Press-Republican

Local News

November 17, 2009

SUNY to increase tuition 2 percent

ALBANY — The State University of New York Board of Trustees on Tuesday called for a 2 percent increase in tuition, which would be the second straight year of increases.

Tuesday's action would make tuition $5,070 a year at most of SUNY's 64 campuses for state residents, up from $4,970. With room and board and fees, a year at SUNY costs about $17,000.

The tuition increase is part of SUNY's decision a year ago to tie regular tuition increases to the higher education price index, a kind of inflation rate for colleges and universities. At that time, SUNY tuition was increased $310 a year.

The method was created after SUNY and the Legislature avoided politically difficult tuition increases for years, then had to inflict big jumps in tuition for some students. The new system is thought to be a more reliable system for students and families, while allowing legislators to avoid the politically difficult decision of proposing raises in tuition.

The governor and Legislature would still need to approve the tuition increase beginning in the fall 2010 semester.

The tuition increase would exceed the maximum grant allowed for the Tuition Assistant Program, financial aid for hundreds of thousands of public and private college students in New York. For the neediest students based on a complex income analysis, TAP can pay full tuition.

SUNY spokesman David Henahan said the board wants to use part of the $21.1 million that would be generated by the tuition increase to cover the cost of these neediest students when TAP no longer covers their tuition bills. Henahan said that will lower revenue from the tuition increase to about $16 million.

Earlier this week, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher announced that SUNY has experienced its biggest enrollment increase in history. The fall semester has 464,981 students, an increase of 25,458 students, or 6 percent, over last year.

"These historic enrollment numbers clearly demonstrate that more people view SUNY as the best option for a world-class education at an affordable price," Zimpher said.

The SUNY board also approved a request of about $2 billion in state funding for the coming year.

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