RCC tuition hike minimized
A tuition increase for fall 2010, says the State Board for Community Colleges, is unavoidable if the system is to continue giving excellent service to record numbers of students after the recent deep cuts in its state funding. However, since the state board has unanimously voted to use federal stimulus money to offset the amount, the final cost per credit hour will be only $101, rather than the $103 that was originally planned.
In terms of total tuition, a full-time, in-state student at Rappahannock Community College (taking 30 credit hours in two semesters) will pay $414 more in 2010-11 than in 2009-10, or $3,030 for the academic year. Full-time out-of-state students will pay $8,388 tuition for the two semesters, an increase of $609. Total mandatory fees for all full-time students, over and above tuition costs (student technology fee, student activity fee, and service fees), will rise from $195.50 to $260.70 for two semesters; in addition, the capital fee required from out-of-state students will rise from $10 to $15 per semester.
“The federal stimulus money Virginia’s 23 community colleges are receiving from the General Assembly is allowing us to keep tuition affordable for Virginia families while ensuring our community colleges are able to meet their needs,” said Jeffery K. Mitchell, chair of the State Board for Community Colleges Budget and Finance Committee. “Without that federal money, higher tuition would have been needed just to keep the lights on and instructors in the classrooms to serve these students.”
At the same time as Virginia’s community colleges have been forced to economize wherever they can because of state budget cuts, huge numbers of both traditional students and laid-off workers have been turning to them for transfer education and training to improve their job prospects. Over the last two years, more than 22,000 new students began attending a Virginia community college.
Enrollment for spring 2010 was 13.7% higher than spring 2009, according to preliminary estimates, and the trend is expected to continue.
Speaking for RCC’s service region, RCC president Dr. Elizabeth Crowther noted, “The college has grown exponentially in recent years, expanding credit programs and winning awards with its workforce and community training. It is a shame that state support has fallen to 48% of what it takes to educate each student.”
However, RCC has responded by raising additional funds from private and grant sources. According to Crowther, the increased cost of tuition to students’ families has been partially offset by increased federal financial aid, and by the private scholarships administered through the RCC Educational Foundation.
