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Ivy Tech School of Arts, Sciences & Education

Professional Communication

Great Ideas Can Only Become Real
With Words

What You'll Learn

Ready to take ideas from the brain to the boardroom? Professional communication is crucial to a successful workplace. Think about it. When people have big goals and dreams but do not know how to tell people about them, they rarely become reality. With the ability to effectively communicate, people can make their awesome ideas real. 

Professional communication also is a great skill to have to prevent problems and issues in the workplace. Did you know that employers consider communication one of the most important skills to have in the workplace? It is because communication allows employees to talk with their coworkers about plans, problems and processes. With effective communication, employees can streamline their workflows and ensure that every person on their team is on the same page. 

At Ivy Tech, the Professional Communication program gives you the tools to be hirable. From learning how to write with professionalism to having the confidence to present research to an organization, this program can teach you how to put your best foot forward every single day. This program is offered in a variety of class formats including a 100% online option.

Career Options

The Associate of Science in Professional Communication degree program is designed for students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Our students save upward of $10,000 by completing their first two years at Ivy Tech and then transferring!

Once graduates go on to complete their bachelor's degree, they can apply their newfound skills to a variety of workplaces. From working as an administrative assistant in a large organization to becoming the Director of Communications at a company, this program can be used to make you a better communicator and employee wherever you may work.

Examples of jobs you can get in the professional communications field include:

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Call Center Representative
  • Communications Specialist
  • Copywriter
  • Editor
  • Front Desk Receptionist
  • Guest Service Agent
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Writer

Degree Types Offered

Credential Type Associate Degree – Transferable Degree Short-Term Certificate – known as a Certificate (CT)
Associate of Science (AS) Professional and Community Communication
A Good Fit If...
  • You want to save on tuition while you start earning credits that will apply to your four-year degree in human communication.
  • You enjoy communications and want to build upon your skillset.
  • You are wanting to add a communication credential to your resume.
  • You are looking to increase your communication skills or shift into a career in communications.
Where Offered See 2 locations See 16 locations
Length of Program 60 credit hours
4 semesters
21 credit hours
2 semesters
Cost2 $10,703 $3,746

Credential Type

A Good Fit If...

Where Offered

Length of Program

Cost2

Associate Degree – Transferable Degree
Associate of Science (AS)
  • You want to save on tuition while you start earning credits that will apply to your four-year degree in human communication.
  • You enjoy communications and want to build upon your skillset.
See 2 locations 60 credit hours
4 semesters
$10,703
Short-Term Certificate – known as a Certificate (CT)
Professional and Community Communication
  • You are wanting to add a communication credential to your resume.
  • You are looking to increase your communication skills or shift into a career in communications.
See 16 locations 21 credit hours
2 semesters
$3,746

Associate Degree – Transferable Degree

  • Communication is the key difference maker in teams and organizations. Great communication leads to successful projects and efficiency while poor communication leads to problems and missteps in processes. With an Associate of Science in Professional Communication, you can have the skills to effectively communicate with teammates and coworkers to success in your organization.

    Apply Now   Request More Info

    Transfer Options

    Students save upward of $10,000 by completing their first two years at Ivy Tech and then transferring, and we've designed the curriculum to transfer as easily as possible to many four-year universities.

    Our Professional Communication program is even part of our Guaranteed Admissions program, which gives graduates of the program automatic acceptance to pursue a bachelor's degree at our partnering universities. All programs have varying partners, but the Professional Communications program currently has a partnership with Purdue University Global for interested students.

    Whether you'd like to transfer through the Guaranteed Admissions pathway or standard transfer methods, talk to our transfer advocates for information about continuing your education after completing your associate degree at Ivy Tech.

    Time to Complete

    An Associate of Science in Professional Communication degree can be achieved in 4 semesters, or about two years.

    Required Courses

    Graduates must complete a total of 60 credit hours:

    • 30 general education course credits
    • 12 program-specific course credits
    • 16 transfer institution elective credits
    • 1 institutional requirement course credit
    • 1 student success credit (college requirement)

    View Course Descriptions

    SEARCH UPCOMING COURSES

    Student Outcomes

    Student Outcomes (SOs) are the competencies that Ivy Tech students should be well versed in upon graduating from the program.

