Tuition and Fees

A student is classified as an in-state or out-of-state student for tuition purposes at the time of admission. This classification is based upon information supplied by the student on the application for admission and is made in accordance with the Colorado Tuition Classification Law, CRS S23-7-101 et seq. (1973), as amended. Once determined, a student’s tuition classification status remains unchanged unless satisfactory evidence that a change should be made is presented. A Petition for In-State Tuition Classification Form and the evidence requested must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office if a student believes she or he is entitled to in-state status.

The tuition classification statute requires that in order to qualify for in-state status, a student (or the parents or legal guardian of the student in the case of students under 23 years of age who are not emancipated) must have been domiciled in Colorado for one year or more immediately preceding the first day of the semester for which such classification is sought.

Domicile for tuition purposes requires two inseparable elements: (1) a permanent place of habitation in Colorado and (2) intent to remain in Colorado with no intent to be domiciled elsewhere. Some examples of connections with the state that provide objective evidence of intent are: (1) payment of Colorado state income tax as a Colorado resident, (2) permanent employment in Colorado, (3) ownership of residential real property in Colorado, (4) compliance with laws imposing a mandatory duty on any domiciliary of the state, such as the drivers’ license law and the vehicle registration law and (5) registration to vote. Other factors unique to the individual can also be used to demonstrate the requisite intent.

Any questions regarding the tuition classification law should be directed to an admissions officer at the College. In order to qualify for in-state status for a particular semester, the student must prove that domicile began not later than one year prior to the first day of classes for that semester. The dates for qualifying and for submitting petitions are available under Academic Calendar on Metro State’s Web site (www.mscd.edu/academic/acal.htm).

Every eligible Colorado resident who will be a student must sign up for the College Opportunity Fund (COF) in order to authorize payment of the state’s contribution toward tuition at any public college or university in the state of Colorado that the student plans to attend, such as Metropolitan State College of Denver.

These funds, called “stipends,” will be applied to a student’s college account each semester and are available for up to 145 credit hours of college-level undergraduate study. The actual value of the stipend will be determined by the Colorado Legislature each year.

Students must apply online for the stipend at www.CollegeInColorado.org. Then, each semester they must authorize the use of the stipend during registration.

The COF application requires students to submit only their legal name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and Driver’s License Number only once in a student’s lifetime. The application must be completed before the stipend can be credited to a student’s tuition and fee bill.

What happens if a student does not sign up? That student will not be eligible for the stipend and will be responsible for paying the total in-state tuition – both the student’s share and the state’s share.

Eligibility: In-state, undergraduate students will be eligible for the stipend regardless of age, income or financial aid status. Students who are seeking a second bachelor’s degree or post-baccalaureate degree credits are eligible to use the stipend for up to 30 credit hours.

For more information, visit the College’s Q&A section on COF at: www.mscd.edu/news/cof.

The Board of Trustees, the governing board of the College, reserves the right to alter any or all tuition and fees for any semester without notice.

Tuition and college service fees are determined by the trustees shortly before the beginning of each academic year. Information regarding tuition and fees can be found by going to the Tuition and Fees Table on Metro State’s Web site (www.mscd.edu/admissions/tuition.pdf).

An application fee is required of all applicants for admission to the College. This fee is nonrefundable and will not be applied to tuition.

All students taking ten (10) credit hours or more in the Fall or Spring semester or eight (8) credit hours or more in the Summer semester are required to participate in the College-sponsored Student Health Insurance Program, unless proof of outside health insurance is provided by the waiver deadline that meets the standards set by the College. Please note that the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) will NOT be accepted as proof of insurance since this program is not considered insurance by the State Legislature.

Students are automatically billed for Student Health Insurance on their tuition bill. Students are informed of the College’s health insurance requirement when they attempt to register for classes. Registration screens cannot be accessed until a student reads the details associated with this requirement.

Beginning with Summer and Fall 2008 registration, all students will be sent an automatic e-mail message after they acknowledge that they have read the insurance information provided during registration. Students who have outside health insurance coverage are then responsible for following the waiver instructions contained in the e-mail message and for submitting an electronic waiver form by the deadline listed. A waiver form is attached to each e-mail message and the College minimum waiver standards are outlined. Please note that waiver forms will not be accepted after the published waiver deadline.

Health insurance waivers are valid for one (1) academic year (an academic year includes Fall, Spring and Summer semesters annually.) Continuing students must complete a waiver form ANNUALLY prior to each Fall semester. Students with a break in academic enrollment and those who begin classes in the Spring or Summer must complete a waiver form by the appropriate deadline for the semester in which they enroll and every Fall semester thereafter.

Students who participate in the student health insurance program during the Spring semester of any academic year are eligible to purchase Summer semester coverage without taking classes during the Summer semester. However, in order to obtain the same low rate offered during the Fall and Spring semesters, Summer semester coverage must be purchased in advance by January 31st. Please contact the Student Health Insurance Office at 303-556-3873 for further details.

Voluntary Program for all Students

Voluntary Dental Insurance is available to students taking one credit hour or more. Information and application forms can be obtained at the Student Insurance Office in the Health Center at Auraria (PL 150).