Differential fees

Engineering is a high-cost program. A significant investment in resources is required to train engineering students to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing technological environment. Differential fees allow the College to enhance the quality and growth of our engineering programs and offer degrees that make students highly competitive in a global market environment.

Want to see what differential fees are spent on?

Why differential fees?

Differential fees support the College's initiative to offer a globally competitive engineering and computer science education, which includes state-of-the-art undergraduate curricula, an internationally competitive graduate program, high-quality outreach activities and opportunities for students to participate in global experiences.

Differential fees can be used in several different ways to support these goals, including the following:

  • Purchasing state-of-the-art lab equipment or software
  • Remodeling labs
  • Student club support
  • Hiring lecturers, teaching assistants and staff
  • Granting need-based scholarships
  • Awarding graduate fellowships

What are differential fees?

Differential fees add the following charges to University of Nevada, Reno tuition and fees:

  • Additional $85 per credit for all 300- and 400- level courses
  • Additional $100 per credit for all 600- and 700- level courses

Differential fees replace all course and laboratory fees previously in place for 300-level and above courses.

Differential fees were implemented in stages beginning in Fall 2011 and are fully in place as of Fall 2013.

Who decides what differential fees are used for?

All students, faculty and staff may submit proposals for the use of differential fees. Departmental committees, which are composed of faculty and students, recommend proposals for funding. Funding recommendations from the Central Committee, which is composed of faculty and students, are forwarded to the Dean's Office for review and approval. Committees meet several times each year.

See Central Committee standard operating procedures.

Central Committee Meeting Schedule

The Central Committee meets approximately three times a year:

  • September to welcome new committee members and address administrative issues
  • February/March to review funding proposals
  • March to rank and recommend proposals to the Dean
  • April to attend the Dean's student forum

How can I submit a proposal?

Proposals for the use of differential fee funding can be submitted by students, staff an d faculty of the College of Engineering. In order to give your proposals the best chance of being funded, students should work with a faculty member to fill out the application form to ensure that the proposal conforms to committee requirements and contributes to the goals of differential fees.

Call for proposals timeline

  1. November: send call for proposals
  2. February (first week): due date for proposals
  3. February: committees meet to discuss proposals
  4. Early March: committees meet to rank proposals
  5. Late March: committee chairs meet with Dean of Engineering for decisions
  6. April: decisions out to students/faculty/staff

For more information, please contact Julie McMillin at juliemcmillin@unr.edu .