    See SOs

    Close

Short-Term Certificate known as a Certificate (CT)

  • The Certificate (CT) in Professional and Community Communication is a great way to add a communication credential to your resume. Whether you are looking to improve your communication skills or wanting to shift into a career in communications, this short-term certificate can help you reach your career goals by making you an effective communicator.

    Apply Now   Request More Info

    Time to Complete

    A Certificate in Professional and Community Communication can be achieved in 2 semesters, or about one year.

    Required Courses

    Graduates must complete a total of 21 credit hours.

    View Course Descriptions

    SEARCH UPCOMING COURSES

    Student Outcomes

    Student Outcomes (SOs) are the competencies that Ivy Tech students should be well versed in upon graduating from the program.

    See SOs

    Close

Program Details

Professional Communication is offered at 16 Ivy Tech locations in Indiana. Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options:

Campus Professional and Community Communication CT Associate of Science (AS)
Bloomington X
Columbus X
Evansville X
Fort Wayne X
Greencastle X
Indianapolis X
Kokomo X X
Lafayette X
Lake County at Crown Point X
Lawrenceburg X
Madison X X
Marion X
Muncie X
South Bend X
Terre Haute X
Valparaiso X

CT — Certificate (short-term); TC — Technical Certificate (long-term); WFC — Workforce Certification.

Is Professional Communication Right for Me?

  • Are you the talkative one in your friend group?
  • Do you enjoy writing or giving presentations?
  • Is not having everyone on the same page a pet peeve of yours?
  • Do words come to you easily?
  • Do you want to gain a skill that nearly all employers are looking for right now?

Does This Sound Like You?

If you thought "yes" to any of the questions above, a career in professional communication may be just what you are looking for! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more. 

APPLY NOW   REQUEST More INFO

Prerequisite Courses for Professional Communication

Students coming to Ivy Tech with their high school diploma or equivalent can start straight into the degree program without completing any prerequisite courses as long as they are considered college ready by the knowledge assessment.

No Expiration of Credits

There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.

Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.

TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.

It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.

Professional Communication Courses

Descriptions of communications courses can be found in our course catalog. View required classes and course descriptions for:

Upcoming Classes

See when specific classes will be offered by searching our class list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the class in the search bar. 

Search for Upcoming Classes

If you’re a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.

Class Formats

Students in the Professional Communication program have the flexibility to take classes in a variety of formats including online, hybrid and on-campus.

Big Dreams? Go for Honors

If you're motivated and want a more robust, personalized academic experience, consider enhancing your associate degree in Professional Communication by pursuing an Honors pathway. Honors courses are fully virtual with opportunities to meet and network with honors students and faculty across the state. The coursework is designed to support a student’s spirit of inquiry and intellectual growth, as well as foster multicultural awareness and leadership. View eligibility requirements

Graduating with a Professional Communication degree with an Honors pathway can help you stand out as a high-achieving college student, boost your resume, and help you land an acceptance letter to a top four-year college or university.

LEARN ABOUT HONORS

Applying to Ivy Tech is Free & Easy

The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.

No Application Deadlines

Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates

Steps to Apply

(1) Apply to Ivy Tech

If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out to your local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.

Apply Now

(2) Submit Assessment Documents

After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents

If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.

(3) Look for a Confirmation Email

Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.

The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.

(4) Create an Account in MyIvy

MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy

For first-time user instructions and other MyIvy tips: View/Print MyIvy Help Sheet

(5) Course Placement

Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart

If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our free Knowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses. 

(6) Register for Classes

Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed within MyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet with your advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.

For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.

(7) Pay Your Tuition

After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in your MyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.

Local Program Contacts & Info

For more information, contact:

Roshun Radford
Department Chair for Communications and World Languages
(317) 916-6311
rradford4@ivytech.edu

Scott H. O’Daniel
Associate Professor of Communication
Program Chair of Communication
Program Coordinator of ASAP
sodaniel@ivytech.edu
812-429-1462

Rula Mourad
Professor
Academic Skills Advancement Department Chair 
rmourad@ivytech.edu
260-481-2200

Bryan Thompson, Program Chair
bthompson258@ivytech.edu
765-269-5635

For more information, contact:

Olivia Dietz
Associate Professor & Program Chair
(812) 537-4010 x5337
omedovich@ivytech.edu

Featured Faculty & Staff

Questions About the Program?

