Four-Year Approach to Tuition : University of Dayton, Ohio

Innovative Tuition Plan for Undergraduates

At the University of Dayton, we want you to have a successful college experience and peace of mind regarding the cost of your degree. That's why we created a four-year approach to tuition with complete transparency. View the FAQ for more information.

Five Ways UD Makes a Difference in Cost

1. Four-Year Outlook

Most universities focus on your first-year financial aid offer and don't tell you how costs will change over time. At UD, we provide a transparent, four-year overview of costs.

Just by applying to UD, you can find out what scholarships you're eligible for, and admitted students receive a complete, personalized overview of their costs and scholarships for all four years. This means you'll know exactly what your net tuition costs will be, and you can have peace of mind knowing they won't change unexpectedly.

By filing the FAFSA, you could also be eligible for additional financial aid, like grants, which do not have to be repaid.

2. Guaranteed Net Tuition

The net tuition for each year in your financial aid offer is guaranteed, so you'll never have to worry about unexpected tuition increases because you have the information upfront.

3. No Hidden Fees

We share all direct costs upfront, so you’ll never be surprised by your bill. At other universities, you’ll pay fees for things like labs, campus life and program charges — up to $20,000 over four years.

4. Experiential Learning Support

Financial support is available to help with costs associated with hands-on learning opportunities such as education abroad, internships and co-ops, faith immersions, leadership development and more.

5. Health and Wellbeing

As part of our whole-person approach to education, we provide the cost for health and wellbeing services upfront in your four-year overview.

Why UD?

In addition to providing a top-ranked education, UD offers you countless opportunities to do extraordinary things and challenge yourself to learn from firsthand experience.

Explore the Value of UD

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Tuition Plan FAQ

Please contact us at 800-837-7433 or admission@udayton.edu if you have additional questions.

What is the University of Dayton's approach to tuition?

The University of Dayton's innovative approach to tuition for incoming, full-time (12 to 18 credit hours per semester) undergraduate students includes a transparent four-year overview of your costs upfront. While many other schools focus on first-year costs, at UD, we provide details of your full education investment. That means you can be confident in our costs and your plan for success.

What are the benefits?

You'll receive a four-year overview of your costs, which include not only your tuition, but also your estimated costs for housing, meals, health and wellbeing and non-billable expenses. This way, you know the true cost of education and can feel confident in your plans for a UD education.

Our approach allows your family to financially plan for your entire UD education with no surprises when you receive your bill. Our goal is to be as transparent as possible and provide you with peace of mind when it comes to cost.

When will I receive my personalized four-year offer?

After a close review of your academic credentials and your family's financial circumstance, the Office of Recruitment and Admission will create a personalized four-year financial aid offer for admitted students. This offer will include your four-year outlook, which shows the guaranteed net tuition cost for the next four years, along with your detailed financial aid award.

For students starting in fall 2026, UD began sending financial aid offers in December and will continue on a rolling basis. File the FAFSA if you haven’t already, to receive your financial aid offer as early as possible.

How many credit hours can students take under the tuition plan?

As part of your tuition, you can take 144 semester hours over eight semesters. Working closely with your academic adviser, you may graduate with a major and a minor — or even a double major.

How does the tuition plan work if I plan to co-op?

The tuition plan is valid for eight semesters of full-time academic study. The plan is placed on hold during co-op terms and will resume once you have returned to classes.

What if there are changes in my family's financial situation?

Special circumstances are always considered, and our admission and financial aid staff will work with your family individually.

How do I remain eligible for the tuition plan?

Simply file the FAFSA each year, meet academic requirements as a full-time student (12-18 credit hours per semester) and be a responsible member of the University of Dayton community.

Do international students qualify for the tuition plan?

Yes, undergraduate international students applying directly to the University of Dayton receive a transparent tuition overview for all four years.

Students applying through UDayton Global enjoy other benefits and services.

Partnership Programs

Through our partnerships with Sinclair College, like the UD Sinclair Academy and Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, you can earn a UD degree while taking advantage of some elements of our transparent tuition plan as well as Sinclair's affordable tuition.

Explore UD Sinclair Academy

Explore the Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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