Nov 21, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Tuition



Bursar’s Office - Student Account

The Bursar’s Office provides financial services to students, faculty, and staff of the University. Operations are guided by two major criteria: customer service and requirements for completing financial transactions within the guidelines provided by Federal and State regulations, as well as GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board).

Beginning April 1, 2023, all payments will need to be addressed as follows: 

 

USPS mail:
Georgia Southern University
P.O. BOX 106099
ATLANTA, GA 30348-6099

 

Overnight Address: 
Deluxe
Attn:  Georgia Southern University
Box:  106099
2068 Weems Road
Tucker, GA 30084

https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/bursar

 

In-State Tuition

Tuition is charged to all students based on the number of credit hours for which the student is registered. In-state undergraduate students are charged per credit hour up to 15 credit hours per semester. Effective Fall 2020 undergraduate students will pay their standard tuition rate for all classes they take. Exceptions include the unique tuition rates for eCore and eMajor. An additional exception will be for out of state undergraduate students taking all campus 40 courses, in that case they will pay their in-state equivalent tuition for that semester.

In-state graduate students are charged per credit hour up to 12 credit hours per semester (with the exception of Professional Programs, Distance Education, and Online Programs). Graduate students enrolled in Professional Programs, Distance Education and Online Programs will be subject to additional tuition charges related to those programs. Graduate students who enroll in an Online Degree Program (degree is offered entirely online) will be charged based on their program’s rate per credit hour.

The current academic year’s rates can be found on the Tuition and Fees website.

Out-of-State Tuition

Non-residents of Georgia are required to pay tuition at an out of state rate based on the number of credit hours for which the student is registered. Out-of-state undergraduate students are charged per credit hour up to 15 credit hours per semester. Effective Fall 2020 undergraduate students will pay their standard tuition rate for all classes they take. Exceptions include the unique tuition rates for eCore and eMajor. An additional exception will be for out of state undergraduate students taking all campus 40 courses, in that case they will pay their in-state equivalent tuition for that semester.

Out-of-state graduate students are charged per credit hour up to 12 credit hours per semester (with the exception of Professional Programs, Distance Education, and Online Programs). Graduate students enrolled in Professional Programs, Distance Education and Online Programs will be subject to additional tuition charges related to those programs. Graduate students who enroll in an Online Degree Program (degree is offered entirely online) will be charged based on their program’s rate per credit hour.

The current academic year’s rates can be found on the Tuition and Fees website.

Repeated Coursework

Federal regulations limit the number of times a student may repeat a course and receive Federal financial aid for that course:

  • A student may receive aid when repeating a course for the first time (course was previously failed or passed first time).
  • If a previously passed course is repeated a third time, the student may not receive financial aid for that course. Also, the course would not be counted towards full-time eligibility. Grants, loans, and scholarships can be affected if a student is not at full-time status.
  • A student may receive aid for a repeated course in which they have never received a passing grade for as many times as it takes to pass the course as long as they are meeting other financial aid eligibility requirements.

The federal regulations apply whether or not the student received aid for earlier enrollments in the course.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Requirement and Definition

Federal and state regulations require the University to establish and apply reasonable satisfactory academic progress standards and to review applicable student records to ensure students receiving financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act or Georgia state law are complying with these standards. Georgia Southern University students who wish to receive financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in their selected course of study as set forth in this policy.

Students are notified of the SAP policy in the Georgia Southern University online Catalog, which is available at em.georgiasouthern.edu/registrar/resources/catalogs/. In addition, the SAP policy is sent to students’ Georgia Southern email accounts. Further, a copy of the SAP policy, instructions for the SAP Appeal Form, and a SAP calculator are available in the University’s Financial Aid Office and on our website at em.georgiasouthern.edu/finaid/policies/satisfactory-academic-progresssap/.

The Office of Financial Aid is responsible for evaluating satisfactory academic progress of students receiving financial assistance from all federal and state programs, and certain alternative loan programs.

