Fees and payment
The following are fees that you may be charged as part of your first year at UW–Madison and for attending the SOAR program. You will receive a detailed invoice after you make your SOAR reservation.
New student fee: $150
UWMadison is committed to creating a first-year experience that starts you on a strong path to graduation. Your new student fee covers orientation (SOAR), new student welcome events, first-year experience programs and course options, academic advising, materials, faculty/TA training, staffing, technology, and much more. Financial assistance may be available, see below.
SOAR la carte fees
The SOAR program charges a la carte fees for the following optional choices:SOAR Overnight Lodging:
- $35 per person per night
- $50 per parent or guest
Billing and Payment
Your new student fee and your la carte SOAR fees will be billed and collected approximately two weeks prior to your attendance at SOAR. You will receive an e-mail from soar@odos.wisc.edu with an invoice and payment instructions.
Refund Policy/Cancellation Policy
Because resources are committed in advance of attendance, SOAR reservations must be made at least one week prior to attending the program. The new student fee and your SOAR la carte fees are refundable up to one week prior to attending SOAR. One week prior to attending SOAR your new student fee and your SOAR reservation are invoiced. Changes may only be made by calling the Center for the First-Year Experience at 608/262-4707. No refunds will be granted for changes made within one week of your SOAR session, except in extraordinary cases. All refunds must be requested in writing to:
- Chris Verhaeghe
Center for the First-Year Experience
21 N Park Street, Suite 6301
Madison, WI 53715
- E-mail: soar@odos.wisc.edu
Financial assistance
The university has limited funds available to assist students in paying theses fees. To be considered for this assistance students must be from long-term poverty or near poverty level family backgrounds and must have submitted the FAFSA and other financial aid forms to the UWMadison Office of Student Financial Services. Students who meet those criteria may request consideration for the assistance via the SOAR online registration process.