University of Southern Indiana Tuition and Fees: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Southern Indiana (USI) is committed to providing an affordable, high-quality education. This article provides a detailed overview of USI's tuition, fees, financial aid options, and related costs, offering valuable information for prospective and current students and their families.

Tuition Freeze for 2025-2027

The University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees has voted to maintain tuition rates at their current levels for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years. This decision aligns with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education's recommendation to keep fees stable at Indiana's public colleges and universities. All mandatory fees will also remain the same, keeping student fees per credit hour around $300 for Indiana residents and $730 for out-of-state students.

This decision comes in response to the commission's recommendation and Gov. Mike Braun's request that higher education institutions be more efficient with taxpayer dollars. USI President Steve Bridges emphasized the university's consistent focus on student affordability, stating, "As a public-serving institution, it's important that we not pass the cost of the appropriation cut-offs to our students and families, especially during times of economic uncertainty."

Samantha Fleischaker, the commission's student member and a third-year USI student studying political science and philosophy, believes that keeping tuition flat opens opportunity for students of all backgrounds. “It sends the message that education is not just for one demographic − it’s for all people," she stated. "It’s not just a number. It’s the difference between opportunity and what feels impossible."

Understanding Tuition and Fees

Tuition Rates

USI's tuition for the academic year is $9,036 for in-state students and $21,877 for out-of-state students. Compared to the national average cost of in-state tuition of $12,436 and out-of-state tuition of $29,815, USI offers a more affordable option.

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Mandatory Fees

In addition to tuition, students are required to pay certain fees. These fees support various campus services and activities. While specific fee amounts for 2025-2026 were not yet approved at the time of the source publication, the following fees were in place for 2024-2025:

University Services Fee: Students who register for eight or more credit hours per semester are charged $30. Students who register for more than three and fewer than eight credit hours per semester are charged $22.75.
Athletics Fee: A $180 fee based on the projected costs of transitioning from Division II to Division I athletics.
Student Activity Fee: All students enrolled in an on-campus course are assessed a $100 per semester student activity fee.
Transportation and Parking Fee

Program-Specific Fees

Certain academic programs may have additional fees per credit hour:

Nursing, MSN: $100/hour
Nursing, DNP: $150/hour
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy: $100/hour
Master of Social Work: $50/hour

Other Fees

Other fees may apply depending on the courses taken and services used:

Application Fee
First Day Access eBook: Selected graduate-level courses offer digital books at a lower rate. Students in these courses are assessed the fee and have access to the digital book.
Health Professions Insurance Fee
Hybrid Course Fee: A $25 fee is assessed for each hybrid course.
Laboratory Fees: Charges ranging from $50 to $75 are made to all students who enroll in select courses.
Online Learning Fee: A $50 online learning fee is assessed for each online learning course.
Online Learning Non-resident Delivery Fee
Parking Fine
PLA Credit - Portfolio Review Fee
Special Course Fee: Charges not exceeding $350 are assessed to students enrolled in certain courses involving unique costs.

Understanding the Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance is an estimate of the total expenses a student will incur for an academic year. It includes both direct costs (billed by the university) and indirect costs (not billed by the university). Student Financial Assistance establishes the cost of attendance, which is also known as the financial assistance budget, for the purpose of determining financial assistance eligibility. The cost of attendance includes allowances for tuition and fees, housing and food, books and supplies and other miscellaneous expenses. The allowances are determined with consideration for direct costs (costs billed to the student; e.g. tuition, fees, housing, meal plan) and indirect costs (costs not billed to the student; e.g. personal expenses, transportation). Remember that the cost of attendance/financial aid budget is NOT your bill.

Direct Costs

Tuition and Fees: As mentioned above, these are the charges for instruction and mandatory services.
Housing and Food: If you live on campus and have a meal plan, these costs will be billed directly to you.

Indirect Costs

Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment: This allowance is based on full-time enrollment and average book costs. Undergraduate students will be automatically enrolled into Archie's Book Bundle for $24 per credit hour, with the option to opt out.
Transportation: This covers expenses related to commuting to and from campus.
Personal Expenses: This includes items like clothing, toiletries, and other miscellaneous costs.

Total Cost of Attendance

For , the total cost of attendance at USI is estimated to be $24,152 for in-state students and $36,993 for out-of-state students. This figure includes tuition and fees, as well as estimates for books, supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses.

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Financial Aid Opportunities

USI offers a variety of financial aid options to help students finance their education. 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.

Students Receiving Financial Aid: 55.66%
Average Aid Package: $15,321

Types of Financial Aid

Grants and Scholarships: These are forms of aid that do not need to be repaid. The average need-based scholarship or grant award is $11,422.
Loans: These are borrowed funds that must be repaid with interest. The average need-based loan amount is $4,004. The typical amount of loans a student must pay back is $23,548.
Work-Study: This program allows students to earn money through part-time jobs on campus.

Net Price

The net price is the actual amount a student pays to attend USI after subtracting grants and scholarships from the total cost of attendance. The average net price is $13,719 per year. The net price varies depending on a student's individual financial circumstances and the amount of aid they receive.

Financial Aid Dates and Deadlines

Application Due: April 15
Notification Date: January 15

Payment Options and Policies

Billing Statements

The Bursar’s Office publishes student billing statements monthly. Students may view their account activity at any time, which reflects the current and most up-to-date balance.

Payment Due Dates

Payment due dates are based on the student’s registration period. Students must remit payment or enter into the University’s payment plan by the due date on the billing statement.

Payment Plans

Payment plans are available every semester and divide the account balance into more affordable, monthly payments. To make a payment or enroll in a payment plan, log into MyUSI and click on the TouchNet link. TouchNet accepts e-checks and credit/debit cards. There is no fee for eChecks or Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments. Effective May 5, 2025, a 3.00% processing fee will be assessed for all debit and credit card payments.

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Refund Policy

Refunds vary based on the length of the course and program of study.

Students who drop one or more full-term courses during the first week of a semester will receive a 100 percent refund of fees; during the second week of a semester, a 75 percent refund; during the third week of a semester, a 50 percent refund; and during the fourth week of a semester, a 25 percent refund. No refund will be given for courses dropped thereafter.
Students enrolled in the MBA online program who drop during the first week of the course will receive a 100 percent refund.
Students who drop one or more standard-length courses during the first two days of a summer session will receive a 100 percent refund; during the third or fourth day, a 75 percent refund; during the fifth or sixth day, a 50 percent refund; and during the seventh or eighth day, a 25 percent refund. No refund will be given for dropped courses thereafter.
Students enrolled in the MBA online program who drop during the first week of the course will receive a 100 percent refund.
Courses meeting other than the standard length (including cross-term summer courses and courses for online accelerated programs) have different schedule revision, refund, and drop/withdrawal dates.

Additional Considerations

Summer Enrollment

Students who take classes and live on campus during the summer can expect to spend an additional $6,227-$10,000 depending on various enrollment factors. Meal plans are limited during summer sessions.

International Students

To assist in providing proof of your finances, we have created a Statement of Finances form for you to complete and have signed by your financial sponsor and submit with your bank statements. Submit a bank statement that is not older than 6 months. Must show 3 months continuous transactions. By signing the statement of finance form you are confirming that the funds are available. Immigration regulations for F-1 and J-1 visas allow you to apply for dependent visas for your spouse and children. If you plan to bring your spouse or children with you to USI, you will need to submit proof of an additional $3,000 per dependent.

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