Rutgers University is raising tuition costs and fees for undergraduates attending its campuses this fall, its board of governors announced Wednesday.
The hike, a 2.3 percent increase, matches the university’s average tuition and fee increases over the last five years and is 28 percent below its 10-year average increase of 3.2 percent.
“We understand that any increase is difficult for our students, but we must balance that with the need to provide access to the highest quality education for our students,” said Sandy J. Stewart, chair of the board of governors. “This moderate increase allows us to maintain the top academic programs that Rutgers offers to our outstanding students.”
A typical, in-state undergraduate student, the school said, will pay $14,975 for tuition and fees for the 2018-2019 academic year. For students living on-campus, the total comes to $27,681, up 2.18 percent from last year.
“For the past five years, we have worked hard to keep tuition increases to an absolute minimum,” said Robert Barchi, university president. “Rutgers, along with all public colleges and universities across the country, is facing significant financial challenges and making difficult choices to keep tuition and fee increases as low as possible while maintaining our commitment to excellent programs, teaching, research and service.”
At Rutgers University-Camden, rates are increasing similarly to $14,836 for the academic year and for those living on campus to $27,947. And at Rutgers University-Newark it will increase to $14,410 and $27,946, respectively.
The board also approved a $4.3 million budget for the 2018-2019 year.
“This budget allows us to maintain the quality of our current academic programs while we continue to look for cost savings and efficiencies,” Barchi said.
Rutgers said its hike is lower than increases at schools in neighboring states, including Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware, where tuition will be rising between 3 and 4 percent.
