Citadel increase also 3.6%

In-state students at The Citadel face a 3.6 percent tuition increase for the next school year, the lowest percentage increase in a decade despite drastic cuts in state funding.

Out-of-state cadets face a 7.2 percent increase.

The Board of Visitors Finance Committee recommended the increases at a meeting Friday. The committee includes everyone on the Board of Visitors, so it's almost certain the changes will be approved when the board meets to give its final OK today.

The jump for South Carolina students is equal to the Higher Education Price Index, an inflation rate specific to colleges and universities.

Citadel president Lt. Gen. John Rosa said the school was able to keep the increases low because it will receive $2.2 million from the federal stimulus program next year and because it is putting off some expenses such as repairs and improvements to some of its buildings and increases in some employees' salaries that would make their pay more competitive.

"In the end, we looked at Citadel families and we put them first," Rosa said. Keeping tuition as low as possible was important because many families are struggling financially in tough economic times. Financial aid applications have increased 35 percent for the upcoming school year, he said.

Tuition for in-state Citadel cadets next year will be $8,735, up $307 from last year. Out-of-state cadets will pay $22,545, up $1,514 from last year.

Col. Sue Mitchell, the school's vice president of finance and business affairs, said Citadel students and parents are more concerned about the "all in" cost — the cost of tuition, fees, room and board — than simply the cost of tuition. Citadel cadets must live on campus and participate in a 24-hour program of study and military training. The total cost will increase 3.8 percent next year for in-state students and 6.3 percent for out-of-state students, she said.

About 45 percent of Citadel cadets are from South Carolina, Mitchell said.

Students in The Citadel Graduate College face larger increases. Tuition for in-state students will increase 23 percent, from $325 to $400 per credit. The overwhelming majority of graduate students are from South Carolina.

Out-of-state graduate students will pay $650 per credit next year, a 22 percent jump.

Allison Dean Love, a member of the Board of Visitors and a graduate of The Citadel Graduate College, said she thought the increases were reasonable because the graduate tuition previously was low when compared with other public colleges in the state. The Citadel's tuition ranks in the bottom rungs when compared to other state schools, she said.

"It's still a good value."

Reach Diane Knich at dknich@postandcourier.com or 937-5491.