College Tuition Up Again
By Erica Erwin, Erie Times-News, Pa.
Apr. 8–Brace yourselves, parents and students: Tuition rates are going up again.
The price for a four-year education is on the rise at local colleges and universities, including Mercyhurst College, Gannon University and Allegheny College.
Mercyhurst’s board of trustees approved an increase in tuition, room-and-board and mandatory fees for the 2008-09 academic year of 6.03 percent for students at the Erie campus, bringing the total cost for undergraduate students to $31,482 for residents and $23,286 for commuters.
The increase is on par with the college’s 18-year average of 6 percent.
Students at Mercyhurst’s North East campus, meanwhile, will see a total increase of 5.1 percent, bringing the cost to $19,965 for residents and $12,747 for commuters.
All costs are based on 30 credits per year and can vary based on academic program.
The increase at the Erie campus will be used for continued expansion of wireless access, increased student research, study-abroad opportunities and renovation of a science lab, according to the college.
The increase at North East will help fund the construction of a new freshman residence hall this summer and renovations to the First National Bank building on Route 89 north of Interstate 90 in North East Township.
The college plans to use the bank building for space to expand growing programs, including nursing.
Jane Kelsey, vice president of finance and treasurer of the college, said Mercyhurst faces rising costs for utilities and other expenses that the college doesn’t control. But the college makes “hard choices” that sometimes affect staff and faculty to keep the overall bill down, she said.
“We take a real hard look and increase our tuition and our rates to what we need to cover the costs,” Kelsey said.
Gannon University increased its undergraduate tuition by 6.3 percent over 2007-08 rates.
Tuition for fall 2008 is set at $22,160 for resident undergraduate students in business, humanities, the sciences and education, and at $23,500 for students enrolled in the college’s engineering, computer science and health-science programs.
Housing costs increased by about 5 percent over 2007, though room rates for returning juniors, seniors and fifth-year students who lived in on-campus housing in the past three academic years are frozen. Board costs cannot be compared because the college revamped its meal-plan structure.
The overall cost, including tuition, fees and room and board, depends on the program of study and the type of housing and meal plan chosen. Housing ranges from $1,955 to $2,850 per semester in 2008-09; meal plans range from $450 to $2,020 per semester.
The increases will help fund new faculty and administrative positions, enhanced support of Nash Library and for alternative break trips, and for housing renovations, among other projects, according to a letter the university sent to students.
The total cost for tuition, room and board and student fees at Allegheny College, meanwhile, will be $40,000, a 6.67 percent increase over 2007-08.
Tuition rose 6.74 percent over 2007-08 to $31,680; housing costs rose by 7.69 percent.
The increase is due in part to the addition of faculty and major renovations to residence halls, including a new keycard locking system and new sprinkler systems, said Scott Friedhoff, the college’s vice president of enrollment.
“Every year we make this place a better place and every year the faculty get better, facilities improve and the overall educational experience was better than it was the year before,” Friedhoff said. “To do that requires additional funding.”
Friedhoff pointed out that two-thirds of Allegheny students receive some financial aid, and said the college is still committed to helping every student afford the bill.
“We can make it affordable to everyone, not just those who can write the $40,000 check,” he said.
The University of Pittsburgh system and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which include the University of Pittsburgh-Titusville and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania respectively, have not yet set rates.
The Pennsylvania State University system, which includes Penn State Behrend, is expected to set its rates in July.
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