Future Students

If you’re not yet an Ivy Tech student, contact us at 1-888-489-5463 and we’ll be happy to help.

Current Students

Contact your academic advisor, who can answer any questions you have about the Professional Communication program and your certificate and degree options.

Find Local Advising Contact Info

Don't see a nearby Advising location? Call 1-888-489-5463 and we'll get you started.

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET

765-643-7133
askanderson@ivytech.edu

Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

812-934-3954
R11express@ivytech.edu

Batesville Advising
1 Ivy Tech Drive
Batesville, IN 47006

Fax: 812-934-4590

Advisors & Enrollment Specialists Available by Appointment
Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
   
Current Students: bl-advisingcenter@ivytech.edu
New Students: bloomington-eec@ivytech.edu
812-330-6013
   
Virtual On-Demand Service
Drop-in for Schedule Builder Assistance
Monday–Friday | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET
Enter Zoom Room

Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

Janet Sharp
812-900-4772
jsharp19@ivytech.edu

Columbus Advising
4475 Central Avenue
Columbus, IN 47203

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET

765-825-9394, ext. 6121
cbottomley2@ivytech.edu

Connersville Advising
717 W 21st Street
Connersville, IN 47331

Fax: 765-825-4516

Phone and Zoom meetings available by request. Call 765-825-9394, ext. 6121.

Call for availability

765-269-5682
aclark505@ivytech.edu

Crawfordsville Advising
2255 Phil Ward Boulevard
Crawfordsville, IN 47933

Monday & Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT
Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT
Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT

219-392-3600
LakeCounty-advising@ivytech.edu

Lake County at Crown Point
9900 Connecticut Drive
Crown Point, IN 46307

Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT

219-392-3600
LakeCounty-advising@ivytech.edu

2024-2025 Office Hours

Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Open Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. during the following dates:
August 10
August 17
December 7
March 15

574-830-0375
asksouthbendelkhart@ivytech.edu

Elkhart Advising
22531 County Road 18
Goshen, IN 46528

Enrollment Services/Student Affairs Hours: Effective January 2024:
Mondays and Tuesdays: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursdays: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fridays: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
First week of classes in January and August: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

812-492-0531
evansville-advisingcenter@ivytech.edu

Evansville Academic Advising Center
3501 N First Avenue
Evansville, IN 47710

Sign Up for a Call Back
Fax: 812-429-9878

Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

260-480-4125

Fort Wayne Advising
3701 Dean Drive, Harshman Hall, Room 1015
Fort Wayne, IN 46835

Academic Advisors by Program

Fax: 260-480-4252

Monday–Thursday, 7:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET

765-269-5820
hwunder@ivytech.edu

Frankfort Advising
251 E Clinton Street
Frankfort, IN 46041

Mon-Thurs 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET
Fri 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ET

franklin-advising@ivytech.edu

Franklin Advising
2205 McClain Drive
Franklin, IN 46131

Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT

219-392-3600
LakeCounty-advising@ivytech.edu

Lake County Advising at Gary
3491 Broadway
Gary, IN 46409

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET

765-653-7410
ahooping@ivytech.edu

Greencastle Advising
915 S Zinc Mill Road
Greencastle, IN 46135

Virtual On-Demand Service:
Video | Voice | Chat
Monday–Friday | 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET
Enter Zoom Room →

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Columbus.

Advising by Appointment
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

317-921-4300
askhamiltoncounty@ivytech.edu

Hamilton County Advising Center
300 N. 17th Street
Noblesville, IN 46060

Sign Up to Get a Call Back →

Zoom Video Call
Email askhamiltoncounty@ivytech.edu to schedule.

Advising Team
Ginny Leonard, Director of Academic Advising 
Advisor for: Exploratory/Undecided students
vleonard5@ivytech.edu 

 

 

Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET

(317) 917-5715
Indy-Advising@ivytech.edu

Indianapolis Advising
50 W. Fall Creek Parkway N.
Indianapolis, IN 46208

Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Or by appointment

765-459-0561
Kokomo-Advising@ivytech.edu

Kokomo Advising
1815 E Morgan Street
Kokomo, IN 46901

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Valparaiso.

