The 9 percent tuition increase approved by the Board of last year for the undergraduate students for the 2002-03 academic year has been implemented.
The university has been increasing tuition for the last year to steadily combat state funding cuts and to enhance the educational environment by providing state-of-the-art technology, smaller class sizes and more research opportunities.
“The top priorities for the 2003 budget include increases in student financial aid funds and increased faculty salaries to bring in new staff,” said Lee Walker, budget director and professor in the School of Public Policy and Management.
The tuition increases substantially affect new undergraduates, who face a 19 percent increase, a figure 10 percent higher than the increase to current students.
“The higher increase for new students goes back to a promise that (William “Brit”) Kirwan, former president of the university, made last year; that students wouldn’t see more than a 10 percent increase,” said Michael George, associate registrar for OSU. “Resource planning found that they needed more money and new students became saddled with the cost.”
Some students face an additional 5 percent increase in their out-of-state surcharge, which is added to the cost of tuition.
Prompted by a 6 percent cut in the state’s higher education funding, the plan for a 9 percent increase will continue for the next two or three years. Students with financial aid will receive grants to accommodate the rising tuition. For students without financial aid, a recent federal tax law gives families $1,000 in tax credits.
Despite the higher costs, students may find comfort in knowing that even with the tuition hike, OSU remains more inexpensive than other competitive Ohio public schools, including Miami University and Ohio University. In addition, OSU students pay about $2,500 less than their Big Ten rival, Michigan.
“The increase doesn’t bother me,” said James Cox, a junior in accounting. “I love Ohio State and I’ll go here either way. They have great technology and professors.”
