Nick Vernon, Campus Carrier Deputy News Editor
Tuition is on the rise yet again, with the tuition and fees for next year going up $1,440, from $29,090 in the 2013-2014 academic year, to $30,530 for next year. Tuition has increased by about $1,500 every year over the last five years.
The main expenditures that are causing the rise in tuition are general inflation, a healthcare benefit increase of six percent, utilities expected to increase by approximately six percent, general insurance increases of approximately 5.25 percent, various IT improvements and software increases and a compensation increase of two to three percent to keep up with cost of living for faculty and staff.
Brad Reeder, assistant vice president for financial services, provided these numbers on tuition increase, and clarified areas where tuition money is not going.
“The tuition increase has nothing to do with building the football stadium,” Reeder said. “Those kinds of projects are funded by donations.”
Reeder said tuition generally increases from year to year with all private colleges as a result of the increasing costs of inflation, insurance and cost of living for faculty and staff.
Berry’s cost of tuition and fees is lower than those of other private schools. Berry placed below the national average price of private colleges last year by about $1,000.
Most private colleges, like Berry, are forced to annually raise their tuition to keep up with increasing costs.
“There will be some rare instances of schools that cut their tuition or hold flat,” Reeder said. “Two or three years later, their tuition is back up at the same rate it was. It really is, to some degree, a marketing tool to get some positive press out there.”
In order to account for the rising tuition and fees, Reeder said the financial aid office has consistently supported students.
“We’re proud of how we’ve been able to keep our financial aid offered to the students at a steady rate that has stayed in line with the tuition increase,” Reeder said.
As college students, it is painful to see tuition and fees rise, and many students are concerned with the rising prices. One such student is sophomore Christopher Wisener.
“I am definitely aware they are raising tuition, and I understand why,” Wisener said. “However, it is a burden and I know a lot of students have to take out loans as a result of it. If Berry’s budget is set up in a way in which they need to keep raising tuition, then they need to change it.”
Others, such as senior Richie Keezer, are a little more understanding of the rise in tuition.
“I’m aware of it and I’m not too concerned about it because of the reasons they are increasing—inflation and insurance,” Keezer said. “No one likes to see prices go up, but when it’s something the school needs then it is important.”