Students at Tunxis Community College, as well as those at the rest of the state's community and state colleges will face higher fees in the fall, according to a press release from the Board of Regents.
The Board of Regents for Higher Education, which governs four state universities, 12 community colleges and Charter Oak State College, approved an increase in tuition and fees for the system’s nearly 100,000 students Thursday. The increase was previously approved by the Board of Finance.
The tuition and fee increases for 2014 at the community colleges and state universities include:
In-State Commuter
In-State Residential
Out-of-State Residential
Connecticut State Universities (Undergraduate)
5.1% or $434
(total of $8,990/AY)
4.1% or $778
(total of $19,897/AY)
4.1% or $1,251
(total of $31,402/AY)
Connecticut Community Colleges
5.25% or $188 (full-time)
including fees
(total of $3,786/AY)
N/A
N/A
5.25% or $8 per Extension credit plus fees (part-time)
In-state tuition at Charter Oak State College for 2014 increased by $13/credit, to $258/credit. The in-state College Fee increased $9/semester to $180/semester.
“I hope students, their parents and the public understand that this is a difficult decision, and we don’t make it lightly,” said Lewis J. Robinson, Chairman of the Board of Regents in the release. “My colleagues on the Board and I certainly understand why students don’t want to pay higher tuition and fees, but we are entrusted with an important fiduciary duty to assure the stability of our system, as well as to support student success.
Robinson noted the student protests that were held in opposition to the tuition increase.
"In the meantime, I would like to commend the students who spoke against this proposal over the past few weeks. They were respectful, well-spoken, and represented our colleges and universities admirably,” he said.
“We are mindful that any increase in tuition and fees – regardless of the amount – is difficult for our students to absorb in these fiscal times,” said Finance Committee Chairman Gary Holloway.
Holloway said he feared the system would have to adopt a double-digit increase in tuition but that the board was able to avoid it.
As the tuition increases, so too does the financial aid.
According to the release, a policy set by the former Board of Governors for Higher Education decrees institutions must set aside 15 percent of tuition dollars for institutional financial aid.
Information taken from a Board of Regents release.
