First Year Experience Fee
First Year Experience Fee
Fall 2025/Spring 2026
History
In 2021, the New Student Programs fee was replaced by and expanded into the First Year Experience fee. The FYE fee is Category IV and was approved by the Campus Fee Advisory Committee (CFAC) in the spring 2021 semester, with a Higher Educational Price Index (HEPI) fee.
First Year Experience vs. First-year Student
SDSU’s First Year Experience includes all SDSU-approved student activities that occur during a student’s first year at SDSU, regardless of if they are a first-year, transfer or graduate student. A first-year student is someone who enrolls at SDSU directly after graduating high school or has not previously attended a higher education institution.
Fees
First Year Experience (FYE) Fee: A one-time fee of $337 (includes $331 FYE fee, $6 transaction fee) for newly admitted first-year, transfer and graduate students. Includes: All first year experience activities, pre-orientation, new student orientation and post-orientation.
- Students will have two options for paying the FYE fee based on data provided by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
- Students receiving financial aid will have the option to pay with their Financial Aid disbursement. The FYE fee will be deducted from their Financial Aid before aid is disbursed to the student.
- Students may also log in and submit payment via their Financial Account Tile on my.SDSU once the bill has been added to their account.
- Late Fee: A fee of $15 per person for making reservations after the Late Fee Deadline for New Student Orientation.
- Change of Program fee: A fee of $25 for making changes to a reservation for New Student Orientation.
Acceptable forms of payment: Credit card only.
Fee Deadlines
The fee will be billed on or after August 5, 2025 to their online student account and will be due by September 20, 2025.
First-year students
- NSO Reservation System Opens: May 8 at 10 a.m. PT.
- Late fee: Begins June 4, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
- Deadline: June 18, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Transfer students
- NSO Reservation System Opens: May 13 at 10 a.m. PT.
- Late Fee: Begins June 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
- Deadline: June 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Graduate
- NSO Reservation System Opens: May 15 at 10 a.m. PT.
- Late Fee: Begins June 18, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
- Deadline: July 16, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT
First Year Experience Activities
Pre-Orientation Guide
- A set of pre-orientation modules specifically made for new students, which provide an overview of SDSU’s resources and services through text, photos and videos. The pre-orientation modules are intentionally created to assist in the student’s transition to college/graduate school/certificate program, learn about resources and services and provide a foundation for their success at SDSU. In addition, mandatory training for all SDSU students is incorporated into the modules. Registration holds may be placed if these trainings are not completed.
For First-year Students Only: One on one with a Coordinated Care Advisor to discuss pre-registration. This is not an advising appointment.
- A Coordinated Care Advisor will reach out to first-year students via email to make an appointment for an introductory meeting. CCAs are assigned to all new first-year students to serve as their designated personal advisor. CCAs will support students in navigating the university resources, procedures, and academic advising tools and will proactively reach out to you to schedule academic advising meetings throughout the year.
During orientation, students will participate in a variety of sessions to further support their transition to SDSU and the course registration process including:
- At check-in, students will receive a packet of informational materials, a backpack, and, if they have completed the necessary steps, they can pick up their SDSUCard.
- At Success at SDSU students will learn how to make a successful transition to SDSU, and other valuable information, such as wellness, student involvement, and campus safety.
- At Being a Responsible and Equity Minded Student, students will learn about topics mandated by the CSU, such as sexual violence and Title IX, cyberbullying, hazing and opioids.
- Lunch, including food, drink and utensils.
- Students will be able to speak with various campus partners and service providers at the Information Fair.
- Small group sessions led and facilitated by an SDSU Ambassador. These sessions will be an opportunity to meet other students in the major and/or college and begin a dialogue about diversity, equity and inclusion as well as continuing to build a sense of community and an opportunity to meet their future SDSU friends.
- An assistant dean/college session where they will share resources and services available to support student success at SDSU. At this session, they will also meet their major advisors (if available).
- Coordinated Care Advisors, Staff/Faculty Advisors and SDSU Ambassadors to assist students in their course registration.
- Optional Campus Tours will be offered at the end of the day.
Once students have attended orientation and registered for classes, students will continue to have opportunities during their first year to get connected and make SDSU their new home. Below is a list of activities, events and initiatives that will support their success at SDSU!
- Post-Orientation Modules via Canvas
- Active Aggressor Training
- Advising Tools and Registration
- Aztec Culture Education
- Canvas 101
- Inclusive Education
- Mental Health and Wellness
- Opioid Training and Awareness
- Sexual Violence, Title IX and Student Code of Conduct
- Time, Place, Manner
- For First-year Students Only: Coordinated Care Advising
- New Student and Family Convocation
- Welcome Week
- Student Involvement Expos
- Ask Me Tents!
- Aztec Nights
- SDSUGo! Outings
- Certified Mentors and Mentor Programming
Acknowledgement of Payment Terms and Conditions
By completing this SDSU New Student Orientation (NSO) reservation, I understand that the student will be billed the First Year Experience (FYE) Fee ($337) by August 5, 2025 in their my.SDSU account and that it is due by September 20, 2025. I understand that a portion of this fee helps cover the student’s attendance, participation and materials given at NSO. I understand that a Late Fee of $15 per person will be added to the student’s account if I make a reservation past the late fee date. I understand that a Change of Program fee of $25 will be added to the student’s account if I make changes to the reservation. In addition, I acknowledge that if a guest is added to the reservation, the student is responsible for payment of the Parent & Family Programs fee ($55/$25) upon completion of the reservation. If I am eligible for Financial Aid, I understand that if I do not have enough aid to pay the FYE fee, I will be responsible for any balance due.
I agree to the refund/cancellation policies of San Diego State University for both the First Year Experience and the Parent & Family Programs fees. If I, or my guest(s), decide not to attend New Student Orientation and/or Parent and Family Orientation for any reason (including my admission to the university being rescinded or choosing to attend a different university) I understand that 1) my @sdsu.edu student email will be checked regularly, 2) the First Year Experience fee and/or Parent & Family Programs fee will not be canceled nor refunded to me and 2) if my payment is returned by my bank or reversed for any reason, I will be billed for the First Year Experience fee, Parent & Family Programs fee and any other applicable charges related to the payment reversal.
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San Diego, CA 92182-8255
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