Columbia College to lighten the financial burdon of students - Fixed-rate tuition KMIZ 17 news

Beginning next academic year, all new Columbia College Day Campus students will have their tuition rates locked in for up to five consecutive years.

The program is called Fixed-rate Tuition, and here's how it will work: New Day Campus students will have their first year's tuition rate locked in, with an overall tuition rate increase currently estimated at around nine percent. This is not a yearly increase. According to a recent report by the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center, the average 2010-2011 tuition increase was 4.5 percent per year at private colleges and 8.3 percent at public universities, which compounded annually adds up to significantly more than nine percent. Additionally, tuition and fees at private nonprofit four-year colleges and universities averaged $28,500 in 2010-2011, nearly double Columbia College's current tuition. Columbia College set the program at five years, not four, because life has a way of upsetting the most carefully laid plans. "Life is hectic, life is unpredictable," said Tery Donelson, assistant vice president, Enrollment Management, whose department is managing the program. "So we built life into the program." Should a Day Campus student leave the college then return, they will continue at the tuition rate associated with their entry year. This rate will remain unchanged over the initial five-year period. Current Columbia College students will have their rate increase locked in at only three percent. Fixed-rate Tuition also applies to transfer students.

Kevin Palmer, Columbia College chief information officer, who conceived the program, said, "Fixed-rate Tuition will be very appealing to parents and students. Tuition is locked in, it's clear and straightforward. There's no bait and switch with unexpected increases."

Neither will students have to face hidden fees. Columbia College strives to maintain as few fees as possible. Some colleges charge fees to change majors, have health fees, student activities fees, fitness center usage fees and a fee to change a degree program; not Columbia College. And the college's room and board costs are among the lowest in the state, with no increase projected for the 2012-13 academic year.

"Rising tuition rates have become a major financial hurdle for students today," said Donelson. "Columbia College is doing its part to minimize this hurdle for students and their families, so they can concentrate on what's important — completing their degree."

Find out more about Fixed-rate Tuition and all the other factors that make Columbia College. Or you may attend a Preview Day, next scheduled for Feb. 4, 2012.

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