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Bills to reflect tuition increase
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“We need to end the current system of ‘tuition roulette’ and create a rational tuition policy of small, regular and predictable tuition increases.”
UB undergraduate, graduate and professional students will be receiving bills for the spring 2009 semester reflecting new tuition rates approved last month by the SUNY Board of Trustees in the wake of New York State’s budget crisis.
The new semester rates for undergraduates reflect increases of $310 and $1,130 for New York State residents and non-residents, respectively. The increases translate into annual tuition increases of $620 and $2,260. Tuition bills implementing the new rates will be mailed to all undergraduates by Saturday.
Increases at higher levels will be in effect for graduate and professional students.
The last tuition increase for SUNY students was in the 2003-04 academic year. UB’s tuition rates remain low compared to those for equivalent private universities, as well as for some public universities. Students’ financial aid will be adjusted accordingly when the tuition increase qualifies them for more assistance.
“I know these increases come at a tough time for many, and we greatly sympathize with students and families struggling to meet their financial obligations,” said President John B. Simpson. “We are going to do everything we can to mitigate the effects of the increase on those facing hardship. This highlights yet again, however, the need for New York to adopt a reasonable and predictable tuition policy instead of this game of ‘tuition roulette’ every time there is a budget crisis.”
SUNY has seen long periods of no tuition increases punctuated by large and unpredictable tuition increases that occur every several years when the state is in a budgetary crisis. The undergraduate tuition rate charged for last fall had been in effect since fall 2003. Prior to that, the rate had been the same for eight years. Implemented to replace state funding withdrawn from SUNY, the tuition increases have done nothing to grow the net resources of UB.
One of UB’s top priorities for the 2009 legislative session is achievement of a rational tuition strategy policy for UB and SUNY.
“We need to end the current system of ‘tuition roulette’ and create a rational tuition policy of small, regular and predictable tuition increases,” Simpson said. “This will give students and families the ability to plan their budgets and will allow UB to finally improve academic quality while providing better access and opportunity.”
The new semester tuition increases being implemented for graduate students are $490 and $1,165 for New York State residents and nonresidents, respectively.
Increases being implemented for professional programs: MBA ($505 New York State residents, $1,210 nonresidents), medical ($1,335 and $3,570), dental ($1,150 and $3,460), pharmacy ($975 and $2,525), law ($935 and $2,130) and physical therapy ($810 and $1,950).
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