Trustees approve $1,824 tuition increase for 2011
Mandi Degroff '12 / News Editor
Issue date: 3/10/10 Section: News
The Board of Trustees approved a three percent increase of tuition that will raise the current 2009-2010 year cost of $49,440.00 to $51,264 for the 2010-2011 academic year.
In his address to the campus President Ronald Crutcher said, "The decision to set the tuition, room and board rate is never undertaken lightly. We appreciate the significant investment that this represents for students and families."
According to Director of Student Financial Services (SFS) Susan Beard, "Each year the Office of Student Financial Services provides financial aid projections for the college use in developing the budget." These statistics help the administration decide how to increase tuition, but Beard adds that besides the projections, "[SFS] are not otherwise involved in the setting of tuition rates."
With the increase in tuition one of the issues that arose was about whether or not financial aid would increase for Wheaton students. Beard said, "Currently, 63 percent of Wheaton students receive need-based financial aid. We are reviewing applications for the Class of 2014 now; we are anticipating we may see a slight increase based on yield for this class."
Several students have voiced their resentment about the increase in tuition, but with understanding as well.
Annemarie Hanson '11 said, "I feel like the tuition increase is a burden that students should not have to bear. We are already paying an above-average price, and even though the quality of a Wheaton education is first rate, in these difficult financial times students and their families are already struggling enough as it is to pay for a college education."
She continued, "I understand in part the reasons behind the increase, but I think there are more productive channels through which both students and the college itself could benefit."
Zachary Agush '12 understood the increase as well. "I saw the increase coming. [Now I predict] a lot of smaller increases in tuition over the next few years," said Agush.
In his address to the campus President Ronald Crutcher said, "The decision to set the tuition, room and board rate is never undertaken lightly. We appreciate the significant investment that this represents for students and families."
According to Director of Student Financial Services (SFS) Susan Beard, "Each year the Office of Student Financial Services provides financial aid projections for the college use in developing the budget." These statistics help the administration decide how to increase tuition, but Beard adds that besides the projections, "[SFS] are not otherwise involved in the setting of tuition rates."
With the increase in tuition one of the issues that arose was about whether or not financial aid would increase for Wheaton students. Beard said, "Currently, 63 percent of Wheaton students receive need-based financial aid. We are reviewing applications for the Class of 2014 now; we are anticipating we may see a slight increase based on yield for this class."
Several students have voiced their resentment about the increase in tuition, but with understanding as well.
Annemarie Hanson '11 said, "I feel like the tuition increase is a burden that students should not have to bear. We are already paying an above-average price, and even though the quality of a Wheaton education is first rate, in these difficult financial times students and their families are already struggling enough as it is to pay for a college education."
She continued, "I understand in part the reasons behind the increase, but I think there are more productive channels through which both students and the college itself could benefit."
Zachary Agush '12 understood the increase as well. "I saw the increase coming. [Now I predict] a lot of smaller increases in tuition over the next few years," said Agush.
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