First Year Programs

New Student Enrollment & Orientation Fee

The New Student Enrollment and Orientation Fee (NSEOF) is a mandatory, one-time fee that all entering undergraduate students at the Seattle campus of the University of Washington pay to confirm enrollment.

The NSEOF supports many academic and transition programs designed specifically to set students up for success. These programs include Advising & Orientation (A&O), Dawg Daze Welcome Week, Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment (ASP/CLUE), the Commuter & Transfer Commons, UAA & OMA&D Advising, and First-year Interest Groups (FIGs).  

The NSEOF is neither refundable nor transferable to another quarter or another student. View the current fee on the New Huskies Website. 

Since the early 1970s, the University of Washington has offered orientation for new students. The program was optional and fee-based and always included academic advising and registration for classes. In 2002, the Special Assistant to the Dean, a staff member in the Office of Undergraduate Education, proposed a drastic change to the way new students were welcomed to campus. The staff recognized that all students needed an opportunity to get acclimated, be introduced to resources available and learn how to be successful at the UW.

A proposal to implement an enrollment fee for all new students, both freshman and transfer, was created to fund this new initiative. It came from the idea that orientation should emphasize academic values, stress the importance of intellectual discovery, value diverse learning opportunities and actively pursue academic excellence.

From this idea, Advising & Orientation (A&O) was created. With the implementation of the NSEOF, the former office of New Student Programs was transformed into First Year Programs (FYP) with the purpose of implementing and facilitating programs and services for new students. Campus partnerships were utilized and strengthened to ensure students would have the opportunity to meet their fellow new Huskies, discover the resources campus has to offer and register for classes for the upcoming quarter. With this new orientation process, made possible by the collection of the NSEOF, the class registration playing field was actually leveled, as students were able to sign up for orientation on a first-come first-serve basis and register for classes while on campus for their orientation. In addition, because the NSEOF was required for all students, financial aid could build it into a student’s aid package.

The NSEOF funds the office of First Year Programs, which is responsible for A&O, Dawg Daze, Commuter and Transfer Commons, and First-year Interest Groups. The NSEOF also funds the wages of the student employees within FYP, including the positions of the Commuter and Transfer Associates, Student Coordinators, Orientation Leaders, and the First-year Interest Group leaders, who work within the office and dedicate their time and energy to the FYP mission. A portion of the NSEOF also funds Academic Support Programs (ASP). ASP is responsible for facilitating academic achievement courses, tutor/mentorship and the Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE). 

The NSEOF can only be increased through approval by the regents and has only seen minimal increases in the last thirteen years. FYP does not receive state funding from the University but does operate other programs and services for students and families, including a comprehensive Parent Orientation program, that has optional fees.

2002 Draft Recommendation 

2003 Final Approval 

2016 Removal of Institutional Overhead 

2024 Creation of the Enrollment Confirmation Deposit 

The NSEOF increases are managed by the First Year Experience Student Advisory Council and then approved by the Board of Regents. The recent fund increases have supported the following initiatives: 

  • New Huskies Communications
  • UAA and OMA&D Peer Advising
  • Online tutoring support  
  • Student Wages and Salaries
  • OMAD Instructional Center

Allocation of the NSEOF by the Department 

  • First Year Programs (FYP) (61%)
    • includes credit card fee and additional student wage increases 
  • Academic Support Programs (20%)
  • Undergraduate Academic Affairs Administration (6%) 
  • UAA Academic Advising (5%)
  • Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (5%)
  • New Huskies Communication (3%)​

Allocation of NSEOF byType 

  • Programming Cost (17%)
  • Prof. and Classified Staff (53%)
  • Student Wages (30%)

Past Regents Documents 

(updated 1.19.2023)

Whole or partial funding of the following programs for all new students is provided by the NSEOF including:

Programs for All First Year Students:

  • Advising & Orientation, First-year Interest Groups (FIGs), Dawg Daze, University & Collegium Seminars, Commuter and Transfer Commons, CIRCLE (the Center for International Relations & Cultural Leadership Exchange) Regional Connection groups, HUB Transfer Engagement, OMA&D Welcome Daze, Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UAA) Administration 

Programs for Academic Success

  • Academic Support Programs, Center for Learning & Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE), Writing Center  (includes online writing support) , Success Coaching, Tutoring/Mentorship Program, Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D), Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UAA) Advising

Fund Balance Spending Priorities 

In the event there is a fund balance from the NSEOF, the allocations of funds will prioritize the following areas: 

  • Build reserve to 20% of prior year expenditures, including "transfers-out"
  • Pay for faculty, staff, and student wage increases if not fully funded by the fye council 
  • Fully fund New Husky Communications budget. 
  • Support programs currently funded by the NSEOF (Academic Support Programs, First Year Programs, UAA Advising, OMA&D, UAA Administration, and New Husky Communications) 
  •  One-time "bridge" funding for programs in a pilot phase or waiting for permanent financing to be established 

Individual Unit Fund Balances  

Departments and units that receive funding from the NSEOF may maintain until-level fund balances at their discretion to use for various expenditures to support first-year student success. Expenditures can include but are not limited to operational, professional development, or technology.

Can I defer the New Student Enrollment & Orientation Fee (NSEOF)?

If you are unable to pay the NSEOF, you may request to defer the cost if you’ve submitted a FAFSA or WASFA and you are eligible for the Pell Grant program or you have an extenuating circumstance that prevents you from paying at this time. Requests are evaluated individually. Please note, GET funds may not be used to pay the NSEOF so we encourage you to plan accordingly. Veterans wishing to defer the NSEOF should contact the Veterans Educational Benefits Office for more information.

  • If your NSEOF deferral is approved, the fee will be due with tuition on the third Friday of the quarter.
  • If your NSEOF deferral request is approved but you do not enroll, your payment is still an obligation and due by these dates.
  • If your NSEOF deferral request is denied, you will be notified via your UW email and instructed to pay. Your admission to the UW is not confirmed until payment is received and accepted.
  • International students are not eligible for an NSEOF deferral.

If you have additional questions about the deferral process please email UW Admissions, nseofdefer@uw.edu.

CONFIRM AND REQUEST NSEOF DEFERRAL

What if I am not coming to the UW due to Finances? (Non-Refundable Appeal Form)

The NSEOF is neither refundable nor transferable to another quarter or another student. If you are no longer attending the UW due to financial hardship and would like to appeal this policy, please complete the following form:

Non-Refundable Policy Appeal Form

Error in charging the NSEOF 

If you believe there was an error and you were charged incorrectly, please complete the form below, and our office will be in touch with you.  

Appeal Form

If you would like to propose a new fee, please explore the following options:  

  1. Review executive orders on fees (EO 44)
  2. Review the scope of current student fees and explore options to propose a new request within an existing fee
  3. Consult with your Dean or Leadership to gain support  
  4. Complete OPB Fee Request Form (2023 Example) - must be submitted through a Division, School, or College.