Federation of Independent
Illinois Colleges & Universities
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Springfield, Illinois 62704
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| Tuitions rise less this year (Tribune) |
| Released: 8/18/2009 |
from chicagotribune.com
The college pinch: Tuitions rise but not as much as in recent years
Illinois schools joining students and parents in tightening belts
By Cara Anthony and Sara Olkon
Tribune reporters
August 18, 2009
It may be small comfort to parents and students who are sweating tuition bills this year, with their college savings plans in shambles and financial aid and loan sources drying up, but colleges and universities finally are feeling their pain.
After years of huge tuition increases, public and private colleges and universities in Illinois have held the line this year, in most cases passing more modest increases on to students. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for example, tuition for incoming freshmen went up 2.6 percent, to $9,242 -- a small jump compared with the 9.5 percent tuition hikes trustees approved for incoming freshmen in the three previous years.
At DePaul University, tuition rose 5 percent, to $26,765, a departure from recent years when hikes were never less than 6.5 percent. In fact, a Tribune survey found that modest increases -- generally no more than 4 percent -- are now the norm.
"They know that families are hurting," said Sandy Baum, a College Board senior policy analyst, referring to university officials. "They are doing everything they can to hold tuitions down."
Even so, experts say the credit crunch is making it harder for families to pay for college and that more and more families are putting their hope in financial aid.
Nationally, applications for federal financial aid are rising. During the 2008-09 school year, about 20 percent more students sought federal help compared with a year earlier, said Justin Hamilton, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education. At the same time, states have cut many financial aid programs.
In Illinois, officials are telling 145,000 low-income students who receive the state's need-based Monetary Award Program grants to expect no help in the spring semester because money for the program will run out. Lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn cut the aid budget in half, meaning that an additional 40,000 students who rely on other state programs will be affected too.
University of Illinois senior Brandi Cho, 21, of Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood said her parents cannot afford to make up the $2,500 that she will need after her state grant runs out in the spring. She is considering two options: finding a second job on top of the 15 hours a week she already works, or cramming five senior-level accounting classes into the fall semester so she can graduate early.
"The best that I can do is just start saving every penny that I have."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
canthony@tribune.com
solkon@tribune.com
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
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