UK Online

Background:

UK recently expanded its online course offerings and created new tuition rates to support the increase in offerings across the campus. The following reflects background about those rates and how the institution is reaching out to students to ensure access and affordability:

Student Communication:

The following was communicated to students: 

Because you are preregistered for an online course this Fall, we wanted to provide you with the latest information about tuition, mandatory fees, the Undergraduate Online Learning Rate, and some changes we are making to better serve students.

In June, the University of Kentucky will consider changes to its tuition and mandatory fee rates for the upcoming academic year, including a separate rate for all undergraduate fully online classes. The University also is establishing special Transition Grants for students who are taking online classes and have financial need.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The proposed tuition rates include a 2.4 percent increase in undergraduate resident tuition and mandatory fees for academic year 2019-20 and up to a 6.2 percent increase for non-resident students for academic year 2019-20. Still, some may see a small reduction due to the elimination of the lower- and upper-division differential tuition rates.
• These rates, combined with last year, represent the University’s lowest consecutive tuition rate increases for resident undergraduate students in more than 30 years.
• To maintain the affordability of a UK degree, we will continue to make significant investments in scholarships and grants that do not have to be repaid.

In addition, there are three important changes for how tuition is being assessed:

• Effective Fall 2019, UK will eliminate undergraduate upper and lower division rate differentials. As a result, returning resident students classified as juniors or seniors may see a small decrease in tuition.
• Beginning in Fall 2019, undergraduate courses offered fully online will be assessed using the Undergraduate Online Learning Rate.
• Effective Fall 2019, instead of one set of mandatory fees for all UK students, students will be assessed mandatory fees based on their course mix and charged only the fees that support related services.
• As a student enrolled in a mix of traditional and online courses, you may be eligible for Transition Grant funds to partially or fully offset any increased cost from the Undergraduate Online Learning Rate. Priority will be given to undergraduate students enrolled in online courses that are required for their major, seniors on track to graduate next academic year, and students with the highest unmet financial need.

To be eligible, applicants must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA by July 1, 2019. For more information on the Transition Grant, please visit [embed link to transition grant page]. For additional information and questions, please contact your financial aid counselor at (859) 257-3172 or use the online chat feature at www.uky.edu/financialaid.

Communication: 

Blog, January 24, 2019: Online Programs Extend UK's Land-Grant Mission