Institutional SAP Policy

Financial aid academic progress standards for students are evaluated on the basis of grade point average (GPA), credit hour completion (PACE), and maximum timeframe (MAX).

Financial aid standards of SAP for students will be checked at the end of each semester.

The Financial Aid SAP Policy is totally separate from the policies of the Registrar’s office regarding Academic Standing and Academic Renewal along with separate appeal processes. All grades previously received will be considered when determining financial aid eligibility, as stated in this policy.

Georgia Southern University’s SAP policy requires maintaining academic standards based on the following three criteria:

  1. Grade Point Average (GPA)
    Undergraduate students (other than students who have been accepted into the Education Major teacher certification programs):

    Undergraduate students will be evaluated at the end of each term on the basis of cumulative GPA. The cumulative GPA required to maintain SAP for the total number of attempted hours is 2.0.

    Undergraduate Education Majors in the Teacher Education Program (TEP):
    Undergraduate education majors in certification programs will be evaluated at the end of each term on the basis of cumulative GPA. Under the University’s academic policy, students who have been accepted into one of the Bachelor of Science in Education certification programs and have been formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.

    Under the University’s academic policy, students who have been accepted into the education major’s certification programs but do not maintain the required cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 may not continue in a certification program. However, these students may choose to switch to another major in order to complete their degree. If an Education Major certification student is determined not to be making SAP because they have not maintained the required 2.50 GPA, and they subsequently choose to switch to another major, at the next SAP evaluation, the student’s GPA will be evaluated as compared to the requirement for the new major (i.e., 2.0). For purposes of that evaluation, all grades earned to date will be included in the GPA calculation.

    Note: Students must apply and gain acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP). In order to be accepted into the Program, a student must satisfy several requirements, including having completed a minimum of 50 semester credit hours (including completion of certain specified coursework), and having earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 (including all coursework completed at Georgia Southern and any transfer credit accepted by Georgia Southern).

    Post baccalaureate students:
    Post baccalaureate students will be evaluated at the end of each term on the basis of cumulative GPA. The cumulative GPA required to maintain SAP for the total number of attempted hours is 2.0.

    Graduate students:
    Graduate students will be evaluated at the end of each term. Students enrolled in master’s degree, specialist, and PhD programs must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of each term. Failure to maintain the required minimum cumulative GPA standards will result in the loss of eligibility to receive financial aid.

  2. Credit Hour Completion (PACE of Progression)
    All students will be evaluated at the end of each term to determine if they are making satisfactory pace of progression in their academic program. PACE is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of hours the student has successfully completed (earned) by the cumulative number of hours the student has attempted. Undergraduate, post baccalaureate, and graduate students who enroll for full-time, three-quarter time or part-time course work throughout each academic year must complete (earn) at least 67% of all attempted hours.  
  3. Maximum Time Frame (MAX)
    Students must progress through their educational programs at a rate that will allow the student to complete the program within the timeframe allowed for their program.

    Undergraduate:
    Undergraduate students must be projected to complete their program in a period of time that is not longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program, as measured in credit hours. For example, students in a 4-year, 124-credit hour program who have attempted more than 186 semester credit hours will become ineligible to receive financial aid. Degree programs that require more than 124 hours for graduation will have the 186 hours maximum timeframe increased proportionally by the number of hours above 124 required to receive the degree. If at any time, the student has more credits remaining to finish their declared program than they have left in remaining maximum credit, the student will become ineligible for financial aid.

    Post Baccalaureate:
    Post Baccalaureate students must be projected to complete their Post Baccalaureate program in a period of time that is not longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program, as measured in credit hours. Post Baccalaureate students must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in order to receive financial aid. The degree program must be different than one already completed at Georgia Southern University or Armstrong State University. Post Baccalaureate students adding a major, taking courses to increase GPA, or not enrolled in a degree program are not eligible to receive financial aid.

