Owens to raise spring tuition 3.5 percent

9/1/2009

Owens Community College plans to raise tuition and start charging for additional credit hours to help recover a nearly $2 million reduction in state funding.

The finance committee of the college's board of trustees Tuesday approved raising tuition 3.5 percent for the spring semester. That would increase tuition and fees from $123 per credit hour to $127.30.

A full time, in state student would pay $3,076 a year if the full board approves the increase next month. Students currently pay $104 less, or $2,972 a year.

"We tried to put it off for as long as we could and we think the spring is the appropriate time," said John Satkowski, Owens' executive vice president and chief financial officer.

The college also is pursuing a change to charge students for their 13th and 14th credit hours.

Now students can take up to 18 credit hours while paying the base fee for 12 credits. Universities have similar tuition policies, but most community colleges in Ohio charge per credit hour.

The change would have students paying for 14 credit hours, but still being able to take 15, 16, 17, or 18 for that price. Students would continue to start paying per credit again at 19 credits.

The tuition increase and charging for two additional credit hours would generate $1.2 million more this fiscal year, which doesn't quite make up for the nearly $2 million that Owens' fiscal year 2010 budget was reduced by the state.