Tuition Increase FAQ

4/30/2009

Why an increase in tuition?
The increase in tuition will help the College maintain a stable operating budget that supports the costs of providing educational access and services to students. The operating budget is funded by a combination of both State Aid and tuition revenue. The State, in response to the current budget deficit and in order to maintain the same level of services and access, acted to reduce State Aid and increased the University�s tuition revenue target for the senior colleges.
Will the additional funds generated by the tuition increase support the University or will they just go back to the State?
The additional tuition revenue generated by the tuition increase will be retained by the University. For FY2010, 80% of the additional tuition will be used to offset the reduction in State Aid and the remaining 20% will be used for investment in core activities, like new faculty positions and enhanced student services. The percentage of additional tuition revenue retained for investment purposes will grow incrementally from 20% in FY2010 to 50% in FY2013.
How much will the tuition be increased, and when will this increase be implemented?
Effective this fall, the University is implementing a 15% across the board increase in tuition at the senior college campuses. For example, tuition increase is $300 per semester for full-time in-state undergraduate students and $480 per semester for full-time in-state graduate students.
How does the CUNY�s increased tuition compare to other public universities?
The University�s tuition continues to be the lowest in the North East region and remains lower than SUNY�s.
Will PELL and TAP recipients be affected by this increase?
Neither PELL nor TAP recipients should be affected negatively by the tuition increase. The Federal PELL maximum award grant for 2009-2010 is $5,350, an increase of $619 from the 2008-2009, and the State�s TAP maximum award amount is $5,000. Students should bear in mind that they must file their 2009-2010 FAFSA application, in order to determine their eligibility and exact award amount they are entitled to.
Will there be any reduction in services or class offerings accompanying this tuition increase?
There will be no reductions in services or class offerings accompanying the tuition increase.
Will there be a freeze on hiring new faculty or replacing retiring faculty?
There will not be a freeze on hiring new faculty or replacing retiring faculty.
Are there any assistance programs or loan programs to help students to deal with the increase?
- The University will establish a $10 million fund to provide financial assistance to students, who are not TAP or PELL recipients, as follows:
i. $4 million for partial tuition waivers.
ii. $1 million for covering the Tuition Payment Plan administered by Sallie Mae and stretching out the payment timeline.
iii. $2 million for options to help reduce the costs of textbooks.
iv. $2 million for a student jobs program.
v. $250 thousand for a program to deal with hunger, nutrition, and homelessness.
Note: Further details on the program will be publicized when they become available.
- The State has developed the New York Higher Education Loan Program (NY HELPS), This program provides $350 million in low cost education loans (to NY resident students enrolled in a degree-granting program in New York) to help bridge the gap between college costs and available financial aid. NY HELPS loans will be available for students in the Spring term of the 2009-2010 academic year
- The Federal government enacted the American Opportunity Tax Credit. For the 2009 and 2010 tax years the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides eligible individuals with a tax credit of 100% of the first $2,000 of tuition and related expenses (including books) paid during the tax year
Where can I go for more information and assistance?
Call or stop by the Enrollment Services Center (ESC), 1st Floor, West Quad Building. The phone number for the ESC is 718.758.8150.