    Graduate:
    Graduate students must be projected to complete their program in a period of time that is not longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program, as measured in credit hours. For example, students in a 60-credit graduate program who have attempted more than 90 semester credit hours will become ineligible to receive financial aid. Degree programs that require more than 60 hours for graduation will have the 90 hours maximum timeframe increased proportionally by the number of hours above 60 required to receive the degree. If at any time, the student has more credits remaining to finish their declared program than they have left in remaining maximum credit, the student will become ineligible for financial aid.

Institutional SAP Status

Students not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress are notified of their SAP status and related consequences in writing by the Financial Aid Office. At the end of each SAP evaluation period, one of the following SAP statuses will be assigned:

Satisfactory

Student is making SAP, as measured by all of the following requirements: GPA, PACE, and/or MAX Time Frame. Student is eligible to continue receiving financial aid.

Financial Aid Warning

Student is not making SAP as measured by one or both of the following requirements: GPA and/or PACE. For the next term in which the student is enrolled, the student remains eligible to continue receiving financial aid. The student must make SAP at the time of the next SAP evaluation period, or the student will be deemed ineligible to receive financial aid and will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension (unless an appeal determination is successful and the student is placed subsequently on Financial Aid Probation).

Financial Aid Suspension

Student is not making SAP based on one or more of the requirements (i.e., GPA, PACE and/or MAX Time Frame) after (1) attempting the maximum number of credit hours allowed for the student’s degree program, (2) being on Financial Aid Warning status (for GPA and/or PACE) for one term and failing to meet the required SAP standards, or (3) not satisfying the requirements of the academic plan developed for the student when they were placed on Financial Aid Probation. Financial aid eligibility is terminated until the student has achieved the required minimum standards to make SAP, or the student has obtained an approved appeal.

Financial Aid Probation

A student on Financial Aid Suspension has the right to appeal to have financial aid reinstated. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on Financial Aid Probation. Students with approved SAP appeals are monitored by the Office of Financial Aid every term of enrollment to determine if they have achieved the goals of their academic plan. Failure to make progress as set out in the academic plan will result in the loss of eligibility to receive financial aid (i.e., Financial Aid Suspension).

Special Circumstances Affecting SAP Criteria

Learning Support Classes

The first 30 credit hours of learning support course work will be excluded from the calculation for maximum timeframe and from the calculation for the required percentage of credit hour completion. Learning support credit hours in excess of 30 credit hours will be included in both the calculation of maximum timeframe and the required percentage of credit hour completion. All grades earned through learning support course work will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.

Dropped and Repeated Courses

All credit hours attempted during each term in which a student is enrolled will count toward the maximum timeframe and minimum credit hours completion. A student is considered enrolled based on the number of credit hours registered after the drop/add period of each academic term. Students who drop courses during the drop/add period will not have those hours considered in determining total hours registered. Students who drop courses after the drop/add period will have those hours considered in determining total hours registered, which will count toward the maximum timeframe calculation (see below for complete withdrawals).

Repeated courses will count in the calculation of attempted hours. All grades earned in repeated courses will be used to calculate the GPA for purposes of SAP.

Grades of A, B, C, D, or S represent satisfactory completion of a course. Grades of F, I, W, WF, U, or Audit represent unsatisfactory completion of a course. Grades of IP or V will not be included in the number of hours earned toward the completion of a degree.

Complete Withdrawal from School

A financial aid student who withdraws from school during the 100% refund period of any term, which runs through the first day of classes, will not have their registered hours included in the maximum timeframe calculation nor be required to meet the minimum credit hour completion percentage. However, any student withdrawing from school after the 100% refund period (after the first day of classes) will have their registered hours included in the maximum timeframe calculation and be required to meet the minimum credit hour completion percentage.

