Tuition increase amount finalized

While some students will be making course selections for the upcoming fall semester in the next few weeks, one student may not.

Adrean Indolos, nursing soph¬omore, may not return to the university in the fall due to the recently announced 5 percent undergraduate tuition increase.
“Basically it’s been a struggle this past year for my parents and I to find efficient funds to pay for my education,” he said.

The cost per undergraduate credit hour will be $798 in the fall, said Denise Flis, senior director of Student Financial Services. Graduate tuition will not change at $885 per credit hour. Law stu¬dents will pay $1,035 per credit hour, which is more than a 4 percent increase.

“We adjusted tuition so we are still competitive with other schools in each market,” Flis said. “I feel 5 percent has been a really moderate increase.”
Indolos said he has a $1,000 annual transfer opportunity award and a $4,600 loan which is award¬ed each semester.

“It’s rough for us transfer stu¬dents,” he said.

Upon hearing of the possible tuition increase, Indolos con¬tacted other universities about transfer deadlines, but they had already passed.

“If I don’t have sufficient funds to pay for school, I will either attend community college for a while or take a few semesters off to save up,” he said.

The tuition increase is to help offset the university’s $5.9 million deficit, officials said.
The deficit is due to a decrease in enrollment. From February 2009 to February 2010, there was a 2.8 percent decrease in students.

The largest loss in enrollment fell in the international graduate market at about -34 percent, ac¬cording to the official enrollment report overview document.

Flis attributes the decrease in enrollment to the state of the world economy.
“Some students may not be allowed to leave their countries and visas are harder to get,” she said.

Danielle Kilhoffer, music composition sophomore, will not be affected by the increase in undergraduate tuition.

“I’m covered by the tuition freeze program,” she said.

Kilhoffer said officials are doing the best they can to cut down expenses.
“They have to do what they have to do,” she said.

For financial aid information, students can visit the financial aid office on the 3rd floor of the Clara E. Jones Administration building or call the office at 208-5211.

Financial aid matters are handled on a case-by-case basis.

“There’s no silver bullet that applies to all students,” Flis said.