Purdue considers tuition increase

Purdue University proposes to increase tuition for in- and out-of-state students for the next two years.

Time to enjoy summer could soon end for many Purdue students like Cindy Su. Some students will need to earn more money to afford a college education. The university wants to increase tuition five percent for in-state students and six percent for out of state students each year for two years.

"I think it's going to stretch people. I think it's really sad that in a bad economic times they have to demotivate people from an education," she said.

In-state sophomores during the 2010-2011 academic year will be hit hardest by the tuition hike. They'll pay 10 percent more because a $500 fee will be added that year. Provost Randy Woodson said he's not worried sophomores will go elsewhere for an education.

"We're worried about losing them if we don't have a high quality of education," he explained.

Faculty and staff won't see pay raises this year. The tuition will go to academic programs and financial aid. The university saw an 80 percent increase in financial aid applications for the fall. Purdue says it's committed to keep students by offering aid.

"For those Pell eligible that is students with high financial need that are eligible for federal funding that their tuition they will be held harmless. They will not have any increase in tuition at Purdue," said Woodson.

Woodson explained keeping tuition rates flat was not possible.

"The non intuitive part about this is if you hold tuition and fees below market value and at an artificially low level the real compromise is the funding available for financial aid so if makes it more difficult to keep Purdue affordable when we're resource limited," he said.

But for students who don't qualify, they will need to find the extra funds despite the recession.

"It's just one more barrier people have to overcome just to afford to come to school and get an education," said Purdue student Stephen Woodall. "Now with tuition going up unfortunately a lot of students are going to be struggling during their time here trying to make the money to pay for their fees."

Students said it's the price they must pay to be successful later in life.

Purdue will hold a hearing on the proposed tuition hikes. It will be July 13th at 8 9 a.m. in Stewart Center, room 326. The university is requiring notification from anyone wishing to speak. Call the board of trustees' office in advance at 765-494-9710 or email trustees@purdue.edu. Each speaker will be scheduled in the order they register and allotted three minutes to make comments at the hearing. The meeting will last 30 minutes.

See the proposed tuition and fees .

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Read Purdue's news release on the tuition changes.