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By BONNIE ADAMS badams@leader.net
Sunday, March 02, 2003 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE – Tuition and fees at local colleges this year generally
increased by a smaller percentage than the state average for public
institutions, based on a recent national study.
Pennsylvania’s public four-year institutions increased tuition by an
average of 11 percent this year compared to the 2001-2002 academic year,
according to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
The “College Affordability in Jeopardy” report, that examined public
tuition costs in each state, concluded that public higher education tuition
has soared in the past year as states’ spending for colleges and universities
dropped sharply.
At public four-year colleges and universities, 16 states increased tuition
and fees by more than 10 percent. Massachusetts led with the largest increase,
at 24 percent, followed by Missouri, Iowa and Texas at 20 percent and North
Carolina at 19 percent.
Local colleges include a mix of public, state-related and private
institutions.
Tuition and fees at Penn State Wilkes-Barre in Lehman Township increased by
13 percent. Spokeswoman Deb Gildea said the 2001 fall semester tuition and
fees totalled $3,758, compared to $4,252 per semester now.
Penn State is a state-related institution. That means it is not entirely
public, nor, despite its private charter, is it a private institution.
Tuition and fee totals for Bloomsburg University, a public institution,
were not immediately available Friday.
In the private sector, spokeswoman Christine Tondrick said Wilkes
University’s tuition and fees increased by $800 or 4.6 percent, from $17,220
per year to $18,020. The tuition and fees at King’s College increased by 4
percent or $700 a year, from $17,450 to $18,150.
College Misericordia’s tuition and fees increased 3.9 percent, from $16,650
last year to $17,300 this year.
“Obviously, the cost of education is a concern to prospective students and
their parents,” said spokesman Jim Roberts. He said College Misericordia’s
increases have been less than 4 percent the last two years and that will
likely be the case in the coming academic year.
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education report said the
average tuition at Pennsylvania’s two-year public institutions rose 1 percent.
Luzerne County Community College’s tuition of $67 per credit for county
residents remained unchanged from last year. Lisa Nelson, spokeswoman for the
public institution, said a semester full-time course load is 12 credits. A
county resident taking 12 credits would pay $804 in tuition per semester.
According to the national study, Pennsylvania’s appropriations for higher
education remained unchanged at $2 billion, while the total state grant aid
for students increased 4 percent.
Bonnie Adams, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7241.