Business Services

Distance Learning Fee Descriptions

REGISTRATION FEE
Every student is charged a $30 Registration Fee each semester. This administrative fee is not refundable.

TUITION

For undergraduate students tuition is $200.70 per credit except 12 to 18 credits where tuition is flat at $2,408.40.  For graduate students tuition is $256.29 per credit except 12 to 18 credits where tuition is flat at $3,075.48.  

Students who are not residents of Montana for fee purposes pay an additional $576.98 per credit.

Students participating in the Western Undergraduate Exchange and qualifying Canadian Residents pay $301.05 per credit for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate, and do not pay the non-resident tuition. Qualifying graduate Canadian Residents pay $384.45 per credit. 

COMPUTER FEE
The Computer Fee is $3.49 per credit per semester, except 12 to 18 credits, where fees do not increase. The computer Fees collected from students are used to purchase computer equipment for instructional use.

BUILDING FEE
The Building Fee is $11.47 per credit, except 12 to 18 credits, where fees do not increase.  Non-Residents are charged an additional $4.72 per credit, except 12 to 18 credits, where fees do not increase. The Building Fee revenue is used to pay the costs of constructing and renovating auxiliary buildings.

EQUIPMENT FEE
The Equipment Fee is $4.84 per credit per semester, except for 12 to 18 credits, where fees do not increase. Funds generated from this fee are used to purchase equipment for instructional use.

RADIO FEE
The Radio Fee is $1.00 per credit, except for 12 to 18 credits, where fees do not increase.  Students at MSU-Northern voted to implement this fee to support the campus radio station to include online availability to all students. 

TECHNOLOGY FEE
The Technology Fee is $11.29 per credit, except 12 to 18 credits, where fees do not increase. This fee was established to help pay for the cost of administrative software which unites data from all college departments resulting in greater efficiency in all areas of record-keeping.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) INFRASTRUCTURE FEE
The IT Infrastructure Fee of $5.35 per credit per semester, except 12 to 18 credits, where fees do not increase. This fee will be used for life-cycle maintenance/replacement of the university's central and instructional computing and networking systems.

LIBRARY FEE
The Library fee of $13.75 per semester will be used for the purpose of enhancing library resources available to students both on the Havre campus and at distance sites. This is a student-initiated fee.

ACADEMIC FACILITIES FEE
The Academic Facilities fee of $4.33 per credit per semester (with a maximum of $51.96 per semester) will be used to renovate classrooms and lab both at the Havre campus and at distance sites.

DISTANCE LEARNING FEE
Depending on the distributed learning medium, a distance delivery charge will be assessed. The fees per semester for the various locations are as follows: Great Falls $15 per credit; Cohorts $15 per credit; On-Line courses $20 per credit. Funds generated by this fee support the costs of providing instructional programs at outreach sites.

SUSTAINABILITY FEE
The sustainability fee is charged at $8.00 per semester.  This fee funds efforts toward promoting sustainable practices on MSU-Northern's campuses.

COURSE FEE
Course fees are charged in varying amounts for some classes. The Board of Regents approves these fees, which are used to purchase consumable classroom materials used by students.

ACTIVITY FEE 
The Activity Fee is $53.00 per semester. This fee was enacted by student vote to be collected by the university on behalf of student government. 

ATHLETIC FEE 
The Athletic Fee is $25.50 per semester. This fee entitles students to admission to all home athletic events upon presentation of their Student ID card.  This fee is charged to every student regardless of credit enrollment as approved by Student Senate.  This fee is a flat fee charged to all students.

HEALTH FEE 
The Student Health Service Fee of $70.50 per semester. These funds pay the costs of operating the Student Health Service and entitle those students to available services.  This fee is charged to every student regardless of credit enrollment as approved by Student Senate.

APPLICATION FEE
This is a one-time fee of $30, charged to all first-time enrolling undergraduate and graduate students. It is not refundable.

NEW STUDENT FEE
This one-time fee of $44 is charged to all first-time enrolling students. Monies collected are used to provide orientation activities for the students.

GRADUATION FEE
This fee of $50 is used to pay for the costs associated with graduation. This includes the cost of processing graduation papers as well as the commencement exercise and diploma.

DEFERRED PAYMENT FEE
Students are charged an administrative service fee of $30 for establishing an installment contract. The fee is used to help offset the college's costs in setting up and maintaining the student payment accounts. If the account is paid in full before the first payment due date, this fee is reversed.

LATE REGISTRATION FEE
The $40 Late Fee is charged to students who complete their registration, including fee arrangements, after the published deadline. An additional $40 is assessed to students who register, with University approval, after the 15th day of instruction.

LATE PAYMENT FEE FOR DEFERRED CONTRACTS
Installment contracts establish due dates for each payment of fees. Board of Regents policy approves a late payment fee of $15 for delinquent payments.

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE :
Health insurance is mandatory whenever you are enrolled for six or more academic credits. MSU-Northern offers comprehensive health insurance coverage to students at a reasonable rate. If a student has other coverage, a waiver must be signed and the premium will be reversed. Students without health insurance who wish to purchase it from the University must pay $2,310 for Fall 2023 and $2,310 for Spring 2024. Payment of these two premiums results in coverage for 12 full months. Spring 2024 Semester-Only rate for new students is $2,695 (Coverage Period: 01/01/2024 – 07/31/2024). Health insurance can’t be waived after 90 days of the coverage start date of the policy. More details: Student Health Insurance Plan.

STUDENT INSURANCE/MEDICAID

The Montana Medicaid/HELP program and the Montana University System are working in partnership to provide student Medicaid/HELP clients with excellent medical coverage at a reasonable cost to the taxpayers.

The student health insurance plan is cost-effective for those Medicaid/HELP clients with certain medical conditions or problems. The Health Insurance Premium Payment Referral form needs to be complete by EVERYONE that is enrolled in the Medicaid/HELP program. The form can be located in Business Services.  When the state determines a group insurance plan to be cost effective, the Montana Medicaid/HELP client is required to enroll in the insurance program, and then apply for the Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program.

• The HIPP program allows state Medicaid funds to be used to pay for private health insurance coverage when it is cost effective to do so.
• The program is designed to provide additional coverage, not replace the coverage they have, with the student health insurance plan.
• The student health insurance plan becomes the primary coverage and Medicaid/HELP as the secondary coverage.

*IMPORTANT*
Adult Medicaid/HELP clients MUST comply with Third-Party Liability programs, including the HIPP program, as a condition of keeping their Medicaid/HELP medical coverage. If they drop, or refuse, health insurance coverage that the state has determined to be cost effective, their Medicaid/HELP medical coverage may be canceled.

For questions regarding application to the program, please contact:
Business Services
406-265-3733

For questions regarding the Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program, please contact:
Helen Taffs, HIPP Program Specialist
406-444-4552 htaffs2@mt.gov