University Relations
April 25, 2008 Communique
2008-2009 UCCS tuition increase.
Full-time Colorado-resident undergraduate students at UCCS will pay $150 to $200 more tuition per semester beginning next fall, according to plans approved this week by the CU Board of Regents.
The Regents approved tuition increases for all three CU campuses. The 7.5 percent average increase for UCCS students was the lowest of CU campuses and below a 7.7 percent rate cap established for the four-year state colleges in Colorado by the state appropriations bill. Prior to deductions for students who participate in the State of Colorado’s College Opportunity Fund program, new freshmen and continuing sophomore-level students will pay $186 per credit hour, a $13 per credit hour increase from last year. Most students enroll in 12 credit hours per semester.
Junior and senior-level students will see increases of $180 to $250 per semester, depending on their field of study. Most junior and senior-level students are also eligible for College Opportunity Fund participation. In past years, the COF provided students with approximately $90 per credit hour in state support. The COF level is determined by the Colorado General Assembly which will continue to meet until mid-May.
“We have worked diligently to keep tuition reasonable and to ensure that increases are as small as possible while maintaining the high quality of instruction and keeping pace with increasing costs of operation,” Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said. “We remain committed to providing financial aid to students who need assistance to attend our university.”
The amount of the campus budget dedicated to Student Financial Aid has doubled in the past five years, Shockley-Zalabak said.
Non-Colorado resident undergraduates pay about $765 per credit hour to attend the university and are not eligible for the Colorado Opportunity Fund. Non- resident tuition rates will not increase next year.
In addition to tuition, students pay course and instructional fees for specialized labs and campus services. Some biology and chemistry lab fees will increase by $10, and a safety and transportation fee will increase by $2.50 per semester to offset increased fuel costs. The Regents also agreed that a fee of $5 per student per semester to support the installation of solar panels and a $2 per credit hour Student Health Center Fee for part-time students can be implemented if approved by a vote of students. Students will vote on these two proposed fees April 21-25.
When student tuition and fees are combined, along with other costs of attendance, the overall cost of attending UCCS will increase approximately 4.7 percent over the current year.