Tuition and Cost to Attend

Tuition is charged per credit hour and mandatory fees are applied only to the first 12 credits per semester.

This information is to help you estimate your overall costs. Fees and other financial information on the website are subject to change.

Full Fee Schedules

• 2026-2027 Tuition and Fees
• 2025-2026 Tuition and Fees

Important Notes

• *Mandatory fees are only charged on the first 12 credit hours per semester.
• A limited number of courses and specialized programs have additional fees.
• Differential tuition is assessed only for certain majors and applies exclusively to designated courses within those programs. For example, Animal Science students are charged differential tuition for ANSC courses in addition to the standard base tuition rate.

2026-2027 Undergraduate Resident

Resident Base Tuition

 

Resident Differential Rates

(charged in addition to the base rate)

2026-2027 Undergraduate International

International Base Tuition

 

International Differential Rates

(charged in addition to the base rate)

2026-2027 Graduate Tuition

Graduate Base Tuition

 

Graduate Differential Rates

(charged in addition to the base rate)

 

2026-2027 Dual Credit Tuition

 

Mandatory Fees

Mandatory Fees-

*Charged per credit, up to 12 credits per semester.

Explanation of Fees:

• Mandatory Student Fee- 
• The University Fee of $33.28/credit supports Athletics, Cheerleading, Music, Theatre/Dance, Rodeo, and Student Health.
• The Activity Fee of $5.75/credit supports Student Senate, Homecoming, Campus Activity Board, Intramural Activities, and Student Activities.
• The Biesiot Activity Center Fee of $1.00/credit supports the Henry Biesiot Activity Center debt retirement and operating costs. 
• Technology Fee - Supports the maintenance and improvement of NDSU’s technology infrastructure, enhancing the ability of all students to remotely access campus resources.
• NDUS NDSA Fee -  Helps fund the North Dakota Student Association, which was established to ensure that students have a voice within the North Dakota University System (NDUS). Their mission is to: “Empower students, create collaboration between the student bodies on each campus, give a student perspective on higher education policy, and better the NDUS.”
• NDUS ConnectND Fee - Approved by the Chancellor, this fee supports a multitude of NDUS software applications (e.g., Campus Connection, Blackboard), which are managed by the Core Technology Services division.

In addition to tuition and mandatory student fees, DSU may assess additional charges for certain services, programs, and activities that support the overall student experience. These charges vary based on individual student choices, enrollment, and participation in specific offerings.

Application Fee

DSU’s application fee is nonrefundable and paid when students apply to the university.  It helps cover the costs of reviewing and processing applications.

New Student Fee

The new student fee is a one-time charge paid by incoming students to cover onboarding services and initial campus resources.

Differential Tuition, Course and Program Fees

Differential tuition, course and program fees are additional charges for specific classes or academic programs that help cover specialized costs, such as materials, equipment, labs, or program-related services. Examples include Diesel Tech fees, Equine fees, and music lessons.

Residence Hall Contracts and Apartment Rent

Charged on a semester-basis, unless during the summer months, to students residing in DSU dormitories or apartments.

Block and Unlimited Meal Plans

Charged to students that have enrolled in a prepaid meal program.  Block plans count ID card swipes and other plans provide unlimited access.

Parking Permits and Fines

Grants students access to one of the designated parking lots on campus: DSU Parking Lot Map.  Parking without a valid permit or outside approved areas may result in fines.  Additional information may be found here: Parking. 

Athletic and Athletic Club Fee

Assessed in the first term of each academic year (fall) and is charged to all intercollegiate athletes, rodeo participants, and club sport members.

International Student Health Insurance

ND SBHE Policy 505 requires that all international students enrolled at a NDUS institution carry the approved group health and accident insurance.  Coverage must begin on or before their first day of classes.

ID Replacement

Assessed when a student requests a new ID card to replace one that is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Transcripts and Diplomas

Transcripts or Replacement Diplomas

Teacher Ed Mentor Fee

Supports the supervision and guidance provided by experienced teachers to students completing field experiences or student teaching as part of a teacher education program.

