DECATUR, AL—
Get ready to shell out even more for a college education. Thursday, the Alabama Board of Education voted to increase tuition for two year colleges by about 15%.That equals about an extra $420 a year for the typical student.
This is the first increase for two year colleges in five years. It takes effect in January, for the Spring 2010 semester.
Students like Jessica Henry are working hard to get a degree at Calhoun Community College. Her goal is to become a nurse. Now that tuition is increasing, things are going to have to slow down.
"I prefer to stay full time, but with it going up, it makes it harder to do that," said Henry.
Here's how it breaks down. In the Spring, the increase will mean an increase of $14 per credit hour. It is currently $71 per credit hour -- the new amount will be $85 per credit hour.
In the fall of 2010, tuition will go up another $5, from $85 to $90 per credit hour.
Every year after that, it will go up $2 per credit hour until the board readjusts.
"The last thing we want to do is put a hardship on our students, but we also don't want to compromise the quality of instruction," said Janet Martin with Calhoun Community College.
Martin explains the reason for the increase.
"With proration alone, we've lost $5 million from our budget in the last two years. The system has lost $90 million. A lot of the smaller systems don't have the luxury of having enrollment increases," said Martin.
In the meantime, students will have to find ways to get by.
"It's definitely making cutbacks in my household as far as groceries, gas, different things," said Henry.
Martin says if you are taking 12 to 15 hours, you'll see a tuition increase of around $168-$210.
