Fines, Fees and Holds

Official document fee

This $130 one-time fee will appear on your first semester Tuition and Fees bill. The fee is mandatory for all new students and covers the cost of many documents that students previously had to pay for each time a document was requested. The cost of this fee will be considered in the cost of attendance for the first semester of your financial aid package. Learn more about Financial Aid, on the Office of Student Financial Aid website. The fee pays the costs of various official documents that you have access to use as a UW–Madison student:

• unlimited official transcripts*
• unlimited degree verifications
• unlimited enrollment verifications
• unlimited voter enrollment verification letters
• unlimited university-related and third party document certification
• unlimited university-related notary services
• original diploma
• certified electronic diploma (CeDiploma)

(*We reserve the right to refuse large-volume transcript orders if there is no valid reason for the large quantity.)

Documents not covered by this fee are official transcripts or diplomas if you have a hold on your academic record; duplicate diplomas; any degree verification or enrollment verification letters initiated by someone other than you (such as a potential employer). Expedited courier delivery of documents is not included in this fee.

If you graduated or withdrew from UW–Madison and are returning to enroll in new courses, you don’t need to pay the fee again. It’s a one-time fee and gives you access to these documents for no additional charge throughout your UW–Madison career and as an alumnus.

Late-initial-enrollment fee

A late-initial-enrollment fee of $50 is assessed to students who begin enrolling in courses after a specific date each term.

For all students (except Special and Guest), the date is generally the Friday of the first week of the regular session. For Special and Guest students, the date is generally the Friday of the second week of the Regular Session.

If you have been assessed this fee, the Bursar’s Office will include it on your tuition bill. Tuition and related academic fees are always payable to the Bursar’s Office.

Initial course enrollment after the add deadline date requires the permission of the student’s academic dean and departmental permission for each course for all students. Advisor approval, if required, should be accomplished in accordance with the procedures established in the respective college or school.

Appealing the late-initial-enrollment fee

If you were assessed this fee and you can demonstrate that you could not have begun course enrollment before the deadline date for the term, you can appeal to our office.

Please send an email to registrar@em.wisc.edu with an explanation of why the fee should be waived; please attach any relevant documents. Your academic dean or department can send supporting documentation, if relevant. Our office will guide you through next steps.

Tuition Surcharge for Excess Credits

Wisconsin resident, undergraduate students who have completed more than 165 credits will be assessed a 100% tuition surcharge on any credits over 165. Review the Tuition Surcharge for Excess Credits Policy.

If you have already been awarded a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, you are exempt from the tuition surcharge. If you are a Special student, you are also exempt from the tuition surcharge.

If the minimum credits required to complete your academic program exceeds 135 credits, the tuition surcharge will not be assessed until your cumulative credit total exceeds that minimum by more than 30 credits.