In July 2013, the Utah State Board of Regents, with the support of presidents in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE), adopted a Completion Resolution, which encourages the implementation of five key strategies to improve college completion in the state.

What is Plateau Tuition?

Plateau tuition – or “banded” tuition – is a set tuition price for undergraduate students within a set range of credits. In other words, at almost all USHE institutions, it is the same tuition and fees for students to take 15 credits a semester as it is for them to take 12. The interactive below calculates the 2015-16 undergraduate tuition and fees for USHE institutions by credit hours. The calculator also estimates the added cost, if any, of taking one additional three-credit course (the typical credit load for most general education courses). More information on estimating the cost to attend a USHE institution is available at the green arrow links at the bottom of the calculator.

Tuition and Fees Calculator

Plateau tuition can be an incentive for full-time students to take a slightly heavier credit load an complete a degree sooner – all for the same price. A student who takes 12 credits each semester during college will take a full year longer to graduate with a bachelor’s degree than a student who takes 15 credits per semester.

Approximately one-third of USHE students earn 12-14 credits per semester.  In most cases, those students could take an additional course each semester, complete a bachelor’s degree 1-year sooner, and join the workforce earlier to begin earning an income. The 15 to Finish campaign encourages Utah’s college students graduate on time and save tuition.

Tuition/Fees Calculator direct link. This article is one of several periodic updates on the efforts of USHE institutions towards improving student completion in meaningful ways. Additional information on current efforts and goals approved by the Board of Regents in January 2015 is available here.