April 21, 2022 9:20 a.m.
Officials with Umpqua Community College say they are trying to keep tuition as low as possible in a time of high inflation nationally.
Wednesday night the school’s Board of Directors voted to raise tuition per credit to $109 for the upcoming school year. That is a slight increase from the current $104 per credit rate. The 4.8 percent increase is well below the national inflation rate which is currently 8.5 percent. The school will still have one of the lowest tuition rates in Oregon, according to officials. A release said for most students, the change will be covered by increases in state and federal grant programs.
To help balance this and future increases, UCC will allow full-time students to freeze their tuition rate for up to three years from the time of their initial payment.
Board member David Littlejohn said, “This is a really encouraging proposal where students will get more bang for their buck. I’m proud that UCC is able to keep the increase well below the price hikes we are seeing in the economy at large”.
The release said tuition will increase to $115 per credit in 2023-2024, and to $120 per credit in 2024-2025. Additional cost savings programs will include access to online textbooks to reduce book purchasing equipment requirements that can be expensive and expanded access to UCC Foundation scholarship support.
President Dr. Rachel Pokrandt said, “UCC will focus on adding value to students. Price is only an issue in the absence of value and UCC is a place where education and training can lead to sustained and increased job opportunities and wages”.
The release said around 92 percent of UCC full-time students take advantage of financial aid covering many of the out-of-pocket college costs. Federal and state funding for a number of grant programs are set to increase in the upcoming school year.
More information is at: www.umpqua.edu/tuition-guarantee
Dr. Pokrandt provided an update on the school on the Morning Conversation Thursday on News Radio 93-9 FM and 1240 KQEN. That interview is a KQEN Podcast at www.541radio.com.