Tuition increase of 6 percent approved

COLUMBUS - The Ohio State University Board of Trustees approved a 6 percent tuition increase today (6/2) following recommendations made by university administrators at the board's May meeting. Resident undergraduates enrolled for three quarters at the Columbus campus will pay an additional $477, bringing tuition to $8,406.

"Increasing tuition is always done with reluctance, but the cost of an undergraduate education is rising faster than state funding, and we are committed to maintaining the quality of our instructional programs and the overall student experience," said Barbara R. Snyder, executive vice president and provost.

The cost of room and board for three quarters will remain almost the same, rising by $21 for a total of $7,215. In addition, mandatory fees for undergraduates will include a $234 recreation fee, $1,365 health insurance cost and a $27 bus pass. Other non-mandatory fees, such as West Campus parking, football tickets and basketball tickets, can add another $227, bringing the total cost for a typical resident undergraduate living in university housing on the Columbus campus to $17,495 - an increase of $748 or 4.5 percent over the 2005-06 academic year.

The board also approved instructional fee increases from different colleges ranging from 5.1 percent to 10 percent for graduate and professional students effective autumn quarter 2006.
"The university will increase need-based financial aid proportionately to offset the increased costs so that qualified lower-income students will still have access to an Ohio State education," said Snyder. "We anticipate awarding more than $350 million in financial aid during the coming academic year."

Ohio State's tuition remains lower than most of Ohio's other competitive admission public universities, ranking below Miami, Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Ohio University and slightly above Kent State.