Trustees approve lowest tuition increase in 4 years

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees today (6/7) approved a tuition increase of 6 percent, the lowest increase in four years and less than half of last year's increase. Resident undergraduates enrolled in three quarters will pay an additional $450, bringing tuition and fees to a total of $8,082 for the 2005-06 academic year.

"We continue to make every effort to keep costs down while maintaining the excellence of our academic programs and the overall student experience," said Barbara R. Snyder, executive vice president and provost. "But state funding remains flat, and increasing costs continue to place pressure on our available resources."

Proportional increases in the amount of need-based financial aid available will ensure that lower-income students will still have access to an Ohio State education, Snyder said. The university is setting aside an estimated $43 million in financial aid for the 2005-06 academic year for in-state undergraduate students on the Columbus campus. The university also has created the Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship, a value of up to $17,000, which will go to more than 100 Ohio students to ensure Ohio State remains affordable for outstanding applicants.

The base increase of 6 percent will apply to resident and non-resident undergraduate and graduate instructional and general fees, with a 6 percent surcharge for out-of-state students. Differential increases ranging from 6 percent to 15 percent were approved for various graduate and professional students.

"Despite the uncertain financial environment and intense competition, Ohio State remains a tremendous value for our students and for the people of Ohio," said William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance. "Tuition and fees here will still be lower than tuition and fees at most of Ohio's other competitive admission universities."

Among Ohio's public universities, Miami, Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Ohio University all will have higher tuition than Ohio State. Yet, U.S. News and World Report ranks Ohio State higher academically, said Shkurti.

A 6.5 percent increase in the cost of room and board – from $6,786 to $7,203 – will bring the total cost for a typical resident undergraduate attending Ohio State's Columbus Campus and living in university housing from $15,711 to $16,736.

Students also will pay several mandatory fees approved by the board for the coming academic year, including a recreation fee of $126, a health insurance premium of $1,260 and a bus pass fee of $27. Other non-mandatory fees will include a West Campus parking permit, which will increase by $4 to $68.80, and the student football package of four tickets, increasing by $4 to $112. The $10 charge for basketball tickets remains the same.

The board also approved increases in program and technology fees for students in certain engineering programs, music and business and for clinical fees in nursing.

"The university continues to make great strides through its commitment to the Academic Plan," said Snyder. "These necessary increases will enable our students to benefit from greater access to regular faculty, improved instructional technology and learning opportunities outside the classroom – everything a great university can, and should, offer."