By Deborah Skousen
Going to college isn”t cheap, and it”s not getting any cheaper with proposed tuition hikes at each of Utah”s public universities.
While most schools are looking at a minimum increase of 7 percent for the 2006-07 school year, rates will climb even higher if legislative funding falls through.
“We have been trying to hold tuition down as much as we can, but the [Utah] Legislature has changed a bit and there isn”t enough money for state institutions,” said Paul Brinkman, senior vice-president for academic affairs at the University of Utah.
Students at public universities will be affected by statewide tuition increases in addition to their individual schools” tuition hikes. Although the Utah Board of Regents will not set specific rates until March, school officials said they expect the board will set a 3 percent to 5 percent increase to pay for faculty salaries.
Increases set by individual colleges will go toward school-specific projects. Students at the U will likely face a 4 percent to 7 percent increase in addition to the higher rates imposed by the state.
“This puts a lot of pressure on us. It is unfortunate, but that is the way it is,” Brinkman said. “It could be pretty rough for students.”
Dixie State College will be hit the hardest, with a proposed 31 percent tuition hike. Part of the jump is because underclassman will now pay the same tuition as upperclassman.
To help students understand where their money is going, universities will hold public hearings to discuss mandatory fees. Students at both the University of Utah and Utah Valley State College will be invited to public hearings in March.
UVSC plans to increase tuition an additional 4 percent to 9 percent above the proposed state increase. Funds will be allocated toward a series of projects, which include classroom enhancements and information technology, said UVSC spokesman Derek Hall. Currently, every out-of-state student at UVSC pays $4,736 a semester.
UVSC offers several financial aid programs and opportunities for scholarships. According to Hall, the number of UVSC students receiving financial aid has doubled in the past five years.
Despite school officials” efforts to ease student concerns, many students said they dislike how finances for school projects come directly from the their own pockets.
“I feel like I pay quite a bit already,” said Mitch Ham, an out-of-state UVSC student. “I don”t feel like all this extra money is necessary.”
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