Cost of college tuition about to rise again

Students at Tennessee?s colleges and universities will likely see the smallest tuition increase in a decade because of a generous appropriation by the General Assembly, officials say.

A business and finance committee of the Tennessee Board of Regents approved a 4.1 percent hike on Thursday and the full board is expected to endorse the measure today.

The increase is the lowest since 3 percent in 1996-97 because the Legislature added $34 million to Gov. Phil Bredesen’s higher education budget.

Lawmakers were initially considering only $20 million ? which could have meant a tuition increase of as much as 7 percent ? but they decided to appropriate more money after revenues came in higher than expected.

“We’re very pleased for the additional support so that the higher increase wasn’t necessary,” said Tennessee Higher Education Commission executive director Richard Rhoda, who attended Thursday’s meeting.

With the increase, in-state students attending four-year institutions will pay $150 more each year except at the University of Memphis, where the increase will be $172. Tuition is going up $88 for two-year colleges and $72 for state technology centers.

The University of Memphis School of Law and East Tennessee State University College of Medicine would both see 9 percent increases in tuition.

Despite the hike being the lowest in years, Tennessee State University senior Christopher Tate said it’s an increase nonetheless and he wishes it wasn’t necessary.

“The tuition is already almost $2,000 (per semester), and they’re about to increase it even more,” Tate said. “It’s tough for students.”