Paying for college
Several programs this summer provided many new students with introductions to the University and all of its intricacies.
This fall, these students will introduce $504,391 more per term to the University, thanks to an increase in per-term fees.
The Oregon University System set a new tuition and fee schedule July 19 for the state’s seven public universities, and students at the University can expect to pay anywhere from $28 to $108 per term in increased fees. Tuition will also increase, but the amount depends on what time of day students choose to take classes.
The new rates were set by the University after the Oregon University System granted them permission for restructured tuition.
“Implementation of this proposal will result in an overall increase in tuition revenue for the UO while more equitably distributing the costs over part-time and full-time students,” according to a June 13 letter distributed by the Office of Academic Affairs. The two-tiered tuition schedule is part of a five-year pilot program.
For each departmental fee increase, that department will receive the revenue. The amount of the increase was determined “based on services they are providing for those resources,” Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Davis said.
For example, the revenues from the $15 increase in the technology fee would be distributed for both maintaining old equipment and buying new equipment, she said.
Running a university is very expensive, she said, and increased fees is just one way to offset that cost.
One brand new charge is a $15 per term registration fee. This will go to “services for the banner system, for things like putting all courses online and updating online changes,” Davis said. The registration program was previously losing money, she said.
The increases to fees and tuition were decided by a budget committee.
“You always try to figure out the way to change the least amount and make it work while still maintaining access to high-quality, not mediocre, education,” Davis said.
Every student, no matter what major, will pay the technology, registration, College of Arts and Sciences, incidental and health fees, according to a registrar employee. Together, the fees will cost an additional $53 per term for each student. That represents an increase of more than $1.17 million to the University’s budget.
For new students, add the one-time matriculation fee for another $244,850 in revenue for the University. If a student takes classes in the school of music, education, business, architecture, journalism or law, expect another fee from each of those departments as well.
The increase in enrollment “does present a considerable strain on resources,” Associate Vice President Jim Buch said. Enrollment for fall 2001 was 19,091, while projected enrollment for fall 2002 is 20,300.
In addition to the fee increases, there will be an average tuition increase of 3 percent, but each student’s tuition may range from a 6 percent decrease to as high as a 15 percent increase.
Under the University’s new tuition schedule, classes that begin at 3 p.m. or later are offered at a discount from the rate for the 2001-02 school year. Students taking classes before 3 p.m. will pay a variable premium depending on the number of credit hours.
These changes place the University as the most expensive public university in the state. For resident undergraduates, attending the University in 2003-03 will cost $390 more than enrolling at Oregon State University. Non-resident University undergraduates will pay $1,035 more than Beavers. Compared to Portland State University, the University is $519 more expensive for resident undergraduates, and $2,667 more for non-resident undergraduates.