The College of Charleston Board of Trustees voted today to increase tuition for the 2009-10 academic year.
The board voted to increase tuition by $294 per semester for in-state students, and to increase tuition by $714 per semester for out-of-state students. The board also voted to increase the differential tuition rate for The Graduate School of the College of Charleston by 5 percent.
To help offset the effects of the tuition increase, the College will increase the amount of financial aid available to students by $1.1 million.
“Because we understand the financial pressures many families face in the current economic environment, 15 percent of the tuition increase will be designated for financial aid,” said College of Charleston President George Benson. “The remainder of the funds will be used to pay for the operation of new academic facilities such as our new science center and our new arts center, and to pay for increased energy and maintenance costs.”
“President Benson and the Board of Trustees are extremely concerned about maintaining the College’s affordability and quality,” said Board of Trustees Chair Marie M. Land. “These tuition rates are necessary to protect the quality and value of our educational offerings.”
“Our highest priority is to provide the very best learning environment for our students.” said Benson. “We realize that the costs of a College of Charleston education, and the costs of higher education generally, represent a substantial investment for families, so it’s vital that we continue to offer an educational experience that prepares our students for professional success in today’s complex global economy.”
Tuition for in-state students for the 2009-10 academic year will be $4,494 per semester; tuition for out-of-state students will be $10,923 per semester. In the past 12 month, the College of Charleston has seen a 24 percent decrease in state funding, a cut of more than $8.8 million.
