Written by Carolyn Fairbanks. Media by Kat Kelley.
Students received an e-mail from Acting President Randy Bergen Monday night announcing that there will be a 3% increase on tuition next school year. The total increase is about $924 or $462 each semester. This is the lowest tuition increase in the last eight years and Bergen explains in the letter, “We have worked to keep the price of education as low as possible.”
Inflation is the main reason the increase is unavoidable. Bergen explains that heating and cooling costs increase, contracts with vendors increase, along with the increases in computers, cleaning supplies, and paper, make it almost impossible to avoid a slight increase.
It is also important to note that students are still not paying the full price of what it takes for the school to run financially. Ten percent of the cost has been donated by friends of the college, as well as alumni. Without their support, we would be paying about $3,000 more per year.
The increase is clearly laid out in this chart based on the chart found in the Bergen’s e-mail.
| Charge |
This year |
Next year |
| Tuition |
$22.750 |
$23,436 |
| Room | ||
| Standard |
$3,664 |
$3,776 |
| Blankenship |
$4,882 |
$4,968 |
| Meal Plan |
$3,912 |
$4,032 |
| Student Activity Fee |
$170 |
$176 |
| TOTAL |
$30,496 |
$31,420 |
| Interterm (per credit) |
$189 |
$195 |
| Summer (per credit) |
$325 |
$335 |
Bergen also included a list of improvements the college has made and future projects in the works to benefit students. It is important to note that these renovations come from grants and donations, not from tuition.
In 2012-2013 Greenville College:
-Renovated the Student Union Snack Bar
-Added lights to the baseball field
-Added lights on the soccer field
-Added a fire suppression system in Burritt Hall
Future projects include:
-Revamp the Crum Recreation Center, including new floor
-Renovations to Burritt Hall, Dallas Annex, and Burritt Annex
-Build an 8-lane track
It is a normal reaction to the increase for students to be frustrated with paying more, but Bergen encourages students to not “let the tuition increase tempt you to drop out.” He goes on to explain that in the big picture, “Graduating from college…increases career and income options” which makes it “well worth the price.”
Bergen also wants to give students the chance to ask questions about the increase in tuition and the institutional finances. There will be a Fireside Chat addressing these subjects on Monday, April 22 with Bergen, the Chief Financial Officer and other cabinet members.
