Although two bills to increase higher education tuition failed in the state legislature last week, two other measures will increase University tuition effective for the fall 2011 semester.
A measure from 2008 and the Louisiana Granting Resources and Autonomy for Diplomas (GRAD) Act passed in 2010 will work together to generate money for the University, which is “a little over 34 percent below the southern regional average on tuition,” special assistant to the University president Larry Howell said.
“In 2008, they passed a bill that said the institutions that were at least 20 percent below the southern regional average in tuition compared to their peers could raise their tuition five percent,” Howell explained.
The measure, which lasts four years, was first effective in 2008, making 2011 the final year for the five percent increase.
The GRAD Act gives institutions below the southern regional average the ability to raise tuition if they meet performance goals defined by the state. Howell said the act allows for a 10 percent increase, but because the University is still working with the 2008 measure, they are only allowing a five percent increase for the upcoming school year.
With this increase, full-time students will see their tuition raised by 10 percent, or $213, come August, Howell said. The new tuition amount will be $2,359, up from last year’s amount of $2,146.
Though the increase is necessary, students are expressing frustration over paying more for their education.
“Tuition is expensive enough, and I don’t think it should be raised,” graphic design junior Celeste Babin said. “The increase might even cause some students who are already struggling with tuition to apply for student loans.”
Other students are concerned about their scholarship coverage and whether the incoming money from the tuition boost will be put to good use.
“I don’t like the increase,” pre-med sophomore Gabby Marcello said. “I hope that it doesn’t cut our scholarship funds, and that the extra money this generates is distributed in a well thought out manner to benefit the students.”
Some students will not feel the financial burden the increase creates, Howell said. TOPS, the tuition aid program unique to Louisiana, will cover the increase for students eligible. The program is what actually keeps the tuition amount relatively low.
“It takes a two-third vote of the legislature to raise tuition, and they realized that if they raise tuition, they have to come up with more money for TOPS,”Howell said. “It puts more of a burden on state revenue to raise tuition.”
Enrollment is not expected to drop significantly, Howell said. Other factors, such as the economy, the gulf oil spill, and a decline in high school graduates in the area all play into enrollment numbers.
The University budget for the upcoming year will not be affected by much either, Howell explained.
“With the tuition increase, we will basically have a stand still budget. We will have to come up with some funding to cover increases such as retirement, but our total budget will be close to the same as last year.”
