June 1, 2001

                                                                                    Contact: Elizabeth Conlisk (614) 292-3040

OSU tuition increase to benefit undergraduate programs

COLUMBUS -- Ohio State University officials told the Board of Trustees Friday (6/1) that they remain committed to improving undergraduate education, despite a dismal state budget picture.

The proposed tuition increase of $405 for the Columbus campus for the 2001-02 academic year will provide for improvements in undergraduate instruction in a number of key areas, including increased access to high-demand courses, improvements in instructional technology and improved academic and career counseling.

Trustees accepted a recommendation for a 9.3 percent increase in resident undergraduate tuition and fees.  The in-state instructional and general fees will increase $135 per quarter for full-time students, translating to tuition and fees of $4,761 for the academic year.  Nonresident undergraduate fees will increase $822 per year.

On Friday, the board approved a 9.3 percent increase for the Columbus campus tuition and fees contingent upon removal of or exemption from the fee cap as contained in the proposed state budget.

Although the 9.3 percent increase is larger than recent years, Ohio State continues to be a bargain, officials said.  Assuming other institutions raise their fees at least 6 percent, Ohio State tuition will rank seventh out of Ohio’s 13 public universities.

While the new state budget passed on Wednesday eliminates tuition caps for the coming biennium, Ohio State officials stressed that the proposed increase of $405 per year in undergraduate tuition was consistent with the university’s earlier request for an exception of $4 per credit hour above the previous 6 percent cap.

Ohio State continues to compete effectively with other top public universities nationally in academic quality, but, because of limited resources, is at risk of falling behind in providing students with a truly outstanding education, said William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance.  Revenues per student (full-time equivalent) at Ohio State are 20 percent lower than the benchmark institution average, and resident undergraduate fees are 3.8 percent, or $171, below the average for benchmark schools.

OSU's benchmark institutions are nine universities that are highly ranked academically and comparable to Ohio State in mission, size and configuration. They are Pennsylvania State University and the universities of Minnesota, Washington, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Arizona, Wisconsin and California, Los Angeles.

In Ohio in 2000-01, OSU ranked eighth among the state’s 13 public universities in undergraduate tuition, and $252, or 5.4 percent, below the state average for annual education costs.

Even with permission to exceed the historic tuition cap, officials project that Ohio State's tuition will remain below tuition at the universities of Miami, Cincinnati and Toledo, and Kent State, Bowling Green State and Ohio universities – if each of those schools increases tuition by 6 percent.

“This tuition increase was pursued after extensive consultation with education leaders and many other constituencies across the state and a careful evaluation of the effect additional fees would have on how Ohio State tuition costs compare with other public institutions in Ohio,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray.  “We believe we've clearly stated our case – that for Ohio State to retain and enhance its ability to provide the high-quality education that our undergraduates deserve and expect, we need additional resources.  Although students will share in providing those resources through higher tuition, the university will also pursue funding from other sources, including private fund-raising and internal reallocations through improved operations.”

Administrators reiterated that all tuition-related funding above 6 percent will be dedicated to improving the undergraduate educational experience.  Specifically, resources will be targeted toward increasing student financial aid to minimize hardship on the university's neediest students; improving access to high-demand courses; improving instructional technology, including updates to hardware and software; expanding and improving academic and career counseling; expanding and improving training for graduate teaching assistants; providing additional living-learning centers and other special programs; building a Multicultural Center to enhance racial and ethnic diversity; and other needs identified through continuing discussions with students.

The total cost for an in-state undergraduate to attend the Columbus campus and live in university housing will increase by $810 for the academic year, or 6.9 percent, from $11,673 to an estimated $12,483, Shkurti said.  That annual figure takes into account a 5.6 percent increase for room and board, an estimated 5 percent increase for textbooks and supplies, a 6.4 percent increase for health insurance, a 7.8 percent increase for parking on the central Columbus campus and a bus pass, and a 5.3 percent increase in tickets to some athletic events.

Services falling under general fees include the Counseling and Consultation Service, disability services, recreation and intramurals, Student Affairs administration, the student health service, student life offices, student union general fund support and several other programs.

In other fee increases, the annual resident graduate student tuition and fees will rise $285 (4.7 percent), or $95 per quarter, to $6,306.  Nonresident graduate student fees will increase $765 (4.9 percent) for the year.  Differentially higher increases are recommended for professional and graduate students on a selected basis, and monies will be used to improve services to students in these programs inside and outside the classroom.  Increases for in-state professional students are as follows: 8.75 percent in law, 14.5 percent in labor and human resources, 9.5 percent in physical therapy, 9 percent in pharmacy, 10 percent in medicine, 9.5 percent in dentistry, 9 percent in veterinary medicine and 26.6 percent in the MBA program.  For the new programs in labor and human resources and physical therapy, these increases are over the regular graduate fees.

Because of changes in the funding guidelines for the state’s Access Challenge program, a recommendation for regional campus fees will not be presented to trustees until June 29.

###