Effect of Grades on GPA

Grades of A, B, C, D, F, or WF are included in determination of GPA for purposes of SAP. Grades of I, IP, K, NR, S, U, V, W, WT, W% or WM are not included in this calculation. Appeals will not be reviewed until “I” (incomplete) grades have been changed. For HOPE scholarship recipients, “I” grades could affect HOPE eligibility status when the grade for the incomplete is eventually submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Students who had been awarded HOPE, but later become ineligible with the grade change, will have HOPE awards canceled until the next checkpoint, and will be responsible for the repayment of any HOPE funds received while not eligible.

Transfer Credits:

Credits transferred from other institutions will count toward maximum timeframe, credit hour completion percentage, and the cumulative GPA calculation for SAP evaluation purposes.

Consortium Agreements:

Credit hours earned through consortium or contractual agreements (contracts with other higher education institutions) will count toward maximum time-frame, credit hour completion percentage, and cumulative GPA.

Reestablish Financial Aid Eligibility

A student seeking to reestablish eligibility of financial aid may do so by:

  • achieving SAP standards towards their course of study, as set forth in this policy, at the time of a future SAP evaluation, or
  • acquiring a successful appeal through the appeal process and being placed on Financial Aid Probation status.

SAP Appeal Process

Students who have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension due to failure to progress toward academic degree completion have a right to appeal to have their financial aid reinstated. The appeal process is as follows:

  • Students must complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Financial Aid Appeal Form. Instructions on how to access the appeal form are found on the Georgia Southern University Financial Aid website under the Policies tab. Deadlines to appeal are the 5th day of the semester appealing for aid.
  • The completed SAP Appeal Form along with all appropriate documentation must be submitted online to the Office of Financial Aid as early as possible for review. The documentation submitted must include:
    1. A statement explaining the circumstance(s) which prevented the student from making satisfactory academic progress (e.g., serious injury, illness, or mental health condition of student or immediate family member; birth or adoption of a child; death of an immediate family member; divorce/separation; military service; personal difficulties; academic difficulties beyond the student’s control; or other circumstances related to exceeding maximum timeframe).
    2. Documentation that supports the student’s statement (e.g., physician’s statement, birth or death certificate, divorce decree, military papers, letter of support from someone aware of the student’s academic difficulties).
    3. Information about what has changed in the student’s situation that will allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation.
    4. A detailed coursework plan for completing your degree requirements which includes confirmation you have met with your academic advisor.
    5. A detailed academic improvement plan that includes upcoming semester goals and GPA calculations that will place you back in good standing. For undergraduate students, the improvement plan must be created with, and approved by, the Academic Success Center. Graduate students should contact the College of Graduate Studies for this documentation.
  • Students completing the SAP appeal process are required to pay current term fees by the fee payment deadline to avoid class cancelation. Classes will not be held while an appeal is being reviewed. Questions regarding student fee payments should be directed to the Office of Student Accounts at (912) 478-0999.
  • Notification of the appeal decision will be sent by email to the student’s Georgia Southern email.

Tuition Classification

Regents’ Policies Governing Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes: Under the Constitution and the laws of Georgia, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia was created to govern, control, and manage a system of public institutions providing quality higher education for the Georgia citizens. The State, in turn, receives substantial benefit from individuals who are attending or who have attended these institutions through their contributions to the civic, political, economic and social advancement of the citizens of Georgia. Because of the overwhelming amount of financial support supplied by the citizens of Georgia, the determination of whether a student is a resident or a non- resident of Georgia is a significant matter. The tuition paid by in-state students covers about one-fourth of the total cost of their education in Georgia. Georgia taxpayers are therefore contributing 75 percent of the funds for quality education in the state. State colleges and universities often assign out-of-state students a higher tuition rate in an attempt to achieve parity between those who have and those who have not contributed to the state’s economy recently. The courts consider the durational residency requirement (usually 12 consecutive months) imposed by most states to be a reasonable period during which the new resident can make tangible or intangible contributions to the state before attending state colleges as an in-state student. The term “resident” is confusing because it can refer to voter registration, driver’s license, automobile registration, income taxes and other matters. A student may be a resident of Georgia for some purposes, but not entitled to in-state tuition fees. Courts have consistently upheld the right of these institutions to charge out-of-state students higher rates. The courts have also upheld the institution’s right to adopt reasonable criteria for determining in-state status. Through the resident and non-resident fees, the taxpayers of Georgia are assured that they are not assuming the financial burden of educating non-permanent residents. Please visit the Tuition Classification website for additional information and all waiver forms.

