diff --git a/src/main/java/edu/ucdavis/dss/ipa/services/jpa/JpaSectionGroupCostService.java b/src/main/java/edu/ucdavis/dss/ipa/services/jpa/JpaSectionGroupCostService.java
index 06720cf59..f8e02b67e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/edu/ucdavis/dss/ipa/services/jpa/JpaSectionGroupCostService.java
+++ b/src/main/java/edu/ucdavis/dss/ipa/services/jpa/JpaSectionGroupCostService.java
@@ -140,7 +140,11 @@ public SectionGroupCost update(SectionGroupCost sectionGroupCostDTO) {
 
         originalSectionGroupCost.setInstructor(instructorRepository.findById(sectionGroupCostDTO.getInstructorIdentification()));
         originalSectionGroupCost.setOriginalInstructor(instructorRepository.findById(sectionGroupCostDTO.getOriginalInstructorIdentification()));
-        originalSectionGroupCost.setInstructorType(instructorTypeRepository.findById(sectionGroupCostDTO.getInstructorType().getId()));
+
+        if (sectionGroupCostDTO.getInstructorType() != null) {
+            originalSectionGroupCost.setInstructorType(instructorTypeRepository.findById(sectionGroupCostDTO.getInstructorType().getId()));
+        }
+
         return this.sectionGroupCostRepository.save(originalSectionGroupCost);
     }