--- title: "ChatGPT Edu Service Tiers and Credit-Based Usage" canonical: "https://kb.uconn.edu/space/IKB/28881190936/ChatGPT%20Edu%20Service%20Tiers%20and%20Credit-Based%20Usage" format: markdown --- OpenAI has updated the way ChatGPT Edu usage is billed. ChatGPT Edu has historically been offered primarily as a subscription-based service. Under the updated model, the service now combines a subscription with credit-based consumption for certain advanced models and features. To help manage costs while still providing access to advanced AI capabilities, UConn Information Technology Services (ITS) offers two ChatGPT Edu service tiers: - **Base Tier** – Includes the ChatGPT Edu subscription and a monthly allowance of 260 credits. - **Power Tier** – Includes the ChatGPT Edu subscription and access to up to 40,000 credits per month. Users are charged based on their actual credit consumption, up to a maximum of approximately $1600 per month. > ℹ️ The information in this article does not pertain to the OpenAI API service, which remains unchanged. ## **Base Tier ($236/year)** The Base Tier is designed for users who primarily need the standard ChatGPT experience and want predictable costs. The Base Tier includes: - ChatGPT Edu subscription access - 260 credits per month - Access to standard ChatGPT Edu features and [included models](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/11481834-chatgpt-rate-card-business-enterpriseedu-credit-based-pricing) (some legacy ChatGPT models and Instant) - Limited image generation and deep research capabilities - Protection from unexpected usage charges When a Base Tier user exhausts their weekly credit allocation or attempts to use a feature that exceeds their available credits, access to that model or feature will be blocked until credits become available again. Credits are refreshed seven days after you begin using your weekly allowance, not at the start of each calendar week. For most users, the Base Tier provides sufficient access for drafting, summarizing, brainstorming, editing, research assistance, document analysis, file uploads, data analysis, custom GPTs, and other common productivity tasks. ## **Power Tier ($236/year plus actual usage)** The Power Tier is intended for users who require frequent access to advanced models and high-compute features. The Power Tier includes: - ChatGPT Edu subscription access - Up to 40,000 credits per month - Access to advanced models and premium features - Usage-based billing through ITS Power Tier users will be billed based on their actual credit consumption. Charges will be issued quarterly by ITS using a provided KFS number. > 📝 View OpenAI’s flexible pricing rate card for Edu licenses: > 📝 > 📝 [https://help.openai.com/en/articles/11481834-chatgpt-rate-card-business-enterpriseedu](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/11481834-chatgpt-rate-card-business-enterpriseedu) A maximum monthly usage limit of 40,000 credits will be enforced to help control costs. A credit is approximately $0.04; 40,000 credits will cost around $1600. This limit can be temporarily removed if requested. ## **Model Pricing** Due to frequent changes, ITS recommends viewing the latest cost information regarding what models consume credits on OpenAI’s website directly. [https://help.openai.com/en/articles/11481834-chatgpt-rate-card-business-enterpriseedu](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/11481834-chatgpt-rate-card-business-enterpriseedu) ## **Viewing Your Credit Usage** Users can view how many credits they’ve consumed by opening the **Settings** pane in ChatGPT web or desktop and selecting the **Usage **(web) or **Usage & billing** (desktop) tab. ## **Recommended Usage Guidance** For most routine tasks, users should continue using the standard ChatGPT experience and included models. These models are generally sufficient for: - Drafting and editing documents - Summarizing content - Asking general questions - Working with files and documents - Brainstorming ideas - Everyday productivity tasks Advanced reasoning models, Deep Research, Agent Mode, image generation, voice features, and other premium capabilities should be reserved for situations where those capabilities provide clear value, such as: - Complex analysis - Multi-step reasoning - Research-intensive projects - Specialized technical work - Tasks that require advanced agent capabilities Users should avoid repeatedly retrying the same request with advanced models unless necessary, as each use may consume additional credits. ## **Alternative Option: Microsoft Copilot** Users who prefer a more predictable licensing model may want to consider Microsoft Copilot. Copilot provides AI capabilities within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and includes access to OpenAI-powered technologies as well as selected Anthropic Claude models in supported experiences. For users who primarily work within Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and other Microsoft 365 services, Copilot may provide a more predictable experience because it is licensed through Microsoft 365 at a fixed monthly cost. ChatGPT Edu may still be the better choice for users who need: - The ChatGPT interface - Advanced research workflows - OpenAI-native features - Access to the latest OpenAI models > 📝 More information about Copilot is available at: [Copilot for Microsoft 365 | UConn Software Catalog](https://software.uconn.edu/software/copilot-for-microsoft-365/)