NCC May Hike Tuition 3% for 2007-08: Most Northampton County School Districts First Have to OK Budget.

By Steve Esack, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.

Jan. 5–Tuition and fees at Northampton Community College could rise more than 3 percent later this year under a proposed $54.6 million budget unveiled Thursday.

Students would pay an additional $2 to $6 per credit depending on where they live, plus an additional $1 computer fee for everyone, if a majority of the eight Northampton County school districts approve the college’s tentative budget later this year.

Students living in Northampton County would pay the least extra, bringing the cost of a standard three-credit course to $219. Those residing in Monroe County would see the price of a 3-credit course go up $3 to $375. Tuition prices go up a little more for those living in other counties and states.

“It’s minimal,” said Robert Litsch of Lehigh Township, whose daughter Amanda is studying business management at the two-year junior college. “It’s still a bargain compared to other schools, and the quality of education is equal. I don’t see it as an actual problem.”

Students slated to begin the spring 2007 semester Jan. 16 still will pay the current rates. If the school boards approve the budget, the tuition hikes would take effect May 21, the start of the summer session.

“We were very conservative with our projections on revenue,” said college President Arthur L. Scott. “But on the expenditure side the budget does reflect the increased enrollment we’ve experienced over the years.”

The college, which this year will celebrate its 40th anniversary, has seen its enrollment climb by an average of about 7.5 percent over the last five years at its three main campuses and two other smaller locations that offer specialized programs. In 2006 alone, the college served 9,488 full-time students and 6,626 part-time students, nearly an 8 percent jump over 2005.

With the college’s growth, Scott’s administration sought 11 more employees, including three teachers and one administrator on the academic side, and other support personnel throughout the campuses.

“We had a request for 40 positions,” Scott told the board of trustees. “This budget represents 11 positions.”

Michael McGovern, vice president of academic affairs, said the school does not plan to alter its average class size of 21 to 22 students. The low numbers, he said, allows the college to offer more courses and therefore attract more students.

Unlike most community colleges that are funded in part by host counties, Northampton Community College is funded by the school districts. Each district’s share of the college’s costs is based on the number of students coming from the district. So some districts pay more than others. After the districts vote, the college board of trustees will vote.

Thus far, Nazareth and Wilson area school districts have signed off on the proposed college budget. Easton Area School District turned it down. The other districts have not voted yet.

Under the proposed budget, the combined costs for the school districts would go up a total of $146,652, or 2.9 percent, to $5.1 million. That represents about 9.2 percent of the operating budget. Most revenue comes from student tuition and fees, and from the state.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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