If a person has moved to the state of Georgia for the purpose of attending a Georgia educational institution, it is difficult for that person to prove their intent to become a legal resident of the state. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines intent in the following manner: n. 1. That which is intended; aim; purpose.)

Verification of Lawful Presence

Each University System institution shall verify the lawful presence in the United States of every successfully admitted person applying for resident tuition status as defined in Section 7.3 of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents Policy Manual which can be found at www.usg.edu/policymanual.

Institutions may use a number of different methods to verify the lawful presence of their students. The methods include the following:

  • A current ID or drivers’ license issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008. (Other states with acceptable driver’s licenses: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.) ​
    • A limited term license or an expired license is not acceptable.
  • A certified U.S. birth certificate showing that the student was born in the U.S. or a U.S. Territory.
    • You may obtain a certified copy through the Health Department in the county in which the student was born.
  • A U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the department of state or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
  • A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship
  • A current U.S. Passport
  • A current Military ID (only valid for military personnel, not their dependents)
    • A photocopy is not acceptable. The original card can be presented in person at the office where you submitted your application.​ 
  • A current, valid Permanent Resident Card
  • A Georgia Voter ID Card

The Office of Student Affairs of the University System of Georgia has developed a web page to provide students, parents, and high school counselors with information about the lawful presence requirement. This page can be accessed by going to https://admissions.georgiasouthern.edu/verification-of-lawful-presence/.

Petition For In-State Tuition

Please visit the Tuition Classification website for all waiver forms.

You must demonstrate that you, your parent, your spouse, or your U.S. court-appointed guardian (if you are a minor) is a legal resident of Georgia for tuition purposes. You may establish this claim by providing documentation to support the definition established by the Board of Regents. Please note that establishing residency for tuition purposes as defined by the Board of Regents is different from establishing residency with regards to voting, having a Georgia driver’s license or vehicle tag, etc., and it requires more than establishing eligibility to vote, securing a Georgia driver’s license, and/or paying taxes.

  1. If a person is 18 years of age or older, they may register as an in-state student only upon showing that they have been a legal resident of Georgia for a period of at least 12 months immediately preceding the date of registration.
    Exceptions:
    1. A student who previously held residency status in the state of Georgia but moved from the state then returned to the state in 12 or fewer months.
  2. A student must independently make an income of $14,580 to be considered for in-state residency approval (For more details about this rule set by the BOR, visit this website. If the student is basing their petition on their parent, guardian or spouse, the income rule would apply to the person supporting the dependent student.
  3. No emancipated minor or other person 18 years of age or older shall be deemed to have gained or acquired in-state status for tuition purposes while attending any educational institution in this state, in the absence of a clear demonstration that they have in fact established legal residence in this state.
  4. If a parent or legal guardian of a student changes their legal residence to another state following a period of legal residence in Georgia, the student may retain their classification as an in-state student as long as they remain continuously enrolled in the University System of Georgia, regardless of the status of their parent or legal guardian.
  5. In the event that a legal resident of Georgia is appointed by a court as guardian of a nonresident minor, such minor will be considered as an in-state student providing the guardian can provide proof that they have been a resident of Georgia for the period of 12 months immediately preceding the date of the court appointment.
  6. Aliens shall be classified as non-resident students, provided, however, that an alien who is living in this country under an immigration document permitting indefinite or permanent residence shall have the same privilege of qualifying for in-state tuition as a citizen of the United States upon proving 12-month residency period in Georgia.

