Editor’s Note: April 20 — The graphic by Jacob McWhorter that ran alongside this article in the April 19 issue of the Spectator was created using information from VSU Financial Services’ Tuition and Fee Schedules webpage. The costs therein represent the total estimated cost of attendance for in-state and out-of-state students for two semesters including tuition and fees for 15 hours of classes, housing, meal plan (required for students who live on campus), and the estimated cost of books.

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VSU’s tuition will increase by 2.5 percent for undergraduate students and 3 to 5 percent for graduate students by fall 2012 enrollment.

The increase is a result of the Georgia Board of Regent’s decision made Tuesday.

Ray Andrews, assistant director of financial aid, said the increase typically affects only the cost of tuition, while the rate of additional student fees remains the same.

The 2.5 percent increase means an additional $59 for undergraduate student tuition.

Doug Tanner, director of financial aid at VSU, said he doesn’t think the $59 is going to affect students.

“UGA tuition is $1200 more than VSU and its up 5 percent,” Tanner said.

However, many VSU students are not convinced that the effects of the tuition increase will be miniscule.

Nikki Martin, a freshman nursing major, believes VSU’s tuition is high enough.

“There are a lot of people already sort of struggling to pay it,” Martin said. “Although VSU’s tuition rate did not go up as much as UGA’s did, or even Tech, it is enough to cause struggling payers some stress.”
Brejae Wylie, a sophomore mass media major, said she believes the increase in tuition will affect students more than they might think.

“When you think of $50, you think that isn’t a lot but a lot of us students pay out of pocket and don’t depend on our parents,” Wylie said. “The added fee is cutting into the money we use to support ourselves with food, gas, and rent.”

Chelsea Mells, a freshman criminal justice major, said the increase will affect lower income households as well as incoming freshman.

“The tuition increase affects the families of lower incomes because most people can’t afford college for their children already,” Mells said.

“This also affects incoming freshmen because they may not meet the requirements of some of the loans offered and other scholarships. Nowadays families are struggling with their own household issues and are having to raise more money than expected for college.”

According to Tanner, Hope will not change as a result of the tuition increase.