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Next year's students can expect a 3.75% increase in tuition, and an overall increase in total cost of up to 4.2%, depending on the room and board arrangment.
Although every increase is difficult, next year's increase is smaller than increases in recent years, and a far cry from the 32% increases recently proposed in California.
"It was very intentional to try to keep the cost of tuition, room and board, and overall increase less than it has been the last several years out of respect for families struggling with the financial crisis," said President Shirley Mullen.
According to Mullen, the costs that most directly push the increase are faculty and staff healthcare and other internal costs that go up every year. Between 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, for example, health care costs for the college when up $400,000. "That's a huge chunk of money," said Mullen, but "as a result of recent changes to our healthcare coverage, we will at least slow the rate of increase."
In the area of room and board, Mullen stated, "It's very clear that a number of our facilities require more than just routine maintenance… All the money from increases in room fees will be plugged back into improvements. I feel the best that I have felt in my time here that the increase in cost is tied to visible improvements."
According to Vice President of Student Life Sharra Hynes, "The increase to room costs next year reflect improvements that are being made to several residences across the campus. For example, we are replacing carpet on several floors in Gillette Hall, providing new study lounge furniture throughout Gillette and replacing the aging appliances in all of the townhouses with new, energy efficient appliances. The changes to room and board were decided based on student and staff feedback, assessment of the quality of our living spaces and the desired improvement to our residential dining program."
Mullen also noted that changes in cost for student meal plans are "directly related to the change to Sodexo." ,
"The increase to board for the 2010-2011 academic year reflects an increase to the hours of service available to students in the dining hall (continuous dining from 7:00 am-7:30 pm M-F) and changes to the food program with our new food service provider," explained Hynes.
As a result of the bidding process, Houghton will also enjoy "major facilities improvements in food service areas."
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