The way that North Carolina State University assesses tuition engages in several deceptive and fraudulent practices that deserve to be exposed. These deceptions are especially true for part-time students, and students that choose to take distance education classes.

Unlike many universities that assess tuition based on the number of credit hours that a student is enrolled in, NC State charges tuition in bundled “tiers” of credit hours. Curiously, these tiers are based on two to five credit-hour increments. This means that a student taking a single three-credit-hour class will actually pay for five credit hours; a student taking two three-credit-hour classes will pay for eight credit hours; and a student taking three three-credit-hour classes will pay for 11 credit hours. Of course, the extra credit hours being unwillingly purchased cannot be banked or used at a future date, and represent moneys paid for services not rendered.

Even more breathtaking is NC State’s assessment of the higher on-campus tuition rates for many students taking distance education classes during the spring and fall semesters. A student enrolled in an on-campus degree program, but that chooses to take several distance education classes, will still pay the higher on-campus rates (and the higher fees), even though they are not by definition “on campus.” It’s a curious bait-and-switch that, not surprisingly, benefits the university financially.

These practices allow the university to collect millions of extra tuition and fee moneys for absolutely nothing in return. I discovered this the hard way when I enrolled in a single three credit hour distance-learning class to help finish my degree. Despite the fact that I no longer live in North Carolina and can’t attend an on-campus class, I am paying the full on-campus out-of-state tuition rate of $3,425.71 instead of the distance education rate of $2,273.64.

The distance education rate would be a far more sensible rate for me to pay, given that I can’t use any of the on-campus services that the higher fees pay for, and the fact that the on-campus tuition rate charges me for an extra credit hour.

I have very much enjoyed my time at NC State University and have forged lifelong friendships with many people, but I will not miss the systematic swindling that has taken thousands of hard-earned dollars out of my bank account for services not rendered by the university.

I will be reminding the Alumni Association of these swindled moneys when they start calling me for donations.

Michael Helms, fourth-year studying history