Cost of Attendance Report for 1997
How Much Does It Cost to Go to College in Connecticut?
Public Colleges and Universities
Tuition and fee rates vary depending on the type of institution, whether or
not the student attends full- or part-time and whether or not the student
decides to live on campus. At Connecticut’s public colleges and universities,
costs this year range from $1,722 for a full-time commuting student attending a
Community-Technical College to $10,276 for a student residing on campus at the
University of Connecticut Storrs Campus as shown in the Table 1 below. A more
detailed listing of tuition and fees is included in Attachment B. It is
important to note that students also must pay for books, transportation and
other miscellaneous costs which are not captured in these tuition and fee
schedules. This is discussed later in this report.
Table 1: Tuition and Required Fees
Undergraduate Rates |
| |
In-State |
|
Out-of-State |
| |
FY 97 |
FY 98 |
% Change |
|
FY 97 |
FY 98 |
% Change |
University of Connecticut
|
| Commuter
| $ 4,974 |
$ 5,242 |
5.4% |
|
$ 13,244 |
$ 13,760 |
3.9% |
| Resident
| 10,276 |
10,704 |
4.2% |
|
18,546 |
19,222 |
3.6% |
| |
Connecticut State University
|
| Commuter
| 3,500 |
3,609 |
3.1% |
|
8,834 |
9,087 |
2.9% |
| Resident
| 8,452 |
8,780 |
3.9% |
|
13,786 |
14,258 |
3.4% |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Community-Technical Colleges
| 1,722 |
1,814 |
5.3% |
|
4,842 |
5,438 |
12.3% |
| |
Charter Oak
|
| Associate Degree 1st Year
| 543 |
595 |
9.6% |
|
728 |
793 |
8.9% |
| Bachelor Degree 1st Year
| 658 |
715 |
8.7% |
|
843 |
913 |
8.3% |
| Bachelor Degree after 1st Year
| 388 |
423 |
9.0% |
|
523 |
558 |
6.7% |
Rates have increased remarkably over the last 10 years. While this is due
mainly to a decline in state support, it also is a function of the rising cost
of labor and commodities, and a conscious decision to increase spending in areas
such as technology, development and marketing.
As shown in Chart 2 below, tuition and fees (not including room and board) at
the University of Connecticut have climbed 117 percent since 1989, or by an
average of 10.2 percent per year, from $2,133 to $4,974. Next year, rates are
expected to climb another 5.4 percent to $5,242. Part of the reason for this
increase is the implementation of a new Infrastructure Maintenance Fee to help
finance debt service on a new dormitory complex.
Chart 2: University of Connecticut Tuition and Fee Growth
1989-1998
Fiscal
Year |
Tuition and
Fees |
% increase
over prior year |
Cumulative
% Increase |
| 1989
| 2,293 |
- |
- |
| 1990
| 2,631 |
14.7% |
14.7% |
| 1991
| 2,974 |
13.0% |
29.7% |
| 1992
| 3,463 |
16.4% |
51.0% |
| 1993
| 3,902 |
12.7% |
70.2% |
| 1994
| 4,290 |
9.9% |
87.1% |
| 1995
| 4,712 |
9.8% |
105.5% |
| 1996
| 4,810 |
2.1% |
109.8% |
| 1997
| 4,974 |
3.4% |
116.9% |
| 1998
| 5,242 |
5.4% |
128.6% |
At the Connecticut State University, costs have grown by over 132 percent
since 1989, from $1,510 to $3,509 (Chart 3). This represents a growth of more
than 11.1 percent per year. This year, the introduction of a new technology fee
added significantly to the price increase. Next year, rates are scheduled to
increase by about 3.1 percent to $3,609.
Chart 3: Connecticut State University Tuition and Fee Growth
1989-1998
Fiscal
Year |
Tuition and
Fees |
% increase
over prior year |
Cumulative
% Increase |
| 1989
| 1,510 |
- |
- |
| 1990
| 1,586 |
5.0% |
5.0% |
| 1991
| 1,823 |
14.9% |
20.7% |
| 1992
| 2,345 |
28.7% |
55.3% |
| 1993
| 2,732 |
16.5% |
81.0% |
| 1994
| 2,912 |
6.6% |
92.9% |
| 1995
| 3,075 |
5.6% |
103.7% |
| 1996
| 3,194 |
3.9% |
111.6% |
| 1997
| 3,500 |
9.6% |
131.9% |
| 1998
| 3,609 |
3.1% |
139.1% |
Finally, costs at the Community-Technical Colleges increased from a mere $790
in 1989 to $1,722 in 1997, or by over 118 percent (Chart 4). The annual rate of
growth averaged 10.2 percent. Next year, full-time Community-Technical College
students will pay an average of $1,814, or 5.3 percent more than this year.
Chart 4: Community-Technical Colleges Tuition and Fee Growth
1989-1998
Fiscal
Year |
Tuition and
Fees |
% increase
over prior year |
Cumulative
% Increase |
| 1989
| 790 |
- |
- |
| 1990
| 880 |
11.4% |
11.4% |
| 1991
| 934 |
6.1% |
18.2% |
| 1992
| 1,130 |
21.0% |
43.0% |
| 1993
| 1,276 |
12.9% |
61.5% |
| 1994
| 1,398 |
9.6% |
77.0% |
| 1995
| 1,520 |
8.7% |
92.4% |
| 1996
| 1,646 |
8.3% |
108.4% |
| 1997
| 1,722 |
4.6% |
118.0% |
| 1998
| 1,814 |
5.3% |
129.6% |
Connecticut Independent Colleges and Universities
Connecticut is fortunate to have a healthy variety of independent (private)
higher education institutions which serve about 37% of the students seeking
higher education in Connecticut. Costs within the independent sector also vary
significantly. Like the public sector, costs grew significantly over the last 10
years, but at much lower rates (Chart 5 and Table 2). At the four-year national
independents which include Yale, Trinity, Wesleyan, and Connecticut College,
costs average $22,092 this year. At the other four-year independent colleges,
students pay an average of $13,764.
Chart 5: Connecticut Independent Colleges Average Tuition and
Fees
Table of Contents
Introduction
Trends
and Challenges
Who
Are Our Students?
How
Much Does It Cost to Go to College in Connecticut?
Can
Connecticut Students Afford to Pay?
How Does Financial Aid Work?
Are Our Colleges
Able to Meet Need?
Are
Connecticut Public Colleges Affordable?
Conclusions
and Recommendations
End Notes
Attachment A
Attachment
B
Attachment C
Attachment D
Attachment
E
|
