Tuition, costs & fees

We know that cost plays a big role in choosing which college to attend. We think this will help you make your decision! 

Delta works hard to keep tuition as low as possible while offering first-rate instruction. As a community college, the taxpayers in Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties see higher education as an important part of a vital community. That's why they support the college and how costs can be kept modest in comparison to other colleges and universities.  

 

 
Keep in mind, the costs listed here do not include your meals, housing, transportation or other personal expenses you may have while attending college. Also, these rates are subject to change by the Delta College Board of Trustees.

Tuition and fees are based on contact hours, not credit hours.  

2025–2026 tuition & fees

Tuition

If you are a resident of the Delta College district, 60 years of age or older, you may register for courses at 50% of the current tuition rate (excludes fees). Contact the Registrar's Office at 989-686-9305 or registration@delta.edu for more information.

Fees

Estimated costs for 12 contact hours per semester 

Cost definitions

Contact hour fee

Students will be charged tuition based on the total number of contact hours for each class, which is the amount of instruction time. Because instruction times vary, classes may have different tuition costs such as those with tutorials, laboratory hours or additional in-class time. 

The tuition costs may vary from the number of credits earned in the class because credits are determined by national standards and allow for transferability to other colleges and universities.

Tuition

The money you pay the college for instruction and services. A dollar amount is assigned to each contact hour. Tuition is determined by multiplying the dollar amount by the number of contact hours for which you are registering. In-district, out-of-district and out-of-state tuition rates are different.

Tuition, technology fees and the online course fees are charged based on contact hour. All other course-specific fees are determined by the course.

Registration fee

A non-refundable, per semester fee charge upon registration. No refund, unless all courses are canceled by the college.

Technology fee

This fee is based on class contact hours and supports increased use of technology in classrooms, labs, library and Teaching/Learning Center.

Additional course-specific fees, such as online, nursing or course content fees are charged to cover additional service relative to those courses.

Estimated cost of attendance

2025-26

Below is a chart detailing the estimated Cost of Attendance for the 2025-26 academic year, based on full-time attendance for fall, winter and spring semesters, totaling 45 contact hours.

*Schools must include a housing component in the cost of attendance for dependent students who are living at home with their parent(s) and that allowance cannot be zero or the same figure as living off campus.

**For students receiving Federal Direct Loans, a loan fee will be added to their estimated cost of attendance ($72 for three semesters, $47 for two semesters and $24 for one semester).

2024-25

Below is a chart detailing the estimated Cost of Attendance for the 2024-25 academic year, based on full-time attendance for fall, winter and spring semesters, totaling 45 contact hours.

*Schools must include a housing component in the Cost of Attendance for dependent students who are living at home with their parent(s) and that allowance cannot be zero or the same figure as living off campus.

**For students receiving Federal Direct Loans, a loan fee will be added to their estimated Cost of Attendance ($69 for three semesters, $46 for two semesters and $23 for one semester).

Books & supplies

The costs for books and supplies varies depending on the class. However, we work hard to keep prices low. In fact, since launching in 2016, Delta College’s Open Educational Resources (OER), an initiative that provides free access to course materials, has saved students over $2 million in textbook fees. OER are textbooks and other course materials that are licensed Creative Commons and are freely available online to use, share and modify.

Visit the Delta Bookstore to see your required list of books and supplies.

Visit the bookstore

 

"Not only am I saving money on tuition, I’m saving money on housing. I’m saving even more money because I’m taking classes that I would take at a university for an incredibly lower price."

Sam Rechsteiner
Delta graduate