Tuition and fees at Appalachian State University are set by campus committees and approved by one or more of the following: the ASU Chancellor, ASU Board of Trustees, and UNC Board of Governors. These charges are established in accordance with state and university policy and are not subject to appeal.

Charges Not Eligible for Appeal

The Tuition Appeals Committee does not have authority to review or override charges related to:

  • Medical insurance premiums (appeals must be directed to Student Health Services or Blue Cross Blue Shield)
  • Course-specific fees, including but not limited to:
    • Intern/Practicum liability insurance
    • Nursing program fees
  • Faculty/staff/emergency worker tuition waivers
  • Housing charges (appeals handled by University Housing)
  • Meal plan charges (declining balance programs)
  • State-mandated late fees and interest (unless due to a documented administrative error)
  • Orientation fees
  • Any non-required tuition or fees
  • Residency classification or related tuition charges (appeals must be submitted through the Residency Determination System (RDS))
  • Tuition charges for courses that have already been graded (including grades of F or I)

Appeals That May Be Considered

The committee will only consider appeals in the following cases:

Fixed Tuition Cohort Appeals

Under North Carolina General Statute 116-143.9, students may appeal loss of Fixed Tuition eligibility due to a break in continuous enrollment. Approved reasons include:

  • Military Service Obligation–Provide official documentation confirming voluntary or involuntary duty with the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard, including training or active duty assignments.
  • Serious Medical Debilitation–Documentation must be issued by a licensed healthcare professional and include:
    • The date the condition began
    • How the condition impacted academic progress
    • Relevant medical facts
  • Short-Term Disability–Issued by a healthcare professional, stating:
    • Start date of disability
    • Impact on academic progress
    • Relevant medical facts
    • Confirmation that the condition is not permanent
  • Long-Term Disability–Similar to the short-term requirement, but must indicate the disability is permanent.
  • Extraordinary Hardship–For significant and unexpected hardships beyond the student’s control. Must include a detailed statement and supporting documentation showing how the situation disrupted degree progress.

Tuition Refund Appeal for Course(s) Dropped or Withdrawn

Students may appeal the refund amount received for dropped courses or withdrawn terms. These appeals require:

  • Withdrawal from the term or course(s)
  • Documentation supporting the reason for the request
  • Submission of the Tuition Appeals Form

To be eligible for appeal, a student must have already withdrawn from or dropped the course(s) in question. Appeals will be declined automatically if enrollment is still active. Incomplete or ineligible appeals (e.g., courses still enrolled in or never dropped) will not be reviewed.

Submitting an Appeal

  1. Complete the  Tuition Appeals Request Form DOCX 14.03 KB .
  2. Email the form and all supporting documentation to studentaccounts@appstate.edu with the subject line: Tuition Appeal.
  3. Appeals will not be reviewed without complete documentation.

After submission, students will receive a confirmation email. The Tuition Appeals Committee meets at least once per semester and will notify students of the outcome by email from the University Treasurer or designee.

Note: Lack of awareness of university policies or academic calendars is not a valid reason for appeal.

Other Tuition-Related Appeals

North Carolina Residency Appeals

Questions or appeals regarding North Carolina residency classification for tuition purposes should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.