NEWS RELEASE

For Release Monday, August 15, 2005  

NEW YORK’S COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO BOOST TUITION AGAIN, WITH AVERAGE TUITION TO BE NEARLY $3,000 FOR UPCOMING YEAR

NYPIRG URGES STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RENEW COMMITMENT TO COLLEGES TO ENSURE ACCESS TO AN AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION

The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) today released data showing that all but three of New York’s public community colleges plan to raise their tuition for the upcoming academic year. As a result of these increases, average tuition (excluding fees and other costs) at New York’s two-year colleges in 2005-2006 will be $2,945 or $130 more than last year. (Please see attached table for specific colleges.)

“When community college students receive their tuition bills this month, the overwhelming majority of them will see an increase,” said Miriam Kramer, government policy analyst for NYPIRG. “It is a sad time when the state’s public community colleges have to yet again hike their tuition. 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.”

New York’s community colleges operate on a combination of state funding, local funding, and student-paid tuition and fees. New York State Education Law 6304 mandates that the state fund one-third of public community college budget, the local municipality fund one-third of the budget, and that tuition cover the remaining one-third portion. The law also mandates that the state portion equal 40% of the total budget if the college is a full-opportunity college. New York has not been meeting its state-mandated funding requirements for the community colleges by “not withstanding” this requirement each year in the enacted state budget.

State funding for New York’s two-year campuses has increased a mere $50 per full time equivalent (FTE or student) since 2003-2004. During that two-year period, tuition costs have increased by $240. According to a SUNY Annual Report Summary on Community Colleges for 2003-04, student-paid tuition made up the largest percentage of total operating costs at 37.9%; state and local made up 31.5% and 30.6%, respectively.

“State and local funding for the community colleges is seriously lagging behind and the result is increased tuition costs for New York students and families,” said Kramer. “State and local governments must renew their commitment to the state’s public colleges to ensure access to an affordable higher education.”

NYPIRG obtained the community college tuition data from the relevant college bursar offices and from the college websites. The 2003-04 tuition data were obtained from the State Comptroller’s office. Enrollment numbers are from the New York State Education Department.

Attachment: Tuition at New York’s Community Colleges Chart

For more information contact Miriam Kramer