The Trail

Issue date: 3/30/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Nicole Marshall

The climbing cost of attending college has become a trend within the past few years.

This year at UPS is no exception.

The overall cost of attending UPS will rise 5.88 percent. Tuition stands at $31,700 for the 2007-08 school year, up 6.3 percent from this year. Standard room, ResNet and board fees will increase approximately 5 percent, adding up to $40,160 for the total cost of attending UPS.

The rising cost of attending college isn't just affecting UPS students - colleges around the nation are announcing rises in their tuition.

The College Board announced in an annual report that tuition and fees had increased on approximately 5.9 percent, to $22,218, in the current academic year at private four-year campuses. Public four-year campuses underwent an approximate 6.3 percent, to $5,836.

Associate Vice President of Student Financial Services Maggie Mittuch said that UPS has been able to keep its rise in tuition at or below 6 percent, but acknowledges that there are costs that are unavoidable throughout all institutions.

"Like any organizations, we have to pay expense such as electricity and medical insurance, which are things that are going up nationally," Mittuch said. "We face the same problems as any other institution."

The school is doing its best to accommodate students that are on need-based financial aid during this tuition increase. More than 90 percent of students are on some combination of need or merit-based aid.

"The Puget Sound Grant, which is the main component of our need based-package which is funded with tuition, increases by the same percent as tuition," Mittuch said.

The school plans to continue to work hard to provide financial support for students in need, providing nearly $28.2 million in university funds for financial aid. The 2007-08 financial aid budget from all sources is estimated to increase by approximately $2 million compared to this past year's budget.
In a letter sent out to parents and guardians of Puget Sound students this month, President Ron Thomas addressed the aspect of affordability.

"The kind of educational experience we offer at Puget Sound is expensive. Maintaining access to it is our greatest challenge and most urgent responsibility," he wrote in the letter.
Some colleges are finding that even though they are able to keep their tuition stable, the cost of living is undergoing a spike.

Universities around the nation are finding themselves in similar predicaments - if they are not dealing with rising tuition costs, then they are dealing with the rising costs of fees and living on campus.

To ensure the maximum amount of financial aid for the 2007-08 school year, make sure to fill out the FAFSA by March 31.

• Lan Nguyen has enslaved a money fairy to milk for tuition.

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