Enrollment up this
fall, tuition going up in spring ‘06
By Michael Whitfield
Contributing Writer
Cut in state funding results in higher
costs per credit hour, but that is just the beginning
of increases to come Starting in spring
2006, in-county tuition will cost $3 more per
credit hour.
Total tuition, which will be $36 per hour, is
still less than students pay in Tarrant or Collin
counties, or at other community colleges of North
Lake’s size across the state, said Mary
Ciminelli, vice president of student services
and enrollment management.
The college district, she said, receives money
from three sources: tuition, county taxes and
state reimbursement.
“The state has decreased funding to colleges
over the last few years, which makes it necessary
to increase tuition to make up for the shortfall,”
said Ciminelli.
She said there are only two ways to make up for
the declining revenue -- tuition and taxes.
Out-of-district residents will pay $6 more per
credit hour. But out-of-state and out-of-county
students will pay twice that — $10 more
per credit hour.
Enrollment for fall 2005 is 9,286, up more than
500 students from fall 2004.
That is not good news for some students. High
tuition, high gasoline prices and high book costs
hit students like finance student Ana Velize,
hard, since she pays her own college costs.
Susan Amassyali, an international communication
major, said that if the rise in tuition is for
the campus needs, then she’s OK with that.
But William Sung disagrees. “They shouldn’t
raise it. It’s already high,” he said.
All in all, the tuition increase will mean a
better education and facility, said Chad Newsome,
a psychology major.
“When schools become larger, it takes more
money to fund them,” he said.
With expansion of services related to the $450
bond package that voters approved in 2004, tuition
will probably increase again, she said.
North Lake is slated to add three additional
buildings to the campus—a Science &
Health Technology building, a Visual and Performing
Arts building, and a general classroom building.
“No one likes tuition increases, but it’s
important for this to happen so we can continue
to provide quality programs and services to our
students,” said Ciminelli.
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