Understanding Online Course Charges at Black Hills State University

Issue/Question 

How do online courses differ in pricing compared to in-person?
Why are online courses priced the way they are?

Resolution  

At Black Hills State University (BHSU), undergraduate students taking online courses through the Internet are charged a flat rate per credit hour while a student taking courses in a traditional classroom setting are charged for tuition plus fees based on the specific course they are enrolled in. Understanding these charges is important for planning your educational expenses. 
 

Internet Course Tuition Structure 

Undergraduate students are charged a flat rate of $365.05 per credit hour for online courses.
This means that your bill will show a charge of $365.05 for each credit hour you enroll into through the Internet.  

  • A 3-credit hour course will appear as $1,095.15. 

  • Two 3-credit hour courses will appear on your student bill in one charge of $2,190.30 ($365.05 * 6 credit hours). 


On your student bill, this charge appears as “B-Tuition UG Internet”: 

  • The “B” stands for Black Hills State University (BHSU). 

  • “Tuition UG Internet” indicates this is the tuition rate for undergraduate (UG) credit hours delivered online, rather than in a traditional classroom setting. 

No additional fees are charged — what you see in the “B-Tuition UG Internet” line is the total cost for your online course. 
 

Comparison to Face-to-Face Course Charges 

For face-to-face (in-person) classes, the cost structure is different. It includes charges for tuition, general activity fee, and special discipline fees, all on a per credit hour basis as follows: 

  • $300.45 is the total base rate per credit hour and includes: 

  • Tuition: $261.20 per credit hour (on the bill as “B-Tuition UG Resident”) 

  • General Activity Fee: $39.25 per credit hour (on the bill as “B-General Activity Fee”) 

  • Face-to-face courses are also assessed special discipline fees, which vary depending on the discipline.  The fees approved for BHSU include: 

Cost per credit hour by subject for in-person classes:
Subject:  Cost per credit hour:
Mathematics/Statistics/Fine Arts: $16.70
Health & Wellness: $17.10
Geology/Physics: $21.60
Exercise Science: $21.70
Biology/Chemistry $22.25
Business: $30.90
Computer Science: $50.10


Explanation of Higher Cost for Internet Delivery 

Costs for online courses are marginally higher than face-to-face delivery depending on the special discipline fees assessed on face-to-face courses. Online courses require significant investment in technology infrastructure, including cybersecurity protections, specialized software licensing fees, LockDown browsers for testing, multimedia content production, and ongoing technical support. The faculty also incur costs for time and effort on creating specialized digital course materials and training to effectively teach in a virtual environment. BHSU’s Center for Faculty Innovation is a dedicated resource for these purposes. 
 

Summary Table: Tuition and Fees Comparison 
Course Delivery Method Tuition General Activity Fee Special Discipline Fee Total Cost
Online (Internet)  $365.05 N/A N/A $365.05 
Face-to-Face $261.20 $39.25 Varies $300.45 - $350.55

Please contact the Business Office if you need further assistance

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