Alan Timmins Vice President of Financial Affairs (The Beacon)
By Rosemary Peters, Editor-in-Chief -- peters12@up.edu
Undergraduate tuition at UP is going up by nearly $1,500 for the 2012-2013 academic year. The 4.4 percent increase brings annual undergraduate tuition to $35,120, according to Vice President of Financial Affairs Alan Timmins.
"If you look at comparable Northwest schools, the average increase is in the neighborhood of 4.8 percent," Timmins said. "I think you get as good or better of an education here as you do at those other schools."
The tuition increase, which is slightly higher than this year's 4.1 percent increase, will go toward continuing and expanding both academic and nonacademic programs. It will also go toward general costs of the University.
"(The tuition increase) means a continuation of programs we see as successful - we can focus on making these programs better," Timmins said. "Sharpening the pencil on them a little bit so students are where they need to be when they're released out into the world."
Room and board will also rise next year, with a 4.9 percent increase. With varying options for room size and meal plans, this room and board increase will range from $200 to $350.
Many students are unhappy about the fact that tuition is increasing again this year.
"I feel like it is really stressful," freshman Carina Chavarria said. "As it is, I have trouble paying my tuition. I would have to take out more loans, but that is a risky business."
According to Timmins, the increase in tuition and room and board will be paired with an increase in financial aid. He believes this should help relieve some of the financial pains that go along with the increases.
"Net tuition on average actually went down last year because of the increase in tuition compared to the increase in financial aid," Timmins said.
By "last year," Timmins is referencing the 2010-2011 academic year, when net tuition decreased by 1.9 percent.
The 2012-2013 final figures for financial aid, which comes from several sources including donations, the federal government and endowment earnings, have not been finalized. Timmins expects the budget to be finalized in May.
However, according to Timmins, students may be in for some good news as UP's endowment experienced 20 percent growth last year.
"2011 was a very good year for investments across the board," Timmins said.
