Excess Credit Hour Surcharge
Students who exceed the maximum number of credit hours recommended by the state for a baccalaureate degree at a state university are required, by law, to pay additional funds called the Excess Credit Hour Surcharge. Thus, it is very important that students stay on track for graduation by completing coursework that applies to their desired degree.
The Excess Credit Hour Surcharge was established in 2009 by the Florida Legislature (Section 1009.286, Florida Statutes) to encourage students to complete their baccalaureate degrees at state universities as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Santa Fe College students who transfer to one of Florida’s twelve public universities are subject to the excess credit hour surcharge after transfer. Any credit hours that students apply towards a university baccalaureate degree will be evaluated as part of the excess credit hour rule.
Almost all college credit hours will count toward the calculation of excess credit hours at public universities. This includes:
- failed courses,
- repeated courses
- course withdrawals
- courses dropped after the advertised drop/add period,
- transfer credits earned at another institution.
Please note that students who have repeated a course more than twice and have paid a repeat course surcharge as explained in Florida Statute 1009.285 will not have the third or subsequent attempt count as part of the Excess Credit Hour Surcharge at their transfer university.
The table below outlines how the Excess Credit Hour Surcharge is calculated.
If the student: | …Then excess credit hour charge applies to any credits taken above: | …And the excess surcharge is: | For Example: |
Began college as an undergraduate between fall 2009 and summer 2011 | 120% of the required credit hours | An additional 50% of the current tuition rate | For a degree program that requires 120 semester hours, the excess credit-hour surcharge would apply to any credits taken above 144 semester hours (120% of 120). The student’s total charge would be calculated by adding current tuition and fees plus an additional 50% of the current tuition. |
Began college as an undergraduate between fall 2011 and summer 2012 | 115% of the required credit hours | An additional 100% of the current tuition rate | For a degree program that requires 120 semester hours, the excess credit-hour surcharge would apply to any credits taken above 138 semester hours (115% of 120). The student’s total charge would be calculated by adding current tuition and fees plus an additional 100% of the current tuition. |
Began college as an undergraduate in fall 2012 or after | 110% of the required credit hours | An additional 100% of the current tuition rate | For a degree program that requires 120 semester hours, the excess credit-hour surcharge would apply to any credits taken above 132 semester hours (110% of 120). The student’s total charge would be calculated by adding current tuition and fees plus an additional 100% of the current tuition. |
Note, however, that the following credits will not count toward the calculation of excess credit hours:
- credits earned through an articulated accelerated program (i.e., dual enrollment, AP, IB, AICE);
- withdrawals due to medical or personal hardship;
- credit hours required for certification, recertification or certificate programs;
- credit hours taken by active-duty military personnel;
- credit hours required to achieve a dual degree or double major taken while pursuing a baccalaureate degree;
- remedial or developmental courses, including English as a second language courses;
- credit hours earned through internships; and
- credit hours earned in military science courses that are part of the ROTC program.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their academic advisor in order to ensure that they are on track for completing their degree and not incurring any excess hours.
The eSantaFe student portal provides a degree audit tool to help students plan program progression well and prevent the accumulation of excess hours. Students who may exceed the required credit hours upon transferring to a university should see their academic advisor to plan accordingly.