UNC Asheville announces 5 percent increase in tuition, fees unchanged

Press Release

University of North Carolina Asheville

Tuition at UNC Asheville will increase by 5 percent for in-state and out-of-state of students, while room and board costs and mandatory fees will hold steady under the tuition and fee plan for the 2015-16 academic year approved unanimously by the university’s Board of Trustees at its Dec. 12 meeting.

UNC Asheville in-state undergraduate tuition will rise 5 percent each year from its current level of $3,666 to $3,849 next year, and to $4,041 in 2016-17. Tuition for out-of-state undergraduates will rise from its current level of $18,537 to $19,463 next year, and to $20,436 in 2016-17.

Fees will remain at $2,675 for 2015-16 as increases in certain general student fees will be offset by a decrease in the debt service fee.

Under the plan, the total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room and board) for in-state undergraduates would be $14,907 next year, a net increase of 1.24 percent.

“Our tuition and fees committees, which included students as well as faculty and staff, worked extremely hard to balance university needs with minimizing increases and keeping UNC Asheville affordable,” said John Pierce, UNC Asheville vice chancellor for finance and operations. “Our tuition and fee total is currently the lowest of the 15 schools in our designated comparison group of public liberal arts universities. Every year, UNC Asheville gets ‘best value’ plaudits from national rankings, reflecting our high academic quality balanced with affordability.”

Looking ahead to the 2016-17 academic year, the Board of Trustees voted to approve a 5 percent increase in tuition, and a less than 1 percent increase in general student fees. The debt service fee and the cost of room and board for 2016-17 are still to be determined.

Most (75 percent) of the revenue gained through the tuition increases will be used to help keep faculty and staff salaries competitive and to provide added money for on-campus jobs for students.

Students played active roles in the process, comprising half of the eight members of the fees committee and three of the seven members of the tuition committee. “The number one concern held by the student leadership involved was to address college affordability and student financial health, and our final proposal does exactly that,” said Student Government Association President James Whalen, who also is a member of the university’s Board of Trustees. “Most significantly, we are doubling down on student employment, helping students afford tuition and fees by being able to work up to 20 hours a week on campus.”

Fee changes proposed by the committee and approved by the Board of Trustees are as follows:

· The Student Activity Fee will increase by $22 next year to increase wages for student workers and increase the number of on-campus student jobs.
· The Student Health Fee will increase by $10 next year to provide on-site physical therapy services for students. This fee will hold steady in 2016-17.
· The Athletic Fee will increase by $54 next year, and by $22 in 2016-17, primarily to meet expanding regulatory requirements from the Big South Conference and the NCAA.
· The Debt Service Fee will decrease by $86 next year due to the retirement of debt supported by the debt service fee. The level of this fee for 2016-17 is to be determined.
The tuition and fee plan must be approved by the UNC Board of Governors before it can take effect. This is expected to occur in February 2015.