Course Audit

A course audit allows a student to attend a class without earning academic credit or a grade. Students may participate in coursework as permitted but are not required to complete assignments or exams.  Tuition is charged at 50% of the regular rate; mandatory student fees are not charged.

Competency Based Credits

The options expressed in DSU Policy 403.7.001, provide opportunities for students to earn academic credit without participating in formal instruction via a regular classroom setting, including standardized exams, foreign language requirement exemption, prior learning assessment, evaluated non-college coursework, and articulated credits. Tuition for awarded credits as part of these processes is charged at 50% of the regular rate; mandatory student fees are not charged.

Late Payment Fees

Monthly late payment fees of 1.75% are assessed on all student account charges that are 30+ days past due.  Additional information may be found here:  Account Holds and Late Payment Fees.

Conduct Fines

Students may be charged fines for violating campus policies or behavioral standards.  Examples include library fines, mail key replacements, and residence hall conduct violations or property damage.  These fines are intended to hold students accountable and support a safe, respectful campus environment.

Continuing Education Fee

Charged on all non-degree, professional development courses.

Cost of Attendance 2026-2027

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of the expenses a student may incur during the academic year.  Direct and indirect costs will vary among students.  Actual costs will vary based on the number of credits enrolled in, housing and dining options selected, and the student's personal expenses.  This is not a bill.  This is only an estimate.

Undergraduate

 

Graduate

 

*Differential Tuition

 

*The average class size is 3 credit hours

**Fees are only charged on the first 12 credit hours per semester

We provide you with a secure environment designed to encourage learning and personal growth. Through on-campus living, you’ll learn how to contribute to a community of fellow students and professionals from around the world.

Learn more about our housing and dining options and pricing.

An assumed value was used to identify your housing component in cost of attendance.  If your assumed housing is incorrect, based on the chart below, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 701-502-4301 or dsu.financialaid@dickinsonstate.edu to update your living situation.

You must keep track of your own financial account on Campus Connection, as we don’t mail out financial statements. You can find your student account balance by clicking the Financial Account tile.

If you don’t make payments by the due date, we may issue late fees, account holds, and/or registration cancellations. We charge all accounts that are 30 days past due a 1.75% monthly late fee until paid in full.

You can make payments:

• in person at the Business Affairs office (May Hall, room 109),
• online through Campus Connection, or
• by mail

Accepted payment methods include cash, personal check or e-check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express.

Please mail payments to:

Dickinson State University
Attn: Business Affairs
291 Campus Drive
Dickinson, ND 58601

Find the DSU academic calendar here.

We follow the North Dakota University System’s NDUS Refund Policy 830.2 for dropping classes and withdrawing from a semester. Refunds are based on the amount of time that has passed since the first day of classes for that semester (including all calendar days).

Class Drops

If you drop a class (or several) and stay in school with fewer than 12 credits, you will receive a refund based on the following:

• 100% refund for the class if it’s between 0% and 8.99% complete.
• No refund for the class if it’s more than 8.99% complete.

Term Withdrawal

If you want to drop all your classes and you won’t receive any credit for any class during that semester, your action will be classified as a withdrawal, even if you were enrolled in only one class. Once a withdrawal has been processed, you cannot re-enroll for that semester.

If you withdraw from all classes, you will receive a refund based on the following:

• 100% refund for the semester if it’s between 0% and 8.99% complete.
• 75% refund for the semester if it’s between 9% and 34.99% complete.
• 50% refund for the semester if it’s between 35% and 59.99% complete.
• No refund for the semester if it’s more than 59.99% complete.

If you’re living on campus, you must check out, and the refund will be based on the housing refund schedule.

If you’re coming to DSU from another country, you must submit a Declaration of Finance form as part of your application process.

Please select the form that applies to you:

• Declaration of Finance Standard
• Declaration of Finance Manitoba and Saskatchewan
• Sample bank Draft notice

You can complete and upload the form in your application or email the form to dsu.hawk@dickinsonstate.edu.