College has done so for over a decade – Does requested 4.5% increase reflect the cost of attendance? Continue to increase student debt?
Yavapai Community College has increased its base tuition in each of the last ten years in some form. The tuition increase has been at least twice the annual inflation rate each year.
For example, the inflation rate for 2019 is currently estimated at 2.3%, up a bit from 1.9% at the end of 2018. However, the college is recommending a 4.5% increase for 2019 – 20. Last year (2018), the college recommended and received a 5% tuition increase and a 4% tax rate increase.
With a reduced staff and a significant drop in the number of students taking accredited classes, what is the justification for the increase? Hopefully, we’ll get some answers at the February Governing Board meeting.
The result of these increases is, of course to saddle many community college students with increased debt.
