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Office of the Bursar
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 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.

This fee is charged to all matriculated undergraduate students.  It replaces annual alumni dues and funds your membership in the Alumni Association from your first day at SUNY ESF.  Once you graduate, your membership continues throughout your lifetime.  Some benefits, but not all, include scholarships, student support programming, alumni-to-student mentoring and career development programs.  Students can voluntarily opt out of this fee.  Contact the Alumni Association Office at alumni@esf.edu for information regarding  how to opt out and related deadlines.

Mandatory broad-based fee to offset the cost of health services available to students for counseling services delivered by ESF professionals and through a partnership with a company for telehealth services. 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.

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.

SUNY has approved fees for certain ESF courses. Students enrolled in these classes will be charged the corresponding approved course fee. Fees range from $5.00 to $200.00 and fund equipment purchases and other related expenses. For a detailed listing, click here.

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