Marquette announced Monday it will increase the average full-time undergraduate tuition by $1,400 a year for the 2005-'06 academic year.
Marquette's tuition and fees have increased steadily over the past few years. Last year's tuition increase ranked 25th highest of the 28 Jesuit schools nationwide, ranking Marquette No. 17 in tuition overall.
Room-and-board will increase by an average cost of $475, said Brigid O'Brien, director of University Communication. Currently, average rates for a double room are approximately $2,200. The student health fee will be raised from $129 per semester to $137.
The University Budget Committee recommended the increase and the Board of Trustees approved the numbers at its December meeting.
"For Marquette to ensure the quality of our academic programs, continue to attract and retain the highest quality faculty and to keep up with continually rising costs of things such as technology, we have to have adequate resources," O'Brien said about why the decision was made to increase tuition.
Before reaching this year's total of $21,932, the tuition cost was $18,482 in 2001-'02, $19,706 in 2002-'03 and $20,724 in 2003-'04.
Some students recognize the need to increase tuition but would like specific information as to where the money goes.
"If there's going to be an increase in tuition, students should be well aware of what the money is used for," said College of Communication freshman Lauren Bryant. "I personally don't have a scholarship or financial aid, so increasing the tuition only adds more pressure to not screw up."
O'Brien said tuition and fees cover 58 percent "of what it takes to deliver a Marquette education"— the rest is furnished by the university, which uses gifts and donations from alumni, state/federal government (for the dental school) and community partners to support the tuition of each student.
"Obviously no one's going to be happy when they increase it, but they've increased it every year I've been here," said Wajahat Laiq, a College of Business Administration senior. "There's nothing you can do about it."
Other students see a more negative effect from the rise in costs.
"I think it will definitely be a huge factor for people who are deciding if they want to come here or not, and it will make it harder for people to go here or continue to go here," said College of Arts & Sciences junior Katie Eichholz.
College of Business sophomore Krystal Krueger agreed rising tuition costs pose challenges to students.
"Without a justifiable reason, there is no reason to increase it. Students have enough trouble with financial aid as it is, so adding another $1,400 is ridiculous," Krueger said.
However, O'Brien said more than 90 percent of undergraduate students receive financial aid, which includes grants, loans and scholarships.
O'Brien also said graduate school tuition will increase by an average cost per credit of $40 and the College of Professional Studies average cost per undergraduate credit will increase by $20.
Additionally, the average tuition increase for a full-time student in the School of Dentistry (both in-state and out-of-state residents) will be $1,480 a year. Full-time law students will see an increase of $1,240 for the year.
Applicant numbers also increasing
The university has received approximately 10,000 undergraduate applications, a 6 percent increase over last year, said a university official at the Academic Senate meeting Monday.
The university has sent 6,400 acceptance offers out the door, which potential students should have received by now. Acceptance offers have increased 12 percent over last year and Wake said the university would admit a maximum of 1,800 students, the same amount as last year.
So far, every college within the university has increased its acceptance rate numbers from this time last year, with the exception of the College of Health Sciences. The university has a much larger waiting list this year, currently at 1,400 students. It was noted that in any other year, those 1,400 students would have been accepted. Last year there were only 600 offers for placement on the waiting list.
University provost Madeline Wake said a common theme in the university right now is trying to go from "good to great."
"Our mission has been to look at what the world is calling for Marquette to be and figuring out how we can do it and how we can do it better," Wake said.
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Jan. 25 2005.