Due to the requirement that a person prove their intent to become a legal resident of the state of Georgia, their petition may not be approved. The burden of proof is always on the student, and documentation is absolutely necessary to prove any claims. If their petition for legal residency for tuition purposes is denied, the student may appeal the decision to the Tuition Classification Committee.

SEMESTER DEADLINES for submitting a Petition for Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes:

Fall Semester - August 1st
Spring Semester - December 1st
Summer Semester - May 1st

Student Responsibilities

  1. Student Responsibility to Register under Proper Classification - The responsibility of being classified under the proper tuition classification belongs to the student. If there is any question of Tuition Classification or their right to in-state tuition status, it is their obligation, within the deadlines set on the residency website, to raise the question with the administrative officials of the institution in which they are registering and have it officially determined. The burden always rests with the student to submit information and documents necessary to support their contention that they qualify for a particular tuition classification under Regents’ regulations.
  2. Official Change of Tuition Status - Every student classified as a nonresident shall retain that status until they petition for reclassification in the form prescribed by the institution and shall be officially reclassified in writing as an in-state student by the proper administrative officers. No more than one application may be filed for a given semester.
  3. Reclassification - Every student who has been granted in-state tuition as a legal resident of Georgia shall be reclassified as an out-of-state student whenever they report, or there have been found to exist, circumstances indicating a change in legal residence to another state.

Out-of-State Tuition Waivers

Please visit the Tuition Classification website for all waiver forms.

An institution may waive out-of-state tuition and assess in-state tuition for:

  1. Academic Common Market. Students selected to participate in a program offered through the Academic Common Market.
  2. Border County Waiver. Student residents of Jasper and Beaufort counties in South Carolina who have a primary campus of Armstrong or Liberty may receive the Border County Resident Waiver.
  3. Border State Waiver (Undergraduate Students Only). (https://em.georgiasouthern.edu/registrar/students/petitionforinstatetuitionfeewaivers/) Undergraduate student residents of Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee.
  4. Career Consular Officials. Career consular officers, their spouses, and their dependent children who are citizens of the foreign nation that their consular office represents and who are stationed and living in Georgia under orders of their respective governments.
  5. Economic Advantage Waiver. As of the first day of classes for the term, an Economic Advantage waiver may be granted under the following conditions:
    1. U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Other Eligible Non-Citizens
      1. Dependent students providing clear and convincing evidence that the student’s parent or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian relocated to the State of Georgia to accept fulltime, self-sustaining employment. The relocation must be for reasons other than enrolling in an institution of higher education and appropriate steps to establish domicile in the state must be taken. The employment upon which the relocation was based must be held at the time the waiver is awarded.
      2. Independent students providing clear and convincing evidence that they, or their spouse, relocated to the State of Georgia to accept full-time, self-sustaining employment. The relocation to the state must be for reasons other than enrolling in an institution of higher education and appropriate steps to establish domicile in the state must be taken. The employment upon which the relocation was based must be held at the time the waiver is awarded.
      3. U.S. refugees, asylees, and other eligible non-citizens as defined by the federal Title IV regulations may be extended the same consideration for the Economic Advantage waiver as citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States.

        Waiver eligibility for the above qualifying students expires twelve (12) months from the date the waiver is awarded.
    2. Non-Citizens
      1. Non-citizen dependent students providing clear and convincing evidence that the student’s parent or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian relocated to the State of Georgia to accept full-time, self-sustaining employment and entered the state in a valid, employment-authorized status. The relocation must be for reasons other than enrolling in an institution of higher education and appropriate steps to establish domicile in the state must be taken. The employment upon which the relocation was based must be held at the time the waiver is awarded. Additionally, the non-citizen dependent student must provide clear evidence that the parent, or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian, is taking legally permissible steps to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United States.
      2. Non-citizen independent students must provide clear and convincing evidence that they, or their spouse, relocated to the state of Georgia to accept full-time, self-sustaining employment and entered the state in a valid, employment-authorized status. The relocation must be for reasons other than enrolling in an institution of higher education and appropriate steps to establish domicile in the state must be taken. The employment upon which the relocation was based must be held at the time the waiver is awarded. Additionally, non-citizen independent students must provide clear evidence that they, or their spouse, are taking legally permissible steps to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United States.

