Guaranteed Tuition Plan Information for Parents
The tuition you pay depends upon the semester in which your student first enrolled in a USG college or university. Students enrolled prior to fall semester 2006, are not eligible for the Guaranteed Tuition Plan. Tuition is set on an annual basis and will probably increase modestly each year.
For students who began in fall semester 2006 or later at a university, the tuition charged the first semester of enrollment will not increase for 4 years, or 12 successive semesters. For example, if your student first enrolled in fall semester 2008, their tuition would be fixed through summer semester 2012. Students enrolling at a two year college will not see an increase for 3 years, or 9 successive semesters
If your student does not enroll for a semester or more, those semesters still count as part of the time for which tuition is fixed. Taking a semester or semesters off does not stop the clock on the guaranteed tuition plan for the successive semesters. From a financial perspective, this should be a strong incentive for your student to enroll each semester, including summer semesters.
If your student is on the Guaranteed Tuition Plan and transfers from one USG college or university to another, their tuition will be based on their first semester of enrollment at a USG college or university. For example, if they first enrolled at a USG two year college fall semester 2007, and then transferred to a four year USG college or university fall semester 2008, they would pay the same tuition as those students who enrolled at the four year USG university in fall 2007.
Students who transfer from non-USG colleges and universities are eligible for the guaranteed tuition rate effective the year they transfer. However, this rate will remain fixed for only two years, or 6 consecutive semesters.
Since the student has been insulated from annual rate increases during their Guaranteed Tuition plan period, they will see a substantial increase in their tuition rate if they do not complete their degree within the Guaranteed Tuition Plan semesters allowed. Therefore, to maximize savings, the student should plan a schedule, plot a course and take as many classes as possible to graduate before their Guaranteed Tuition Plan period expires.