NSCS raises tuition

The Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees on Thursday increased tuition for undergraduate resident students at Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges by $7.50. This makes cost per credit hour $110 for the 2007-08 academic year.

“Each year, after receiving our appropriation, we have to consider what is best for our students and our colleges. We work hard to balance the needs of offering the high quality education our students deserve and expect against our fixed expenses that have to be funded,” NSCS Chancellor Stan Carpenter said. “The Legislature and governor provided funding for a good portion of our fixed expenses this year, and we appreciate their recognition of the importance of what we do for the state. There were, however, additional core needs that had to be met in order to continue to serve our students in the best manner possible.”

The increase will translate to an additional per semester cost of $112.50 for undergraduate students taking a full load of 15 hours. Tuition for graduate students will be $139.50 a credit hour. Non-resident undergraduates will pay $220 per credit hour, and non-resident graduate students will pay $279.

“Many of the students we educate are first-generation college students from small communities. This is why our mission of access is so critically important. 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 about seven out of 10 students do stay in the state to work and lead in their communities,” Carpenter said.