Guaranteed Tuition Plan Information for Students
The tuition you pay depends upon the semester in which you first enrolled in a USG college or university. If you enrolled prior to fall semester 2006, you are not eligible for the Guaranteed Tuition Plan. Tuition is set on an annual basis and will probably increase modestly each year.
If you 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 you first enrolled in fall semester 2008, your 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 you do not enroll for a semester or more, those semesters still count as part of the time in which tuition is fixed. Taking a semester or semesters off does not stop the clock on the guaranteed tuition for the successive semesters. From a financial perspective, this should be a strong incentive for you to enroll each semester, including summer semesters.
If you are on the Guaranteed Tuition Plan and you transfer from one USG college or university to another, your tuition will be based on your first semester of enrollment at a USG college or university. For example, if you first enrolled at a USG two year college fall semester 2007, and then you transferred to a four year USG college or university fall semester 2008, you 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 you have been insulated from annual rate increases during your Guaranteed Tuition plan period, you will see a substantial increase in your tuition rate if you do not complete your degree within the Guaranteed Tuition Plan semesters allowed. Therefore, to maximize savings, you should plan a schedule, plot a course and take as many classes as possible to graduate before your Guaranteed Tuition Plan period expires.