Tuition rates are rising faster than inflation across the nation, but the University is an exception. Tuition has risen more than double the rate of inflation for public, four-year universities on a national level, according to a report by the College Board. The University’s tuition has risen only $30 in the past two years. The average college costs for a public, four-year university is $6,185 for this academic year, according to the report. This is a 6.6 percent rise from this past year. The University’s tuition for the 2006-2007 academic year was $4,449. “I think it could be any number of reasons,” said James Richardson, economics professor. “Some states have reduced their funding. So the institutions must raise tuition to keep up. It may be the universities are hoping to improve their image or ranking.” Changes in tuition at public universities must account for the money received from state and federal funds. This seems contradictory to the outcome of the state’s most recent legislative session. According to the University’s Office of External Affairs, legislation gave $19.2 million for “quality enhancements” including faculty pay raises, graduate student assistants and information services but not on cutting tuition for students. The difference in tuition between the 2004-2005 and the 2005-2006 academic year saw the most drastic rise in tuition. For Louisiana residents, tuition increased 5 percent, and for out-of-state students, tuition increased 15 percent. Since that increase, the University’s tuition has hardly raised for the past two years. Between the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 academic years, $30 was added to tuition, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. “Inflation for the last 10 years has been a low rate – probably 2 to 3 percent,” Richardson said. With the tuition increase, financial aid has become more important to students. “I was actually covered [by TOPS] until this semester. So [the 2005 increase] did not affect me too much,” said Darius Tammami, kinesiology senior. The College Board reports that $130 billion is available nationally in financial aid. According to the Office of Student Aid and Scholarships, 79 percent of University students receive financial aid. University students’ total financial aid is $208 million in scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs this year. But some students’ financial aid still falls short. “I pay out-of-state tuition, and I don’t have any scholarships,” said Johnna Thibodeaux, kinesiology freshman. “It is more than three times in-state tuition for me.”
—-Contact Ellen Fargason at [email protected]