Students at Mississippi State University are paying more tuition this fall after the College Board approved a 5 percent increase. The increase, following a 6 percent increase for the 2004-2005 academic year, will cause in-state tuition to rise from $2,053 to $2,156 per semester, an increase of more than $100.
The majority of the increase in tuition will go toward rising utility rates over the past few years.
“The university was facing in excess of $1 million in utility cost over what they were a year ago,” vice president for Student Affairs Bill Kibler said.
The university also lost money because summer school enrollment was lower than expected and income from summer enrollment did not meet expectations, Kibler said.
The increase in tuition is not expected to have an effect on enrollment at Mississippi State as the number of students enrolled is still rising.
“Enrollment numbers this fall are up. Students will still be enrolling through the first week,” vice president for finance and administration Ray Hayes said.
President Charles Lee said the financial aid department will consider the increase in tuition when giving out scholarships and grants.
“We do our very best to increase financial aid every year to offset additional tuition,” Lee said.
Graduate tuition is generally the same as undergraduate tuition and will face the same increase.
Tuition at all eight universities in Mississippi is on the rise. Tuition at each increased between 3.2 percent and 5.6 percent this fall.
“The universities do an analysis of enrollment and costs and make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees which has the ultimate responsibility for deciding on tuition,” Lee said.