Differential Tuition at Mays Business School
What is "differential tuition" for business majors?
Differential tuition is an additional tuition charge that will fund significant enhancements to the learning experience of Mays business majors.
How much is differential tuition?
- Seniors - During fall 2008 and spring 2009 only, there will be a 50% reduction in the differential tuition for seniors, because they will not reap the full two-year benefit of the enhancements funded by differential tuition. Full-time seniors will pay differential tuition of $305 per semester. Part-time seniors will pay approximately $25.42 per credit hour ($305/12).
- Juniors - Juniors will pay the full $610 per semester. Part-time juniors will pay approximately $50.84 per credit hour ($610/12).
Beginning fall 2009, all Mays full-time juniors and seniors will pay differential tuition of $610 per fall and spring semester. No differential tuition is charged for summer semesters. All Mays part-time juniors and seniors will pay differential tuition based on the total number of hours for which the student registers in any fall or spring semester, approximately $50.84 per credit hour ($610/12).
How much does this add to the cost of a business major’s education, compared to other majors that do not charge differential tuition?
Most students can expect to pay differential tuition of $610 for a total of four semesters, or an additional $2,440.
Does it matter how many business classes the student is taking during the semester?
No, differential tuition is charged based on your classification and major. All junior and senior business majors are charged the differential tuition, regardless of the college offering the courses taken.
What determines my classification as a junior or a senior?
A junior has 60 to 94 credit hours posted to his or her Texas A&M University academic record and appears as classification "U3."
A senior has 95 or more credit hours posted to his or her Texas A&M academic record and appears as classification "U4."
What about double degree candidates?
Because of enrollment restrictions, Mays Business School approves undergraduate double degrees by exception only. Business juniors and seniors seeking a double degree are charged differential tuition regardless of whether the business degree is listed as the primary or secondary degree.
Why is Mays charging differential tuition?
The cost of a business education are rising much faster than our resources, while at the same time demand for our program has grown. We need the differential to sustain quality and to reduce the average class size of our business classes, especially upper-level courses. Mays is one of the most highly ranked undergraduate business schools in the nation because we have outstanding professors and some of the best facilities. Where we have not remained a leader, however, is in small class size. A poll of our students indicated that smaller classes should be a priority of differential tuition investment.
Support from the state of Texas does not provide sufficient resources to maintain the quality of the undergraduate business program relative to competing institutions. We must continue to recruit and retain top faculty if we are to improve the quality of our program. With differential tuition, Mays can enhance the undergraduate academic experience with quality faculty and smaller classes.
What is the primary goal of Mays’ differential tuition?
The primary goal is to reduce the average size of our core business classes from 117 to 38, and to reduce the average size of our upper-level business classes from 41 to 28.
Will there be an immediate impact?
Yes. We cannot reach these goals right away, but for fall 2008 the goal is to create 79 new sections. Some of this will be done by adding break-out sections to CBK courses. Others will be new sections of upper-division classes. With differential tuition, Mays will hire new faculty focusing on quality undergraduate teaching and increased student access to faculty.
Who decides how the differential tuition is invested?
The Dean of Business makes the ultimate decisions about spending in Mays. However, a Tuition Policy Advisory Committee will be formed to provide input to the dean about future spending, review past spending reports, and assess actual results. Students will be represented on the committee.
Is any help available for those who cannot afford a tuition increase?
The state of Texas requires that part of any additional tuition collected from students will be used for financial aid. If you have unmet need, please contact your financial aid advisor. Mays does not administer financial aid directly.