UA’s Tuition Guarantee Program

First-time, first-year students: A first-time, first-year student is any postsecondary, undergraduate, degree-seeking student admitted at The University of Akron's Main or Regional Campuses for the first time on or after fall 2018, and adult students who have not been enrolled at any other college, university or postsecondary institution prior to enrollment at the University.

Transfer students. A transfer student is any postsecondary, undergraduate, degree-seeking student with eligible credit hours from another college or postsecondary institution that were attempted after completing high school. Transfer students who entered UA prior to fall 2018 are not covered by the Program and will be assigned to the University’s Non-Guaranteed (Continuing) Tuition Rate. Students transferring from another institution that enroll on or after the fall 2018 semester will receive the guaranteed cohort Tuition rate in place at the time of their first semester of enrollment at the University’s Main or Regional Campuses. 
Note that non-degree-seeking students, College Credit Plus or Advanced High School; exchange students; and other students participating in other pre-enrollment or postsecondary option programs are not eligible for the UA Tuition Guarantee. 

Eligible students are assigned to a cohort, or group, based on when the student is admitted as an undergraduate degree-seeking student after completing high school. Cohorts are established annually to coincide with the academic year. For example, if an eligible student is admitted for fall 2024, they will be assigned the Tuition Guarantee (TG) 2024 tuition and select fee rates. If an eligible student is admitted for spring 2025, they will also be assigned the TG 2024 tuition and fee rate since fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters are part of the 2024-2025 academic year.

Any eligible student who is registered for classes as of the fifteenth day of the term will be assigned to that cohort year for purposes of determining undergraduate tuition, select fees, and room and board rates for the four academic years covered by the guaranteed cohort rate. 

Eligible students may complete as many undergraduate degrees, majors, minors, and/or certificates as they choose within their cohort period. 

The University of Akron’s Program guarantees tuition, select fees and room and board rates will not increase for eligible students for at least four consecutive academic years. What does this mean?

Eligible students admitted in the fall semester will receive at least four consecutive academic years of the guaranteed tuition, select fees and room and board rates.

Eligible students admitted in the spring semester will receive spring, summer and four academic years of guaranteed tuition, select fees and room and board rates.

Eligible students admitted in the summer semester will receive summer plus four academic years of guaranteed tuition, select fees and room and board rates. 

1. Tuition: For purposes of the Program, tuition is defined as the fee for instruction charged to all students.  
Non-resident students also pay a non-resident surcharge in addition to their guaranteed tuition rate.  The non-resident surcharge is not guaranteed to remain constant though the tuition portion of their bill is included in the guarantee. 
International students pay an additional international fee that is not part of the program guarantee in addition to the non-resident surcharge. The tuition portion of their bill is included in the guarantee. 
Full-time students pay additional tuition at their cohort rate for more than 18 credit hours enrolled per term.  
Eligible students who reduce their enrollment to part-time status at any time during their enrollment at the University pay tuition on a pro-rated, per-credit- hour basis at the guaranteed cohort rate for the duration of the Program.

2. Select fees: For Main Campus, these fees include the general service fee, facility fee, technology fee, library fee, career advantage fee, administrative fee, and transportation fee. See descriptions of these and other applicable fees.

3. Housing rates: The program includes a guaranteed rate schedule for housing that represents the various housing options available to undergraduate students. The rate charged to the eligible student is based upon the student's selected or assigned residence type and location. If a student changes from one room or hall type to another during the cohort period, the housing rate charged to the eligible student will be adjusted based on the guaranteed rate schedule that is in effect throughout the eligible student's cohort period. Student requests to reside in on-campus housing beyond the second year are subject to room availability. If space is available for an eligible student who already has met the residency requirement, the established cohort rate schedule for student rooms continues throughout the period covered by the guaranteed cohort rate. 
 
4. Meal plan rates: The program includes a number of meal plan options from which the eligible student may choose, depending on whether the eligible student resides on- or off-campus. A meal plan is required for students residing in University housing. A cohort menu of meal plans and rates is included as part of the cohort rate, and the actual meal plan rate will be based on the meal plan selected by the eligible student. While the meal plan rate will remain guaranteed during the cohort period, individual meal items and merchandise in retail locations are subject to rate changes. The menu of meal plan options and rates will be set for each new cohort consistent with the contractual obligations between the University and its third-party service provider. 

Only undergraduate tuition, select fees, and room and board charges are included in the program guarantee. All other charges — including, but not limited to, undergraduate non-resident surcharge, international fee, specific course and service fees, program fees, student health insurance, textbooks, charges and fines incurred by students (such as late fees), and graduate and professional tuition and fees — are not included in the program. 

If a student takes a leave of absence, withdraws, or is judicially suspended from the University for one or more academic semesters, the four (4) consecutive academic year period covered by the guaranteed cohort rate will not be extended. As a result, the student will lose the term(s) of eligibility while absent within the four (4) academic year cohort period. When the student re-enrolls, if the four (4) academic years have not lapsed since the student's initial degree-seeking enrollment, then the student will be charged the guaranteed rate based on their original cohort for the balance of the cohort period. If four (4) or more academic years have passed, then the re-enrolling student is assigned to the oldest unexpired Cohort. 

Students enrolled in degree programs that require more than 120 hours to complete, as determined by the University, may request an extension of the cohort period by following the appropriate appeal process. 

No later than one semester prior to the expiration of their guaranteed Cohort term, a student may request an extension of their guaranteed Cohort rate. Each case will be evaluated on its own merits to determine whether an extension should be granted and, if so, the nature and duration of any extension.

A Program Appeals Committee (the “Appeals Committee”) administered by the University Registrar, will evaluate requests for exceptions. The appeal must fall within extenuating circumstances established by the Appeals Committee as described below. Because appeals are not automatically approved, students are encouraged to strategize their enrollment to graduate within the duration of the Program period.

If the Appeals Committee finds that the student cannot complete the degree program within the four (4) academic years of the student's cohort due solely to a lack of available mandatory or required courses or space in required or mandatory classes provided by the University, the University will provide the student with an opportunity to take the necessary course or courses without requiring the payment of Tuition.

Other circumstances will be considered for an extension of the guaranteed cohort rate beyond the four (4) academic years depending on the validity and impact of the circumstances including:

• Enrollment in a degree program requiring more than 120 credit hours to graduate
• Illness or injury of the student
• Disability that necessitates a reduced course load as a reasonable accommodation
• Medical Leave of Absence
• Victim of interpersonal violence or crime while enrolled

If the Appeals Committee determines that the student has provided sufficient documentation of extenuating circumstances that were outside the control of the student and prevented the student from completing the student's program of study during the assigned cohort period, the Committee will determine the appropriate period of time or number of courses to extend the guaranteed cohort rate.

Any student who takes longer than their guaranteed cohort period to graduate due to service in the United States Armed Services will be given an automatic extension of their guaranteed cohort rate based on the number of academic terms impacted by the student's military service absence.