU Global Campus programs for the following groups and individuals:
- SDSU Lifetime Alumni members
- Veterans, active-duty service members, and their immediate family members receive a discount on Global Campus non-credit programs (excluding Human Resources and Construction.)
- Full-time employees of SDSU (including CSU, Research Foundation, KPBS, and auxiliaries)
- SDSU Global Campus instructors - eligible during the term they are actively teaching, and for two additional consecutive terms thereafter (e.g., if teaching in fall, eligibility extends through fall, spring, and summer)
Tuition Installment Plans
SDSU Global Campus offers a Tuition Installment Plan, allowing students to divide their semester tuition into three equal payments without fees or penalties for early payment. All registered students are eligible to enroll. The installment plan automatically adjusts based on the updated tuition balance if classes are added or dropped.
International Students
International students should be aware of additional financial considerations:
- Health Insurance: International Undergraduate Students are required to acquire Health Insurance.
- On-Campus Employment: International students may apply for Teaching Assistant (TA) positions in their final two semesters and Research Assistant (RA) positions once they have enrolled as full-time students. They are not eligible for work-study awards, but short-term projects may provide earning opportunities.
- Private Loans: Private education loans may be available to international students who do not qualify for federal loans.
Projected Cost Letters and Itemized Receipts
To request a Projected Cost Letter or Itemized Receipt, read the announcement at the beginning of the form for qualifying requests. Once verified, upload any required specifications before submitting. Campus Fees are determined by your home campus (the campus to which you were admitted).
Additional Fees
Non-Resident Tuition & Fees are charged in addition to Basic Tuition & Fees. Late payments will be assessed late charges. Please note: Effective Fall 2023, incoming out-of-state and international students will be required to pay the new Out-of-State and International Fee in addition to Non-Resident Tuition. Only Graduate Business programs are charged the Professional Program Fees. The cost of Basic Tuition & Fees is dependent on a student's academic program as well as status (full or part time).
Out-of-state and foreign students, referred to as Non-Resident, will be charged Non-Resident Tuition & Fees at a rate of $444 per unit of coursework for Spring 2026. Non-Resident Tuition must be paid in full prior to the first day of instruction. Alternatively, students may enroll into the Installment Payment Plan for Non-Resident Tuition & Fees prior to the first day of instruction. Late payments will be assessed late charges.
Effective Fall 2023, incoming Out-of-State and International students as well as future incoming cohorts, will be required to pay an additional fee per semester until graduation. Non-resident students in any SDSU doctoral program, including joint doctoral programs, are exempt from paying the Out of State and International Student Fee.
Effective Fall 2024 through Summer 2026, SDSU will waive the SDSU Out-of-State and International Student fee (Category II), established in Fall 2023, for individual students who are enrolled in a San Diego State University graduate program who are classified or conditionally classified as graduate students and who are employed by San Diego State University as Teaching Associates (Class Code 2353 or 2354).
Graduate students enrolled in the Fowler College of Business will be charged Professional Program Fees at a rate of $303 per unit of coursework for Spring 2026. There is no Installment Plan option for this fee.
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