12:01 p.m., July 8, 2009----In order to achieve consistency in graduate tuition rates across programs and colleges at the University of Delaware, UD is implementing market-based tuition rates for all graduate students. This policy change, eliminating residency qualifications for calculating graduate tuition rates, was approved by the University's Board of Trustees in May and will be implemented beginning with the fall semester in the 2009-10 academic year.

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“The University remains committed to Delaware residents pursuing graduate degrees and will ensure that this tuition policy change will not impact students who have already been admitted or who are currently enrolled in graduate programs in fall 2009 or spring 2010,” stated Provost Tom Apple.

A Delaware Graduate Scholarship will be offered from UD colleges to all new and continuing Delaware resident graduate students who pay tuition in the 2009-10 academic year. In addition, Delaware resident graduate students who enroll by spring 2010 will continue to receive Delaware Graduate Scholarships for as long as the student remains continuously enrolled in courses for each fall and spring semester until the completion of the degree. Students who register for and meet sustaining status requirements or obtain an approved leave of absence at any point in their graduate program also remain eligible.

The policy change will affect the following:

--All new graduate students beginning a graduate program in Fall 2009 or Spring 2010; and

--Delaware resident graduate students who are currently enrolled in a graduate program but who have not yet completed degree requirements.

“While the University is eliminating residency qualifications for calculating graduate tuition rates, the Delaware Graduate Scholarship is available from UD colleges to all new and continuing Delaware resident graduate students who pay tuition in the 2009-10 academic year,” said Debra Hess Norris, vice provost for graduate and professional education.

“All new and continuing Delaware resident graduate students will receive a Delaware Graduate Scholarship representing the difference between what the Delaware resident graduate rate would have been and the new graduate tuition rate. This scholarship will appear on graduate students' upcoming semester tuition bill. They will continue to receive a Delaware Graduate Scholarship in this amount for as long as they remain continuously enrolled in their program of graduate study at the University of Delaware,” Norris explained.

In the future, tuition for all graduate students will be set at the nonresident rate except where a specified rate has been approved by the Board of Trustees for a particular program (e.g., the M.B.A. program). Since there will no longer be an in-state rate for graduate students, the graduate tuition rate will be calculated by the University of Delaware Budget Office based on other tuition increase rates which are approved by the University Board of Trustees. UD colleges may continue to offer scholarships to students in any program.

The University is differentiating its practices between research-oriented degrees, such as the Ph.D. and many M.S. and M.A. programs, and professional programs, such as the M.B.A., M.P.A., and some M.S. and M.A. degrees. The new policy states that tuition will be set at the out-of-state rate for research-oriented programs. With Board of Trustees' approval, UD colleges may set varying tuition rates for professional programs. For students who enroll in summer 2010 or later, the dean of each college will announce college tuition policies for their graduate programs. All graduate tuition policies will be stated on college and program Web sites.

More information on the UD graduate tuition policy and answers to frequently asked questions, as well as approved rates for tuition, room and board, and student fees for 2009-10, are available at the Graduate and Professional Education Web site.