Board of Regents Sets 2020-21 Tuition Rates
Under the approved structure, community college tuition and fees will remain flat.
The Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) today voted unanimously to set tuition and fees for the 17 Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) institutions, including the 12 community colleges, four state universities, and Charter Oak State College (COSC). Under the approved structure, community college tuition and fees will remain flat.
“For the first time in recent memory, community college students will not see a tuition and fee increase in the next academic year,” CSCU President Mark Ojakian said. “We are thrilled that the community colleges will remain the most affordable, accessible option for Connecticut students to pursue a high-quality education.”
President Ojakian noted that that holding tuition flat at the community colleges is possible in large part because of the savings already achieved through the administrative reorganization under Students First. In fact, Students First will save an estimated $10.9 million in FY 2020, and $16 million in FY 2021 – largely through attrition in non-teaching areas.
“On behalf of the Student Advisory Committee to the Board of Regents, students were pleased to have been informed that a previously expected tuition increase was not instituted,” said Monica Maldonado, chair of the Student Advisory Committee and member of the BOR. “Through the efforts of President Mark Ojakian and the Board of Regents' Students First Initiative, the goal of keeping tuition increases as a last resort has been achieved. With over 10 million dollars in savings this year alone and a projected 16 million dollars in savings for the next year, Students First is working towards keeping tuition costs down as a trend for the future.”
At COSC, tuition will remain flat while fees will be reduced, for a total average decrease of 2.7 percent – or a savings of $224 for full-time students.
“We are on a mission to continue to deliver a high quality, affordable online option for working adults in Connecticut and elsewhere who are seeking an academic credential. This includes providing fair and equitable rates for our students who are often juggling financial pressures including homeownership/housing and raising families,” said COSC President Ed Klonoski.
“This is great news for COSC students and marks an incredible turnaround for an institution that just a few years ago was facing an uncertain future – and it speaks to the growing importance of online education here in Connecticut,” President Ojakian added.
Finally, tuition and fees at the state universities will increase by an average of 3.8 percent for commuter students and 3.3 percent for resident students. In total, this means an average annual increase of just over $400 for commuter students and just over $800 for residents.
“The decision to ask university students to pay more is of course difficult, but in putting together this proposal, university leaders were able to balance their institutional financial needs with our mission as public universities to provide the highest quality education at the most accessible price point,” President Ojakian concluded.