        Waiver eligibility for the above qualifying students may continue provided full-time, self-sustaining employment in Georgia and the employment-authorized status are maintained. Furthermore, there must be continued evidence of Georgia domicile and efforts to pursue an adjustment to United States lawful permanent resident status.
  6. Full-Time Public School and Technical College System of Georgia Employees and Their Spouses and Dependent Children Waiver. For full-time employees in the public schools of Georgia or of the Technical College System of Georgia, their spouses, and their dependent children.
  7. Full-Time University System of Georgia Employees and Their Spouses and Dependent Children Waiver. For full-time employees of the University System, their spouses, and their dependent children.
  8. Non-resident Student Waiver. As of the first day of classes for the term, a non-resident student can be considered for this waiver under the following conditions:
    1. Student under 24
      If the parent, or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian has maintained domicile in Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months and the student can provide clear and legal evidence showing the relationship to the parent or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian has existed for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for the term. Under Georgia code legal guardianship must be established prior to the student’s 18th birthday.
    2. Student 24 or Older
      If the student can provide clear and legal evidence showing relations to the spouse and the spouse has maintained domicile in Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for the term. This waiver can remain in effect as long as the student remains continuously enrolled.

      If the parent, spouse, or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian of a continuously enrolled non-resident student establishes domicile in another state after having maintained domicile in the State of Georgia for the required period, the non-resident student may continue to receive this waiver as long as the student remains continuously enrolled in a public postsecondary educational institution in the state, regardless of the domicile of the parent, spouse or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian.
  9. Presidential Waiver. Presidential waivers are divided into three categories: (1) academic, (2) international, and (3) athletic. Students selected by the institutional president or an authorized representative, provided that the number of such waivers in effect does not exceed two percent of the equivalent full-time students enrolled at the institution in the fall term immediately preceding the term for which the out-of-state tuition is to be waived. Out-of-state students may apply by completing the MyScholarships application. International students may apply on the International Admissions page at the following address: admissions.georgiasouthern.edu/requirements/international. Student athletes should speak with their recruiting coach.
  10. Senior Citizen Waiver. See Special Admission for Students Age 62 and Older .
  11. Teachers Employed Full-Time on Military Bases Waiver
  12. Vocational Rehabilitation Waiver. For students enrolled in a University System of Georgia institution based on a referral by the Vocational Rehabilitation Program of the Georgia Department of Labor.

Military Out-Of-State Tuition Waivers

Please visit the Tuition Classification website for all waiver forms.

  1. Active Duty Military Personnel and their Spouses and Dependent Children Waiver. Active duty military personnel, their spouses, and their dependent children who meet one of the following criteria: The military sponsor is currently stationed in or assigned to Georgia;
    1. The military sponsor previously stationed in or assigned to Georgia is reassigned outside of Georgia, and the student or students remain continuously enrolled in a Georgia high school, TCSG institution, or a USG institution;
    2. The military sponsor is reassigned outside of Georgia and the spouse and dependent children remain in Georgia;
    3. The military sponsor is stationed in a state contiguous to the Georgia border and resides in Georgia;
    4. Dependent children of a military sponsor previously stationed in or assigned to Georgia within the previous five years;
    5. Dependent children of a military sponsor if the child completed at least one year of high school in Georgia; or,
    6. Any student utilizing VA educational benefits transferred from a currently serving military member, even if the student is no longer a dependent of the transferor.
  2. Georgia National Guard and U.S. Reservists and Their Spouses and Dependent Children Waiver. For active members of the Georgia National Guard, stationed or assigned to Georgia or active members of a unit of the U.S. Military Reserves based in Georgia, and their spouses and their dependent children.
  3. Recently separated Military Personnel Waiver. For members of the uniformed military service of the United States who, within 3 years/36 months of separation from such service or within 10 years/120 months of separation of utilizing VA Educational benefits, enroll in an academic program and demonstrate an intent to become a permanent resident of Georgia. This waiver may also be granted to their spouses and dependent children. There is no limit to the number of terms a student may be awarded the Recently Separated Military Personnel waiver provided the student remains continuously enrolled.

