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| Posted 03.02.07 |
Tuition to Increase by 5.5%, Fees Simplified
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Wesleyan will increase tuition for the 2007-2008
academic year and simplify its fee structure. The new comprehensive fee
structure will combine charges that are now billed separately as room and
board.
Tuition will increase by 5.5 percent to $36,536 for all students in
2007-2008. For freshman and sophomores, the residential comprehensive fee
will be $10,130. For juniors and seniors, the fee will be $11,512. The
residential comprehensive fees are based on the current room and board
charges experienced by students at these class levels, plus a fee increase
of $590 and $550, respectively.
The increases in student charges are attributable to growth in salary and
benefits costs, as well as energy and other costs that outpace general
inflation. In addition, students voted this fall to increase the Wesleyan
Student Assembly’s student activities budget, yielding an increase in the
student activity fee to $270. Thus, next year student charges will total
$46,936 for first-year students and sophomores and $48,318 for juniors and
seniors.
The comprehensive residential fee will make it easier for families to budget
by eliminating the variability in room and board rates. It will also enable
the university to simplify recordkeeping and to increase grant aid to ensure
that financial aid packages take full account of student expenses.
The higher residential comprehensive fee for juniors and seniors reflects
the higher cost of the options available to them. Juniors and seniors have
access to apartments and houses in addition to residence hall rooms. The
university previously has charged a differential room rate according to the
accommodation the student chose. In addition, juniors and seniors have
greater flexibility in dining options, including the opportunity, in many
cases, to cook for themselves. Students have reported to the administration
that they value this progressive independence.
Wesleyan remains committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need
of every student. Simplifying the fee structure will enable the Financial
Aid Office to ensure that students' full need is met whatever their housing
choices. Wesleyan will increase scholarship grants by
$850,000 to cover this change.
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By David Pesci, director of Media Relations |
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