College tuition at all-time high, what does it mean for SFA?
Public university tuition in America up 6.5 percent this fall, SFA tuition up by 4.66 percent
By: Marie Leonard
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
The cost of college tuition at public universities in the U.S. is at an all-time high this fall, with a tuition increase of 6.5 percent from last year, according to an annual study released by the College Board last week. Here at home, tuition at SFA has seen an increase of 4.66 percent since the last fiscal year, according to Danny Gallant, vice president of finance and administration at SFA.
SFA recieves money from two sources: the Texas Legislature and student tuition. All public universities in Texas receive state revenue from the Texas Legislature in two forms: general revenue and general revenue dedicated. The former is determined by a formula based on semester hours each student takes, while the latter supports the delivery of things educational in nature, including funds collected for the Early Childhood Lab or the beef farm. The Legislature funds universities on base years, which include both summer semesters and the fall semester of every even-numbered year. The Legislature tracks these semesters, and the total credit hours taken by each student is added up. The more students enrolled, the more revenue a university receives. For example, the funding SFA received for the Fall 2009 Semester was based on the summer and fall semesters of 2008.
Although SFA enrollment is at an all-time high this semester, this is not a base year, and the higher enrollment numbers will not have an effect on revenue at first. However, if enrollment keeps climbing over the next few semesters, the University will eventually receive more state funding.
According to Gallant, since 2002 state revenue has declined. "If the revenue goes down, the consumer must pay the difference," he explained. "It is simply in order to deliver (the academic product) to the students."
When SFA administrators decide it will be necessary to raise tuition, they look at what the state appropriates, along with a number of other factors. One of the main factors involved is faculty and staff salaries.
SFA recieves money from two sources: the Texas Legislature and student tuition. All public universities in Texas receive state revenue from the Texas Legislature in two forms: general revenue and general revenue dedicated. The former is determined by a formula based on semester hours each student takes, while the latter supports the delivery of things educational in nature, including funds collected for the Early Childhood Lab or the beef farm. The Legislature funds universities on base years, which include both summer semesters and the fall semester of every even-numbered year. The Legislature tracks these semesters, and the total credit hours taken by each student is added up. The more students enrolled, the more revenue a university receives. For example, the funding SFA received for the Fall 2009 Semester was based on the summer and fall semesters of 2008.
Although SFA enrollment is at an all-time high this semester, this is not a base year, and the higher enrollment numbers will not have an effect on revenue at first. However, if enrollment keeps climbing over the next few semesters, the University will eventually receive more state funding.
According to Gallant, since 2002 state revenue has declined. "If the revenue goes down, the consumer must pay the difference," he explained. "It is simply in order to deliver (the academic product) to the students."
When SFA administrators decide it will be necessary to raise tuition, they look at what the state appropriates, along with a number of other factors. One of the main factors involved is faculty and staff salaries.
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