CSC tuition increase smallest of recent years

The Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State College System on Thursday increased tuition $2.75 to $97.75 per credit hour for undergraduate students from Nebraska. For a student taking 15 credit hours, the increase will mean $41.25 more per semester than 2004-2005.

Stan Carpenter, chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, noted that the percentage of increase is the system’s smallest in 25 years. The last time the rate was raised less than 4.7 percent was in 1998-99.

He gives much of the credit for the low increase to a higher state appropriation, and said the tuition increase will be used to continue providing high quality education at an affordable price at the system’s three colleges -- Chadron State, Wayne State and Peru State.

“The Legislature and governor understood how important it is that we keep our tuition affordable to ensure continued access to high quality education. I thank them for our appropriation which made this small tuition increase possible,” Carpenter said. “Our students really helped us in the last three years when our rate increases were substantial. They understood that the increases were necessary so we did not have to compromise our educational and student services. Consequently, we really wanted to keep this fall’s increase low.”

Carpenter said the increase will help the colleges pay for the rising cost of essential needs, such as salaries, insurance and utilities.

“Many of the students we educate are first-generation college students from small communities, and this is why our mission of access is so important. This very modest increase will continue to assure that we fulfill our mission,” he said. “We are always concerned about the level of debt our students carry upon graduation. With less debt, they are more likely to stay in Nebraska to live and work. In fact, across our system seven out of 10 students do stay in the state to work and lead in their communities.”

Tuition for graduate students will be $123.75 per credit hour. Non-resident undergraduates will pay $195.50 per credit hour, while non-resident graduate students will pay $247.50.

The board also approved increases to the colleges’ fees. Full-time students living on campus at Chadron State will pay about $50 more per semester for fees that support facility upgrades, computer and Internet access, admission to events and activities and health services.

The board’s next meeting will be Sept. 15-16 at Chadron. More information about the Board of Trustees can be found at the NSCS Web site: www.nscs.edu.