UTM is awesome for so many reasons.
The best reason is its affordable tuition, something the university loves to advertise. And it’s true – UTM has the most affordable tuition for any public university in the state.
A full time student (12+ hours) will only pay $4,876 a semester, regardless of how many credits he or she is enrolled in. This allows students to take 18 or even 21 credits without any additional costs. For part time students, a three hour course will be $1,218.
The exception to this is online classes. Online courses cost roughly the same as regular courses but are not capped at 12 hours, meaning a student taking 15 hours with an online class will pay $6,133 a semester. A student taking 18 hours with two online classes will pay $7,390 a semester. Students must pay per class hour regardless of if they are full-time or not.
This is roughly a 20% increase in tuition per online class. This clearly goes against the charge of affordability, especially for a university that promises no more than a 2-3% increase in tuition year to year.
It is unknown why UTM does not cap for online classes. In my inquiry on campus, neither the Bursar’s Office, Admissions, Financial Aid or the Records Office were able to give me an explanation.
According to the Bursar’s Office, “That’s just the way it is.”
This little-known fact about the rate per hour for UTM courses can be especially frustrating for students. These extra fees are not advertised. They are so obscure, in fact, that several professors who serve as advisers for students aren’t aware of them either.
Many freshmen students (and their parents) are shocked by their bill. These extra fees can eat up a financial aid refund, hurting low-income students who rely on their refunds for rent or gas money. This can result in having to take extra student loans.
It’s especially frustrating for commuters and those who work full time jobs. Many students travel from all over West Tennessee, driving several hours a week, and try to avoid coming every day. This may not be possible without online classes. For some, they may have no choice.
The course could be a degree requirement only offered once a year, online. As a senior, I found myself in this very situation. Combined with licensing fees for specialized programs like nursing and education, these extra fees can really put financial pressure on students and their families.
There are ways to avoid these extra fees. Try to avoid taking online classes. If you must take a course only offered online, don’t take more than 12 hours that semester. Ask the department to see if the class will be offered in the summer.
It’s always good to talk to your adviser and plan you schedule several semesters ahead, so you aren’t forced to take an online class to graduate on time.
Most importantly, this system must change. We can look at other universities for solutions. While students at the University of Memphis pay slightly higher tuition a semester ($4,956), they only pay a $150 fee for each online course.
This method is much fairer and more realistic. Jackson State and Dyersburg State only charge a $30 fee per online class. Compare this to the UT system: sister UT schools Knoxville and Chattanooga also do not cap tuition.
Despite these online fees, UTM is still incredibly affordable. The atmosphere, faculty, administration, and students all contribute to an open and safe environment that promotes higher learning.
To continue this tradition, online fees should be reformed to ease the burden on students and their families so we Skyhawks can continue to succeed now and in our future careers.
