Tuition and Fees 

Enrolling through Open University allows individuals from almost all walks of life to enroll in courses which are charged per unit and vary based on mode of instruction. Open University allows individuals to develop professionally, earn program credit while waiting for admission (up to 30% of a program’s unit requirement), or allow disqualified graduate students the opportunity to enroll in a Program of Study (upper division courses only) to seek reinstatement as a matriculated student if they have been disqualified.

Matriculated students are not eligible to enroll in Open University courses, and graduate courses can only be taken if applicants show proof of a baccalaureate degree, have not been disqualified from the university, or have not been denied admission into a SJSU graduate program. Please visit the Open University website for more information on fees, refunds, and registration.

Special session graduate programs are funded solely through student tuition and do not receive any financial support from state funding. Special Session tuition is typically charged per unit which varies for each program and students do not pay campus mandatory fees. Therefore, they can not take advantage of SJSU student services such as student body organization, student health care, and recreational facilities. Special session students may serve as teaching assistants but are not eligible for fee waivers. Some special session programs allow students the flexibility of taking courses away from campus, and may enable students to vary their course load each semester. Note that some departments offer both special session and regular session programs, and while the programs may be identical in coursework and program requirements, some but not all programs will allow switching between programs. Therefore, it is advisable for students to work with graduate advisors to determine which program best fits their needs.  Special session programs are managed through the College of Professional and Global Educations with programs found in six disciplinary colleges. Please visit Professional and Global Education Special Sessions Programs web page for program information, admission, and fee/refund schedules.

Most graduate programs are structured as Regular Session programs meaning that they are partially funded by the State of California. Student tuition is based on the type of program (i.e. teacher credential, Post-bac/Graduate, and Doctoral), total number of enrolled units each semester (part-time [6 or fewer units] vs. full-time [6 or more units]), and California residency status. Students are also required to pay mandatory campus fees for the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters and are responsible for checking their accounts via MySJSU for charges and specific payment due dates for the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Fee deferrals may be provided to eligible students. Refunds for regular classes during the fall and spring semester are processed throughout the semester and students are not required to submit a refund request. Refunds are subject to a prorated charge and should consult the Refunds & Pro-Rata Charges web page to identify the semester and applicable pro-rata table to determine the amount to be refunded.  Open University and Summer semester students should request refunds by accessing the Open University web site. Winter session follows a different registration and payment process and more information can be found on the SJSU Winter Session Web site.