Military Waivers of Mandatory Fees

Please visit the Tuition Classification website for all waiver forms.

Waivers of Mandatory Fees for U.S. Military Reserve and Georgia National Guard Combat Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Military Students and Reserve Component Military Students

  1. Active Duty U.S. Military Students Mandatory and Special Institutional Fee Waiver: Individuals who are currently serving full-time on active duty in a branch of the armed forces of the United States are eligible to request an exemption of Mandatory Fees at Georgia Southern University. If the military student is utilizing Federal Tuition Assistance (TA) or paying their own way they can be approved to receive the waiver. The active-duty military member will be awarded the waivers for three consecutive terms (one academic year). Once the waiver expires, eligible active duty members must re-submit the petition and supporting documentation to receive the waiver for the next three consecutive terms (one academic year).
  2. U.S. Military Reserve and Georgia National Guard Combat Veterans Mandatory Fee Waiver: Eligible participants must be Georgia residents who are active members of the U.S. Military Reserves and/or the Georgia National Guard and were deployed overseas for active service in a location or locations designated by the U.S. Department of Defense as combat zones on or after September 11, 2001, and served for a cumulative period or periods of 90 days, or who received full disability as a result of injuries received in such combat zone, or were evacuated from such combat zone due to severe injuries during any period of time while on active service.
  3. Reserve Component Military Students Mandatory Fee Waiver: Individuals who are currently actively serving in a branch of the armed forces Reserve or National Guard are eligible to request an exemption of Mandatory Fees at Georgia Southern University. If the military student is utilizing Federal Tuition Assistance (TA) or paying their own way they can be approved to receive the waiver. The Reserve or National Guard military member will be awarded the waivers for three consecutive terms (one academic year). Once the waiver expires, eligible service members must re-submit the petition and supporting documentation to receive the waiver for the next three consecutive terms (one academic year).
  4. Additionally, eligible participants must meet the admissions requirements of the applicable USG institution and be accepted for admission.
  5. Benefits. Eligible participants shall receive a waiver of all mandatory fees charged by USG institutions including, but not limited to, intercollegiate athletic fees, student health services fees, parking and transportation (where such fees are mandated for all students), technology fees, student activity fees, fees designated to support leases on facilities such as recreation centers, parking decks, student centers, and similar facilities, and any other such mandatory fees for which all students are required to make payment. Students receiving this waiver shall be eligible to use the services and facilities these fees are used to provide. This benefit shall not apply to housing, food service, any other elective fees, special fees, or other user fees and charges (e.g., application fees).

An institution may waive mandatory fees, excluding technology fees, for:

  1. Students who reside or study at another institution.
  2. Students enrolled in practicum experiences (e.g., student teachers) or internships located at least 50 miles from the institution.
  3. Students enrolled in distance learning courses or programs who are not also enrolled in on-campus courses nor residing on campus. If a student is enrolled in courses from more than one institution during the same term, only the home institution will charge the approved technology fee to the student. Students who participate in distance education offerings as transient students will not be charged a technology fee by the transient institution. No separate technology fee shall be established for collaborative distance learning courses or programs.
  4. Students enrolled at off-campus centers, except that the institution shall be authorized to charge select fees to these students for special services subject to approval by the Board of Regents.