Costs and Fees
Costs1
Costs of the Principia College program for the year 2026-2027 are as follows:
Fixed Charges (Tuition, Food, Housing, and Fees)
Fixed charges include tuition (up to 18 semester hours of credit per term), College meal plan2, and cost of residence on campus during each semester (two per year), academic advising and learning specialist services, library services, admission to all on-campus social events, admission to The Principia Concert and Lecture Series, subscriptions to annual and weekly student publications, and other services. They do not include books, personal expenses, course fees, or other miscellaneous fees (see Student Fees), or the cost of residence on campus between semesters.
The Cost of Attendance is provided on the Principia College website.
The tuition includes academic advising and learning specialist services, library services, admission to all on-campus social events, admission to The Principia Concert and Lecture Series, subscriptions to annual and weekly student publications, and other services. They do not include meals taken on campus, occasional overnight residence on campus, student activity fees, books, personal expenses, course fees, or other miscellaneous fees (see Student Fees).
- 1
Because of the possibility of substantial increases beyond our control in our operation expenses, the financial arrangements published in this catalog are subject to revision at the beginning of any semester. Notification of any necessary change in rates will be sent to you at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester.
- 2
The College meal plan, provided in partnership with Fresh Ideas Food Service, is an all‑access dining plan designed to offer simplicity, flexibility, and consistent access to meals. All residential students are automatically enrolled in the All‑Access Meal Plan each semester. This plan provides unlimited access to meals in the Howard Center dining hall throughout the day and evening during regular operating hours. Students do not need to track meal swipes or points and may dine as often as they choose during service hours.
Fees and Personal Expenses
These charges, with a few exceptions, are due in full when billed each semester and apply to resident and day students.
Student Fees (billed to all student master accounts on a term basis)
| Athletics Fee | $180 ($90 per semester) |
| Communication Fee | $110 ($55 per semester) |
| Health Care Fee | $130 ($65 per semester) |
| Student Activity Fee | $370 ($185 per semester) |
| Technology Fee | $310 ($155 per semester) |
Student Fees (optional)
| Parking fee | $100 ($50 per semester) |
Academic Fees (billed to student accounts as incurred)
| Abroad administrative fee- Interterm (during Winter or Summer break) | $150 per program |
| Abroad administrative fee- Semester (during Fall or Spring semester) | $500 per program |
| Audit a Course | $100 per course |
| Credit by examination | $100 per course |
| Independent study/Internship contract administrative fee | $50 |
| Independent study off campus tuition fee | $1,160 per SH |
| Internship for academic credit tuition fee | $1,160 per SH |
| Overload tuition fee | $1,160 per semester hour (SH) over 18 SH |
| Student software and online testing fee | $185 (first-time students only) |
Course Fees
For course fees, see the course descriptions. Fees cover overhead for courses but not all individual student expenses.
Registrar’s Fees
| Administrative change fee | $50 |
| Late graduation application fee | $150 |
| Late registration fee | $25 |
| Transcript fee | $12 |
Personal Expenses
Expenses for personal items, general school supplies, services, dues, etc., average between $50 and $100 monthly. Students are expected to use cash, check, or credit/ATM card to pay for their school supplies, fees, and other items and services available through the College Store and otherwise. Miscellaneous fees of the kind described above are due at time of purchase. These items may not be charged to the student’s account.
In addition to unlimited dining hall access, students may use a limited number of weekly meal swipes at the Piasa Pub for designated set menu items, as defined by Dining Services. The meal plan also includes $250 per semester in Prin Bucks, a flexible dining allowance that may be used at the Piasa Pub, the campus convenience store, and other designated dining locations. Prin Bucks roll over from fall to spring semester but expire at the end of the academic year. The cost of the meal plan is billed as part of room and board each semester. Additional details about dining services, locations, hours, and Pub swipe eligibility are available on the College dining website.
Textbooks are the biggest personal expense incurred by students and generally average $500 each semester—depending on the courses being taken. Information on course textbooks is available online in the Syllabus Library at https://principiacollege.simplesyllabus.com/ for each course. Students are responsible for purchasing their own textbooks from any source of their choosing. They should make sure they are ordering the correct title, author, and edition. Books should be in the student’s possession by the first day of classes.
Student Health Insurance Requirement
Principia policy requires that all students attending the College annually provide documentation demonstrating coverage under a health insurance policy that is acceptable to Principia.
Domestic Students
Principia currently requires that College students who are US citizens or permanent residents provide documentation that they are covered by an ACA-compliant health insurance plan valid in Illinois. If unable to demonstrate that they are covered by an ACA-compliant insurance plan approved by Principia, Principia College will automatically enroll the student in mid-August in a health insurance plan that Principia College has identified, and include the cost of the plan on the first bill of the semester.
International Students
If unable to demonstrate that they are covered by an insurance plan approved by Principia, Principia College international students will be enrolled in mid-August in a health insurance plan that is valid in the US and meets a minimum set of coverage requirements established by Principia. If an international student can demonstrate that they carry insurance already that meets minimum criteria set by the College, they can request a waiver of the insurance Principia College has identified.
Insurance Waiver
If a student is already covered by an insurance plan and would like to determine if it meets Principia requirements, please reach out to the Office of Student Life for information on deadlines or a list of waiver criteria. In evaluating requests for waivers, Principia relies upon an outside vendor/professional; individuals seeking a waiver may speak directly with the Principia identified vendor/professional regarding the waiver request. Compliance must be demonstrated every year.
