By: Lian Bunny
News Editor
St. Bonaventure students can anticipate a 3 percent increase in tuition for the 2015-2016 academic year, according to Emily Morris, vice president for university relations.
The tuition for the 2015-2016 academic year will increase from $30,475 to $31,389, a $914 raise.
Jeffrey Georgiades, a junior biology major, said his first reaction was disbelief.
“I already have to struggle to pay to get here,” Georgiades said. “Why? What is costing them so much more that they have to increase tuition $1,000 for every single student?”
In The College Board’s published undergraduate charges for 2014-2015, the average tuition and fee increase for private nonprofit, four-year colleges is 3.7 percent.
University officials did not provide the student fee amount for the 2015-2016 academic year.
Morris said Bonaventure’s tuition has increased by 3 percent in each of the past three academic years, totaling about a $2,600 increase.
“The primary reason for tuition increases is to keep pace with increasing costs while also continuing to provide the programs, services and support that our students expect,” Morris said. “Some costs, such as the cost of healthcare for our employees and utilities expenses, are somewhat out of our control. We also typically plan for modest increases in financial aid for incoming freshmen and transfer students.”
According to Morris, the only change made to the merit scholarship program for the upcoming academic year is a $500 increase to the Friars Scholarships. The scholarships recognize freshmen with a 90 or higher high school average and a 1150 or better combined SAT score (or 25 ACT score). The awarded amount will be $16,500 for the 2015-2016 academic year.
“The other increases are in need-based aid, and that is not public information as our formula for determining need-based awards is proprietary,” Morris said.
Since 2005, the university has maintained its policy of keeping tuition and fee increases to no more than 5 percent annually, according to Morris.
“Our Board of Trustees remains committed to minimizing any necessary increases so that students and families can plan with confidence when enrolling at SBU,” Morris said.
An Aramark representative said the meal plan has increased 3 percent over the last three years as well. However, the representative said the university has not yet determined pricing for the 2015-2016 academic year at this time.
From the 2012-2013 academic year to the 2014-2015 academic year, the Bona Silver meal plan with unlimited Hickey Dining Hall access has increased nearly $300.
Currently, the cheapest unlimited meal plan is $5,100. Estimating that there are 15 weeks in each semester with three meals every day, each swipe costs approximately $8.
Georgiades said he estimated each Hickey swipe to be $5.
When he learned the real cost, Georgiades said, “Ouch.”
