Eastern Michigan University seeks to boost more four-year graduations, incentivizes taking more credits through block tuition pricing model

Under the plan, students will pay the same price for 16 credits as they will for 12

Halle Library on a cloudy spring day

YPSILANTI -- Eastern Michigan University is adopting a block tuition pricing model for students beginning with the 2021 fall semester. Block tuition is the prevailing tuition structure among Michigan’s public universities, with nine currently using this model. 

Eastern’s adoption of block tuition is designed to encourage students to complete their degrees in four years, incentivizing the student to take a full course load. The flat rate tuition of $6,975 per semester is the same for undergraduate students taking 12 to 16 credit hours.

Block tuition will enable students to graduate sooner, which will result in students starting their careers earlier, increasing their earning potential by an additional year to two (over five and six year graduates). This additional income could amount to more than $45,000 annually for the first and second year of employment based on the average income for college graduates.

Eastern Michigan University Student Body President Luis Romero said, “Keeping in mind the ongoing urgent need for targeted financial aid and assistance, I believe that block tuition will lower students' cost of attendance and incentivize them to graduate earlier. Which, in return, saves students money. If block tuition had been in place when I was a first-year student, I likely would have taken the full 15 credits.”

Under the block tuition model, students can expect to save up to $3,600 on tuition costs throughout their degree. There will be additional savings (as much as $12,000 per year) related to housing costs for those graduating in four years rather than in five or six years

Tuition Charge (15 credits/semester)

  • 2020-21    $6,750 
  • 2021-22    $6,975 
  • $ Increase   $225
  • % Increase   3.3%

Tuition Charge (16 credits/semester)

  • 2020-21    $7,200 
  • 2021-22    $6,975 
  • $ Increase   ($225)
  • % Increase  (3.3%)

(Block tuition is the base tuition rate only, and other fees may be applicable.)

A student who took 15 credit hours per semester in 2020-21 will see a $225/semester or 3.3% increase in tuition by taking the same amount of credit hours in the 2021-22 school year.

A student who took 16 credit hours per semester in 2020-21 will see a $225/semester or 3.3% decrease in tuition by taking the same amount of credit hours in the 2021-22 school year.

The move to block tuition is the latest in a number of strategies to improve student persistence/graduation rates in recent years at Eastern Michigan University, including:

  • Investing in additional advising resources;
  • Launching the 4Ward Scholarship, introduced in the fall semester of 2019, which provides students with the final two years of their tuition for free when they pay the first two years and live on campus for the duration of their four-year schedule; and,
  • Annually committing more than $50 million in institutional financial aid to help students succeed, including an increase of $3.5 million for the 2021-22 school year.

As a result of these and other efforts, in the most recently reported period, Eastern Michigan students realized an 8% increase in the 6-year graduation rate, compared to just 3 years prior.

The per credit tuition cost for undergraduate students taking less than 12 credit hours or those taking more than 16 is $580. The University also is eliminating the on-line/hybrid fee(s) for all graduate and doctoral credit hours, and decreasing hybrid fees for undergraduate students by 25%.

The aggregate tuition and fee increase, as calculated under the State of Michigan tuition restraint formula, is less than what has been recommended by the Governor of Michigan.   

Overall, Eastern Michigan University’s average annual tuition and fee increases over the last five years are 3.95%. The University is in the mid-range among Michigan public universities in terms of tuition costs. 

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.

June 10, 2021

Written by:
Walter Kraft

Media Contact:
Walter Kraft
wkraft@emich.edu
734.487.6895