Contact: Chris Chesrown
Media Relations Manager
480-731-8503

February 28, 2001

Tuition - Fee Schedule Presented to Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board

Greater Phoenix, AZ - The costs associated with educating a student at the ten Maricopa Community Colleges increase annually. Enrollment also continues to rise by 3% to 5% annually. The Maricopa Community Colleges currently serve over 264,000 students. Because of this growth, additional full-time faculty positions will be required for 2001-2002, additional interpreters for hearing impaired students to help ensure necessary accommodations are required and more funding is necessary to implement a new student information system. In addition, inflation, business cost increases, increased maintenance, upgrades to information technology systems, additional operating costs, teacher recruitment programs and compensation, flex and statutory benefit increases are other issues that factor into developing a viable budget and a fair tuition and fee schedule for Maricopa Community College students.

According to Dr. Rufus Glasper, Vice Chancellor for Business Services, an estimated 8% increase over the 2000 - 2001 budget will be required for the Maricopa Community Colleges to continue offering the quality and accessible education that it have been providing since 1920.

At the February 27 Governing Board Meeting, Vice Chancellor Glasper presented the Proposed Fiscal Year 2001 - 2002 Tuition and Fee Schedule for review. Glasper said

"The primary recommended change is an increase in the Maricopa County resident tuition and fee rate of $2 per credit hour, from $41 to $43. The effect of this increase on full-time students taking 30 credit hours per year is a $60 increase, for a total annual full-time tuition cost of $1,290. Out-of-county or out-of-state residents generally are also impacted by the in county rate, since they pay this rate as well as a residency surcharge."

At Tuesday night's meeting, the Governing Board reviewed the tuition and fee schedule suggestions for the first time. Action will be taken at its March 27 meeting. The approved tuition and fee schedule will then be submitted to the State Board of Directors by March 31 and for approval at the April 2001 State Board Meeting.

The Maricopa County Community College District is composed of 10 community colleges, several satellite campuses, skill centers and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves over 264,000 students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000 or www.maricopa.edu.

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Additional National Data:

In a study released on February 22, 2001, the College Board reported that college tuition and fees in 2000 - 2001 had increased from 4.4 to 5.2 percent at four-year institutions and from 3.4 to 7.0 percent at two-year institutions.*

The College Board's data show the following increases in college tuition and fees: ·

  • At two-year public institutions, full-time (30 semester hours) students are paying $56 more ($1,705 vs. $1,649, a 3.4% increase) ·
  • At two-year private institutions, full-time students are paying $490 more ($7,458 vs. $6,968, a 7.0% increase) ·
  • At four-year public institutions, full-time students are paying $148 more ($3,510 vs. $3,362 a 4.4% increase) ·
  • At four-year private institutions, full-time students are paying $814 more ($16,332 vs. $15,518, a 5.2% increase) ·
  • Estimates completed by the College Board show that household income increases by educational attainment. (See attached Exhibit 1 - NOTE: This is a graph shows average income levels)

    *College Board is a 100-year-old, not-for-profit membership association. The mission of the College Board is to prepare, inspire and connect students to college and opportunity. Its members include more than 3,800 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational associations.

    --maricopa community colleges--

 

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March 13, 2002