Unpacking CU’s tuition buy-down proposal: 5 questions for Chief Financial Officer Carla Ho’a

For the 2021–22 academic year, CU Boulder is easing financial burden for students by absorbing the tuition increase approved by the Board of Regents (BOR). The post-pandemic credit only applies to academic year 2021–22: Fall 2021, Spring 2022 and Summer 2022. This means that incoming undergraduate first-year students and transfers will receive the credit in Year 1 of their Four-Year Tuition Guarantee (Group Q). Years 2–4 for these students will resume at the tuition rate approved by the BOR which includes the 3% increase (for planning purposes, you can view tuition with the increase and the net amount on Tuition and Fee Rate Sheets). The post-pandemic credit will also apply to tuition for graduate and law students for academic year 2021–22. You will see the full tuition amount on the bill along with a credit showing the buy-down amount. Essentially, no student will see an increase in tuition for academic year 2021–22.

In addition, undergraduate students who would normally roll into a new guarantee group during academic year 2021–22, will stay in their current guarantee group for the year. 

The one-time buy-down is in effect for the 2021–22 academic year only (Fall 2021, Spring 2022 and Summer 2022). Beginning next year (2022–23), tuition rates will resume at the rate approved by the Board of Regents for this year (2021–22) which includes the 3% increase. Graduate tuition may also incur an additional increases approved by the Board of Regents next year. (Undergraduate tuition is guaranteed for four years.)

The buy-down equals the 3% increase approved by the Board of Regents in April. Essentially students will pay the same tuition rate as last year, making this the third year in a row of no tuition increases at CU. When fall bills are available on Aug. 12, review your student account on the Tuition & Fees card in Buff Portal for the specific amount.

The buy-down applies to tuition only for incoming first-year students, graduate students and law students. Mandatory student fees and other costs are not affected by the buy-down.

Generally, all students will pay the same tuition rates in 2021–22 as last year. The buy-down credit for incoming students and graduate/law students will absorb the 3% tuition increase approved by the Board of Regents for the 2021–22 academic year.
  • If you are a continuing undergraduate student, your tuition is already guaranteed to remain the same for four years from your start term. Your guarantee will be extended by one year due to the effects of the pandemic but since your tuition is guaranteed, you wouldn't be affected by the 3% increase for 2021–22 anyway.
  • If you are enrolled in a professional masters program, tuition for new programs and some others did not see an increase from last year. Programs that did not incur tuition increases (and therefore not eligible for the tuition credit) are Business Professional Master's, MBA (full-time), graduate business certificates, MS-EE online, Teacher Leadership, Corporate Communications, Data Science and Outdoor Recreational Economy.

Generally no, because the tuition credit was applied your fall bill early enough that it simply reduced the total amount due on the Sept. 5.

Review your student account on the Tuition & Fee card in Buff Portal. The buy-down will be listed as "2021–22 PostPandemic Tuit Cred."

The four-year tuition guarantee will be extended by one year for all guarantee groups who would normally move into a new cohort in either Fall 2021, Spring 2022, or Summer 2022. These students get to stay in their current guarantee group and pay that group's tuition rate for the 2021–22 academic year.

The buy-down credit applies to academic year 2021–22 which begins with Fall 2021 and goes through Summer 2022. If you are enrolled in classes this summer, tuition did not increase from the prior year.