Understanding Queens College Tuition and Fees

For students considering higher education, understanding the costs associated with attending a particular college or university is crucial. Queens College, a senior college within the City University of New York (CUNY) system, offers a variety of programs and opportunities for students. This article provides a comprehensive overview of tuition, fees, financial aid, and other costs associated with attending Queens College.

Tuition Costs

Tuition represents a significant portion of the overall cost of attending Queens College. It's essential to differentiate between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. According to available data, CUNY--Queens College's tuition is $7,538 for in-state students and $19,208 for out-of-state students. Compared with the national average cost of in-state tuition of $12,422, CUNY--Queens College is more affordable for New York residents. For students coming from out of state, the tuition is also cheaper than the national average cost of out-of-state tuition of $29,767.

It is important to note that tuition and fees are based on estimated rates and are subject to change without notice. Tuition and fees typically increase between 3-5% annually each Fall semester. The rates published are often based on an estimated 31 credit hours annually; however, students are charged per credit, so the actual cost may vary depending on the number of credits taken.

Mandatory Fees

In addition to tuition, students are required to pay mandatory student fees each semester. These fees cover various services and activities, including student activities, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), the Student Union, and technology resources. These fees do not cover individual service fees like program changes, late registration, transcripts, or special examinations. For full-time undergraduate students, the mandatory student fees total $303.85 per session, while part-time students pay $208.85.

The mandatory student fees (activity fee, consolidated student fee, technology fee and student senate fee) or any part thereof will not be refundable at any time, nor can they be waived unless the college cancels all courses for which a student has registered, or the student formally withdraws from all classes prior to the official first day of classes. Exceptions may be made as follows: If a student is placed on active military service, partial refunds may be made. Students who are so notified should get in touch with the Veteran Support Services Office immediately. The PIRG fee is refundable if application is made to the college PIRG office (Student Union LL36) within three weeks of the start of the session. The sports fee is refundable if application is made in FitzGerald Gymnasium 218 within three weeks of the start of the session. You must show your paid bill with your application. The child care fee is refundable if application is made in the Child Development Center Office (Kiely Hall 245) within three weeks of the beginning of theFall and Spring semesters or within one week of the beginning of the Summer sessions. You must show your paid bill and ID with your application.

Read also: Queens College Academic Dates

Other Fees

Beyond tuition and mandatory fees, students may encounter other charges. These include:

Application Fee: A non-refundable fee of $65 for general admission students and $70 for transfer students is required when applying.
Re-entry Fee: Matriculated students (excluding senior citizens) returning after an absence of one or more semesters may need to pay a $20 re-entry fee.
Late Registration and Reinstatement Fee: A $25 fee is charged for late registration or reinstatement.
Change of Program Fee: Students changing their schedules and adding courses on or after the first day of the term are assessed an $18 fee per day a change is made.
Parking Decal: Parking on campus requires a decal, costing $275 annually (covering Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) or $138 per session for the Spring or Summer semesters only. Summit residents pay $440 yearly plus a $25 refundable deposit for an access card.
Duplicate Records: Fees for duplicate records include $10 for a duplicate ID card, $30 for a duplicate diploma, and $5 for other duplicate records.
Transcript Fee: Each transcript of record costs $7, with an additional $2 processing fee for online orders, totaling $9 per transcript request (waived when forwarded to another CUNY unit).
Thesis Binding Fee: A fee of $35-$60 is charged for binding a master’s degree thesis, depending on the number of copies ordered.
Maintenance of Matriculation Fee: Per-semester fees for maintenance of matriculation are $225 for NYS residents and $370 for out-of-state students.
Non-Payment Service Fee: A $15 fee is charged for failing to pay any bill by its due date.
Payment Reprocessing Fee: A $20 fee is charged when a check or eCheck is not honored by the bank.
Makeup Examination Fee: A $25 fee is charged for a makeup examination, with each additional examination costing $5 per session.
Material/Film & Transportation/Field Charges: Material/film and transportation/field (MAT) charges may be applied in addition to tuition for various courses in this Bulletin. Charges are listed for individual classes in the Class Search function in CUNYfirst, available prior to registration. A student who drops a course that has such charges before the semester begins will receive a refund.
Chalk & Wire Fee: Candidates enrolled in programs within the Education Unit must purchase Chalk & Wire subscriptions when instructed to do so by their programs. Subscriptions are offered in five-month and one-, two-, three-, and four-year increments (with costs ranging from $38.66 for five months to $132 for the four-year option).

Cost of Attendance (COA)

The Department of Education mandates institutions to publish a Cost of Attendance (COA). The COA is an estimate of expenses you can reasonably expect to pay in one year of attendance of a university. The COA includes both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs include charges paid directly to Queens, like tuition, fees, food, and housing for students who live on campus. A student’s actual costs may vary depending upon food and housing selections, course fees, and individual decisions about enrollment.

The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses.

