Tuition increases likely for ECU students

GREENVILLE — It will likely cost students more to attend East Carolina University during the 2010-2011 school year.

The ECU Board of Trustees approved a motion this week to raise next year’s tuition for in-state undergraduates by 3.6 percent. These students will likely pay an average of $90 more per year to attend the university.

The current state law states that UNC system schools are held to the General Assembly’s mandate that the 2010-2011 tuition must be raised for in-state undergraduate students by 8 percent or $200. Any revenue increase must be sent to the state’s general fund.

The General Assembly doesn’t allow the UNC system schools to set tuition rates, so the motion approved by the ECU Board of Trustees could likely become irrelevant. Unless the General Assembly grants the system new authority to set rates, ECU will be required to implement a $200 tuition increase next year for in-state undergraduates.

ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard said he was not optimistic that the General Assembly would give the power to set tuition back to the UNC system schools.

Students living on campus next year will see about a $100 increase in room rates and dining plans will increase between $70-$100.

“The university must walk a delicate balance of being an access university and a successful university,” ECU Board of Trustees member Robert Brinkley said.

Out-of-state students will also likely pay more next year to attend ECU. Undergraduate students from outside North Carolina could pay $880 more next year while graduate students from out-of-state could pay $429 more in tuition.

“I don’t think we are trying to punish out-of-state students,” ECU Board of Trustees member David Redwine said. “They are a great asset to this institution.”

Chris Lavender can be reached at 252-559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.