Monday, Wednesday & Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET

765-269-5630
lf-advisingcenter@ivytech.edu

Lafayette Advising
3101 S Creasy Lane
Lafayette, IN 47905

Lake County has 3 full-service locations. Select a location below to see contact information for their Advising department.

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Indianapolis.

Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

812-537-4010 ext. 5305
R11express@ivytech.edu

Lawrenceburg Advising
50 Walnut Street
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

Fax: 812-537-0993

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Or by appointment

765-459-0561
Kokomo-Advising@ivytech.edu

Logansport Advising
1 Ivy Tech Way
Logansport, IN 46947

Monday & Wednesday , 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Tuesday & Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

812-256-2580, ext. 4502

Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250

Fax
812-265-4028

Zoom Video Calls
Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment. 

Advising Team
Tricia Miracle
812-265-2580 ext. 4137
tmiracle2@ivytech.edu
Text during business hours 812-510-3844
Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm
Zoom Link

Lisa Kelley
812-265-2580 ext. 4163
lkelley3@ivytech.edu
Text during business hours 502-414-1597
Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12pm
Zoom Link

Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

765-651-3100, ext. 3304
marion-advising@ivytech.edu

Marion Advising
261 Commerce Drive
Marion, IN 46953

Zoom Video Call
Call 765-651-3100, ext. 3304 to schedule an appointment.

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Valparaiso.

Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Tuesday - Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday (virtually), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

765-289-2291, ext. 1215
askmuncie@ivytech.edu

Muncie Advising
125 S High Street, Ball Building, 2nd Floor
Muncie, IN 47305

All appointments can be setup virtually. Email askMuncie@ivytech.edu to schedule.

Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET
Friday (virtually), 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET

765-599-2613, ext 4032
kterrell36@ivytech.edu

New Castle Advising
3325 IN-3
New Castle, IN 47362

Zoom Video Call
Email kterrell36@ivytech.ed to schedule.

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Columbus.

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Sellersburg.

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Kokomo.

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET

765-966-2656, ext. 1202
lpowell91@ivytech.edu

Richmond Local Enrollment
2357 Chester Boulevard
Richmond, IN 47374

Zoom Video Call
Call 765-966-2656, ext. 1202 to schedule an appointment.

Fax: 765-962-3775

Monday & Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
Tuesday & Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET

765-932-7191
mroller1@ivytech.edu

Rushville Advising
330 N Main Street
Rushville, IN 46173

Virtual meetings or appointments by request. Call 765-932-7191.

Fax: 765-932-5263

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Sellersburg.

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (5-6 pm by appointment only)
Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

812-246-3301, ext. 4309
sl-advising@ivytech.edu

Sellersburg Academic Advising Center
8204 Hwy 311, Pfau Hall, G6
Sellersburg, IN 47172

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Columbus.

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Columbus.

Current Office Hours
Monday, Wednesday, & Thursdays @ 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Starting Oct. 28th
Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All other days by appointment from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
**Special Saturday December 7 @ 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

574-289-7001
asksouthbendelkhart@ivytech.edu

South Bend Advising Department
220 Dean Johnson Blvd.
South Bend, IN 46601

Please contact Advising at our full-service campus located in Evansville.

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. ET

812-298-2554
aharnack@ivytech.edu

Academic Advising Center
8000 S Education Drive
Terre Haute, IN 47802

Virtual On-Demand Service:
Video | Voice | Chat
Monday–Friday | 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET
Enter Zoom Room →

By Appointment Only
Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT

Drop-in Advising Day (No Appointment Required) Tuesdays 8am-5pm CT

219-464-8514 ext. 4720
askvalparaiso@ivytech.edu

Valparaiso Academic Advising
3100 Ivy Tech Drive
Valparaiso, IN 46383

Call for an appointment

574-267-5428

Warsaw Advising
2545 Silveus Crossing
Warsaw, IN 46582

24 hours a day, 7 days a week (se habla español)

Live Chat

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  • 1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
  • 2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.