Housing and Living Expenses

On-campus housing is optional for students. Housing fees start at $6,400 per semester based on double occupancy in a 2-bedroom suite.

Living expenses can significantly impact the overall cost of attending Queens College. These expenses include:

Read also: Your Academic Journey

Housing: On-campus housing is optional, with fees starting at $6,400 per semester based on double occupancy in a 2-bedroom suite.
Books and Supplies: The estimated cost for books and supplies is $1,500 per year.
Personal Expenses: Personal expenses are estimated at $3,193 per year.
Transportation: While some students may incur transportation costs, others may have $0 in transportation expenses.

Financial Aid

Financial aid can significantly reduce the net price of attending Queens College. Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA.

67% of students receive financial aid, with the average aid package being $10,980. The average net price, which is a college’s cost of attendance minus the grants and scholarships you receive, is $5,339 per year.

The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at CUNY--Queens College was $10,100. Additionally, 72% of first-year students received need-based financial aid in fall 2023.

Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid comes in various forms:

Grants: Grants don’t need to be paid back.
Scholarships: Scholarships also don’t need to be paid back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation.
Loans: Loans must be paid back. The typical amount of loans a student must pay back is $14,500. Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $3,518.
Work-Study Jobs: Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job.

Financial Aid Application Process

Applying for financial aid should be your next step. The application due date is February 1. Applications received prior to this date will be given the strongest consideration. Still apply for financial aid if you don’t make this due date.

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Student Loan Debt

At CUNY--Queens College, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $10,298. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $109.

Average Total Indebtedness of 2024 Graduating Class is $17,161. Graduating students who have borrowed (any loan type, 2024) is 14%.

Tuition Payment and Refunds

Students must be prepared to pay all fees associated with their registration. These include tuition, consolidated service fee, student senate fee, student activity fee, technology fee, material and transportation charges, and other miscellaneous fees.

Students may view their charges on their CUNYfirst account. Payments can be made online with an eCheck (no fee is incurred for an eCheck transaction) or a major credit card. When you use a credit card, a nonrefundable 2.65 percent service fee will be charged to your account in addition to your tuition, fee, and housing payment. Students may also enroll in a Nelnet payment plan online through the CUNYfirst Student Center to make paying their bill easier with equal monthly installments. The enrollment fee is $25 per semester/ session. If paying by credit/debit card, a non-refundable service fee of 2.65 percent will be charged to your account in addition to your payment.

If a student pays by check or money order, his or her QC ID number must be written in the memo section of the check or money order. Please note that payment by check or eCheck will no longer be acceptable.

A “stop payment” on a student’s check does not cancel registration. The student must withdraw officially.

A student who registers for classes assumes financial responsibility. If the student chooses not to attend, he or she must drop all courses before the first official day of the semester. Failure to do so automatically entails a financial obligation on the part of the student.

Refund Policy

If you do not make full payment of your tuition and fees and other college bills and your account is sent to a collection agency, you will be responsible for all collection costs, in addition to whatever amounts you owe the college. Students change their registration online via the CUNYfirst Self-Service Center. To receive a 100% refund of tuition, a student must have dropped all courses before the official opening day of the semester. The last date of attendance in class is not an official withdrawal date unless the student cancels registration online. Refunds will be made in accordance with the following schedule. Students should refer to each semester's Bursar Information Letter, including Summer (www.qc.cuny.edu/br/), for specific calendar dates.

Fall and Spring - Refund

Withdrawal from course before the official scheduled opening date of the semester: 100%
Withdrawal within one week after the official scheduled opening date of the semester: 75%
Withdrawal during the second week after the official scheduled opening date of the semester: 25%
Withdrawal after completion of the third week after the official scheduled opening date of the semester: None

If a student is placed on active military status, partial refunds may be made Students who are so notified should get in touch with the Veterans Support Services Office immediately.

Except as otherwise noted in this section, no other fees are refundable.

The tuition refund schedule, as adopted by the CUNY Board of Trustees, is to be used for calculating the refund where courses are dropped after classes begin. Note:A full (100%) refund of tuition will be made int he events that:a student drops a course before the scheduled opening date of the semester.a student's entire registration is canceled by the college after payment is made.Note:To qualify for resident tuition and fees, a student must have been a resident of the State of New York for a consecutive period of one year immediately preceding the first day of classes of the session in consideration.

Special Programs and Considerations

Senior Citizen Audit Program: To qualify they must be New York State residents 60 years of age or older who have completed high school. Senior auditors may enroll in a noncredit undergraduate course on a space-available basis by completing the Senior Citizen Auditor Application, available through the Office of Admissions. Individuals who enroll will be charged an administrative fee, the student consolidated services fee, as well as any other fees they may incur.
GSSP Health Insurance: Students will be enrolled in the mandatory GSSP health insurance during the first week of classes. General Admission students are highly recommended to seek medical health insurance during their studies in the United States.
Tuition Guarantee Plans: Tuition at time of first enrollment guaranteed only to students making advance payment

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