CMU increases undergraduate tuition 2.47 percent, room and board rates 2 percent
Undergraduate students will see a 2.47-percent tuition increase next fall, which translates to a $9 hike, bringing rates to $374 per credit hour.
Tuition rates were set at Thursday's Board of Trustees meeting, and the board approved the increase to undergraduate tuition as well as increases for graduate students and global campus students.
On-campus graduate students will see a 1.89-percent increase, to $485 per credit hour, for master and specialist degrees. Doctoral graduate tuition will also increase by 1.82 percent , to $558 per credit hour. Both undergraduate and graduate students enlisted in the military will continue paying tuition at the same rate-$263 and $288 per credit hour, respectively.
"We contemplate these rates with a deep sense of responsibility," University President George Ross said during his opening remarks. "We're serious about tuition restraint."
In accordance with cuts being made to the state's public university system, Gov. Rick Snyder and Republican members of the legislature established bonus payments to schools that kept their tuition increases to under four percent, under Snyder's proposed budget. But, in a discussion with media members after, Ross said Snyder's proposed budget had no effect on CMU's tuition decision.
"I testified before the House subcommittee on higher education appropriations a month or so, and I was asked that question," Ross said. "I don't know where the budget will end up ... but our decision had nothing to do with tuition restraints."
Two years ago, the tuition restraint limited increases to below seven percent. CMU increased tuition by only 3.47 percent. Last year, the restraint was reduced to four percent. CMU raised tuition by only 1.96 percent-the lowest increase in the state.
Accordingly, CMU received the largest bonus payment for maintaining tuition restraint, as the bonus check totaled nearly $1.8 million in additional state aid.
It is unclear what level of tuition restraint will be introduced by the state this year or where CMU will rank in comparison to other public universities in Michigan.
"In 2011, we didn't have tuition restraint," Ross said, citing the comparatively small 2.06-percent increase in 2011. "We made a proactive decision about being fair to students and families."
This year's 2.4-percent increase equates to an extra $9 per credit hour when compared to current tuition rates.
The board also voted to increase room and board rates by two percent, consistent with last year's increase. Students living on-campus will now pay, on average, $8,544, a $168 increase.
Based on projections made by the finance and facilities committee, this number is below the estimated average of public universities in Michigan by $178. CMU ranks 10th out of 13 Michigan public institutions in room and board costs.
"The two percent increase we came up with isn't so much a reflection of apartment rates in the area, but a comparative look at other campuses in the state," Associate Vice President for Residence and Auxiliary Services John Fisher said during Thursday's meeting.
