Student Fees

Systemwide mandatory tuition and other fees that must be paid to apply to, enroll in, or attend the university, or to pay the full cost of instruction required of some students by statute (e.g. tuition fee, non-resident tuition fee, and business professional program fee).

The California State University Board of Trustees will establish, adjust, and oversee systemwide tuition. The Board of Trustees provides policy guidance for all matters pertaining to student fees and has authority for the establishment of Category I and VI fees, and oversight and adjustment of Category I fees, pursuant to the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (commencing with Section 66028 of the Education Code).

Campus-based mandatory fees must be paid to apply, enroll in, or attend the University every semester.

Responsibilities - The President is delegated the authority to adjust Category II fees, consultation with the Student Fee Advisory Committee is required and a student referendum or alternative consultation is expected to measure student support.

Timeline -  4 to 5 months

Student Fee Referendum - Timeline

Current Category II Fees

• Health Services Fee - Charged to all students for access to campus-based health services.
• Health Facilities Fee - Charged to support a health center facility.
• Materials, Services, and Facilities (MSF) Fee - Charged to all students to cover various services, facilities, or materials that are made available to all students as part of the overall instructional experience.
• Instructionally Related Activities Fee (IRA) - (CA ED Code 89721/89230) - Charged to all students for instructionally related activities as authorized by the CSU Board of Trustees.  As defined by the California Education Code, "instructionally related activities means those activities and laboratory experiences that are at least partially sponsored by an academic discipline or department and that are, in the judgment of the president of a particular campus, with the approval of the trustees, integrally related to its formal instructional offerings."
• Student Body Center Fee (Campus Union Fee) - Charged to all students to support the University Center (Student Union) facility.
• Student Body Association Fee - (Education Code 89300) - Charged to all students and controlled by the Associated Students (AS). As defined by California Education Code, "A student body organization may be established at any state university under the supervision of the university officials for the purpose of providing essential activities closely related to, but not normally included as a part of, the regular instructional program of the university."
• Humboldt Orientation Program (HOP) Fee - Charged to all students during their first semester at the university to support an orientation program for all new students.
• Student ID Card - Charged to all students during their first semester at the university.

Fees that are associated with state-supported courses, especially for materials, services, or use of facilities provided by the University and extended field trips.

Course fees supplement the basic complement of classroom and laboratory instruction by providing materials and services that would otherwise be unavailable to students, and which allow students to meet the educational objectives of a given course.

Responsibilities - The President is delegated the authority to establish or adjust Category III fees within a range established by the chancellor defined in EO-1102, consultation with the Student Fee Advisory Committee is required.

Timeline - 2 to 3 months

Humboldt Category III Fee Approval Process

Fees, other than Category II or III fees, paid to receive materials, services, or for the use of facilities provided by the University (i.e. late registration fee, diploma fee, library fines, testing fees, and locker rentals).

• Responsibilities - The President has delegated the authority to establish, oversight, or adjust Category IV fees, consultation with the Student Fee Advisory Committee is not required. 
• Timeline - 1 month

Fees paid to self-support programs such as Extended Education, CalState Online, Parking, and Housing including materials and service fees, user fees, fines, and deposits.

• Responsibilities - The President has delegated the authority to establish, oversight, or adjust Category V fees, consultation with campus administrators and the chief financial officer is required.
• Timeline - 1 to 2 months

Systemwide voluntary fee to ensure that CSU students have a say on tuition, financial aid, student services, course availability, and academic advising. Your elected student leaders oversee involvement and representation dollars through the California State Student Association (CSSA).  CSSA is the official student voice at the university system, state, and federal levels. Collection of the fee shall occur twice annually in the fall and spring academic terms, starting with the fall 2015 term. Each time the fee is assessed, students shall be provided a clear and unambiguous means to decline the payment of the fee.

Authority: The Board of Trustees provides policy guidance for all matters pertaining to student fees and has authority for the establishment of Category I and VI fees, and oversight and adjustment of Category I fees, pursuant to the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (commencing with Section 66028 of the Education Code).