NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 27, 2004

COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO BOOST TUITION ACROSS NEW YORK
STUDENTS TO PAY OVER $100 MORE ON AVERAGE

The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) today released data showing that more than two thirds of New York’s public community colleges plan to raise their tuitions for the next academic year. Community college tuitions increased an average of four percent, ranging from two-percent increase to twenty-three percent. As a result of these increases, average tuition (excluding fees and other costs) at New York’s two-year colleges in 2004-05 will be $2,822 or $114 more than in 2003-04. (Please see attached table--updated 7/30/04--for specific colleges.)

"It is outrageous that the state’s public community colleges have to yet again raise their tuitions," said Miriam Kramer, NYPIRG’s higher education coordinator. "Community colleges are the first step for a future of success for countless of New Yorkers, and the increased cost makes it even more difficult to achieve that goal."

Funding for New York’s two-year campuses has not increased since 2002-03 when the legislature enhanced funding to $2,300 per full-time student or equivalent. In his Executive Budget proposal in January, Governor Pataki’s Executive Budget recommended a five-percent cut to community college operating funding.

"In the absence of a final state budget for next year, colleges across New York were left to turn to students and their families to fill in the gap," said Kramer.

New York’s public community colleges are already the third most expensive in the nation and average tuition and fees at New York’s public colleges well exceed the 2003-04 national average of $1,905¹. Moreover, if the Governor’s cuts are upheld in any final budget, it is possible that students will pay even more.

NYPIRG urged the legislature to reject the Governor’s Executive Budget and increase restore funding for the state’s public community colleges.

NYPIRG obtained the community college tuition data from the relevant college bursar offices. The 2003-04 data were obtained from the State Comptroller’s office.

Table: Tuition Increases at New York’s Public Colleges

¹ American Association of Community Colleges Survey August 2003; Trends in College Pricing 2003, the College Board.

For more information contact Miriam Kramer