SUNY ESF
Description of ESF Fees
Overview
The assessment of fees is necessary to provide students with services and benefits that cannot be funded by other means. Some fees are usage-based. Examples include course fees, late add/drop fees, transportation fees, and other similar fees. Other fees are mandatory and are not usage-based. Examples include the College Fee, and Student Services, Technology, Health/Counseling, and Transcripts fees. The fees listed here may not be final and they are subject to change.
Students matriculated in an "exclusively online program" that has been registered as such with the New York State Department of Education (NYSED), are assessed only certain fees. These fee differentials apply only to those enrolled "exclusively online programs" as designated by the NYSED. All other remote-learning students will be assessed, and be responsible for payment of, all standard mandatory fees.
The policy that governs fees at ESF is:
The Following Fees are Automatically Assessed at SUNY ESF
A broad-based fee required under administrative policy of the State University of New York and
is not refundable. It was initiated to retire municipal bonds that were issued to
build the State University campuses. The College Fee is mandatory for all students
and cannot be waived.
Mandatory broad-based fee charged to all students and cannot be waived. For those on the main campus, it
partially offsets the cost of the student support services provided by Syracuse University.
Examples include, but are not limited to, co-curricular and student activities, fitness
facilities, disability services, SU Ambulance, Tennity Ice Pavilion, arts and entertainment
events, and IT services. This fee ensures that ESF students are essentially treated
as SU's based on our relationship with the university. Ranger School students pay
this same fee, but their revenue is directly deposited into a Ranger School account
to fund student activities specific to that campus location.
Mandatory broad-based fee charged to all students and cannot be waived. It is for
the advancement of technology on the SUNY ESF main campus, and satellite locations,
that is used by students and supports, both directly and indirectly, their academic
programs. Some examples of technologies that directly benefit students are computing
labs, classrooms media systems, internet access, individual email accounts, and web-based
applications such as Banner and Blackboard. Indirect technology that benefit students
include enhancements to campus infrastructure (servers, networks, etc.), support services,
and general maintenance of campus systems.
Mandatory broad-based fee charged to all undergraduate students to support ESF's intercollegiate athletics
program. It is not a user fee and cannot be waived. Everyone benefits from the success
of our teams and their contributions to the college's reputation and recognition.
Mandatory broad-based fee to offset the cost of health services available to students through a contract that
ESF has with Crouse Medical Practice and for counseling services delivered by ESF
professionals. It is charged to all students on the main campus only and cannot be
waived. The Health & Counseling Services fee is not health insurance. It is designed
to give ESF students access to available resources during their enrollment at the
college.
Mandatory flat broad-based fee charged to all enrolled students and cannot be waived. It entitles current and
former students to receive unlimited official transcripts. Transcripts will not be
issued to students with outstanding financial obligations to the college
Field trips are required in some courses. In these instances, a flat $40 fee is assessed
for each applicable course. This funds the use of vehicles to transport students,
no matter how many trips that class takes. The Ranger School has its own Transportation
Fee that is set each semester. Refer to the expenses section of the Bursar website
for current semester rates.
ESF physics and chemistry students taking lab courses at Syracuse University may be
assessed applicable SU course fees that generally average $20 to $40, depending on
the course. These are assessed in the semester that the course is provided by SU.
Mandatory fee that funds ESF's student associations. Amounts are determined by students,
who also vote every two years on whether the fee will be mandatory or voluntary. The
fee supports a multitude of clubs and activities whose budgets are set by the student
organizations. This fee cannot be waived.
Mandatory fee that funds Syracuse University's student associations and cannot be
waived. Our relationship with SU provides ESF students with access to the same activities,
services, and events that SU students enjoy. The fees are remitted to SU to fund ESF's
participation. This is mandatory as long as ESF students collectively decide they
want to avail themselves of these benefits.
A mandatory fee charged to students on the main campus. It is assessed only in the
first semester a student in enrolled at ESF and covers the cost of orientation activities
including supplies, performers, food, etc. Fees may differ for students starting in
the fall vs the spring, based on the programs for each. Refer to the Bursar web page
for rates.
The Following Fees are Assessed at the Request of the Student or When Applicable
Mandatory flat fee that is assessed for students registering after the scheduled registration
deadline.
ESF offers payment plans to assist students who may find it difficult to pay the total
semester bill by the due date. A non-refundable application fee is assessed for each
semester the student wishes to participate. Visit the Bursar website for more information.
Mandatory flat fee that is assessed when students add or drop courses after the end
of the add/drop period. Add/Drop forms, with required signatures, must be turned in
to the Registrar's Office.
Assessed each month to students with unpaid balances by the payment due date. The
fee ranges from $30.00 to $50.00 dollars, depending on the amount of outstanding balance.
A maximum of four (4) administrative late payment/late payment fees can be assessed
to a student account per semester. Failure to make payment will result in the account
being referred to the New York State Attorney General's Office. Upon request, this
fee will be waived once for the entire period the student is enrolled at ESF. Students
with payment plans are not assessed late charges on their outstanding balances.
A $20 handling charge is assessed whenever a check or e-check is returned by the bank
as unpaid.
Trailhead Dollars accounts. See Housing and Meal Plans for further information