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Tuition increases total 90% over six years

Written by Larissa M. Robinson

Friday, 22 August 2008 01:18 PM

The university’s 4.95 percent tuition increase approved by the UT System Board of Regents last semester went into affect this fall. Students now pay $249 more in tuition and will be charged $201 more in the 2009-10 academic school year. The increase includes a $60 student approved fee excluded from the regents’ cap guideline. The university’s proposal complied with the guideline, instituting an increase not to exceed 4.95 percent or $150, whichever was greater. The cap applies to resident undergraduate rates at the system’s nine academic universities and six health institutions. Business management senior Angela Bullard said she felt the pinch this semester. Her parents could no longer help pay for school and she had to take out a loan to cover tuition costs. Bullard works as a parttime waitress to cover the cost of books, gas and to have spending money. She lives with her parents and commutes to the university from Duncanville. “That’s why I haven’t moved out. I save a lot of money on rent,” she said. “The tuition increase makes me wonder where the money is really going and why it’s going up.” Enhanced designated tuition fees for each school and college were also instituted into the proposal. Original fees were decreased, with the only fee increase coming from the College of Science from $8 to $9 per semester credit hour and the College of Liberal Arts from $7 to $8. Graduate students can also expect to see a hike in their tuition. Graduate rates will increase $296 for 12 hours during the 2008-09 academic year. In a previous interview, Communications Vice President Jerry Lewis said the university doesn’t anticipate any budget cuts, but a loss of investment funds including the recruitment of new faculty, academic programs and facilities. “This will not affect the way we do business,” he said. Biology senior Amy Witcraft didn’t notice tuition had gone up. She hopes to finish her degree this spring. “Financial aid takes care of most of my expenses,” she said. Beth Reid, Financial Aid associate director, said more students applied for financial aid this year and met priority deadlines to ensure they would receive a grant. Reid encourages students to not only apply early but also conduct research to find more scholarships. “We tried to give more generous grant packages to our neediest of students,” she said. “Students who met early deadlines did get grants.” Tuition at state institutions has increased since Gov. Rick Perry signed the tuition deregulation bill in 2003. The decision took tuition regulation powers from the state and gave it to academic institutions. The average total costs have increased 58 percent statewide, according to a report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. But parts of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 went into affect last month. The law, signed by President George W. Bush in September 2007, aims to offer families and students some relief. As of last month the fixed interest rate on new subsidized Stafford loans to undergraduate students dropped from 6.8 percent to 6 percent and will continue to decrease over the next five years until it hits 3.4 percent. Under the bill the maximum Pell Grant award will increase up to $5,400 by 2012. Reid said the university’s Pell Grants increased from $4,310 last year to $4,731 this year. She said loan limits for dependent students have increased as well. “The Pell Grant doesn’t cover everything,” she said. “With the cost of gas, living and food; everything is going up and the grant increases aren’t quite keeping up.” Correction The teaser and story, "Tuition increases total 90 percent" should have stated UT-Arlington's tuition increased more than 90 percent over the last four years. Views: 1247 | E-mail   Be first to comment this article Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com All right reserved

Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 January 2009 09:11 AM )

 

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