Tuition and Fees

At Saint Mary’s tuition is charged on a per-course basis.  The normal full-time course load is five courses per semester (or two courses in a summer session).   As a student at Saint Mary's University, you will pay tuition costs on a pay-as-you-go system: payment in September for the courses in first semester; payment in January for the second semester, and so on.  Similarly, for those who are eligible, scholarships and bursaries are credited to the account at the beginning of each semester. 

 

Fees are charged for administrative services, including those provided by the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA).  These include a Metro Transit Bus Pass and medical and dental insurance.  Most fees are calculated depending on whether you are a part-time or full-time student. 

 

Full-time or Part-time study:  For the calculation of fees, eligibility for student loans, scholarships and study permits (visas):

• a student who is registered for at least nine credit hours (three courses) in one semester is considered to be a full-time student. 
• a student who is registered in fewer than nine credit hours in a semester is considered to be a part-time student. 

 

What will it cost for my first year?

 

To complete a four-year degree program on time, each year you should complete 30 credit hours (ten three-credit courses). Click here for examples of costs for 2011-2012.

 

Saint Mary’s University and SMUSA work hard to keep tuition and fees affordable.  The costs announced each year in the spring apply to the academic year which begins in September.  

When consulting the Financial Services web site for the most up-to-date figures for tuition and fees, remember that “undergraduate” refers to bachelor’s, diploma and certificate programs.