While ETSU’s tuition ascends to new heights this semester, so does the number of students enrolled this fall in both graduate and undergraduate programs.
Paul Hayes, ETSU Registrar, said the preliminary number of students suggests there will be a 2.4 percent increase in enrollment this semester.
“Think about it in light of the economy,” says Lois K. Sams, ETSU Bursar.
Sams says the higher number of students enrolled can be partially attributed to high unemployment.
And as enrollment rises, so has the amount of tuition.
This fall, ETSU raised the maintenance fee by 14 percent and increased its General Access Fee by $72 or 36 percent. Last year’s maintenance fee was raised by 7.5 percent.
“For our students, I think it’s always a challenge, Sams says. “We do have a lot of financial aid available.”
However, she says, “I think a lot of students work to defray the cost of their education.”
Taking out extra loans is also becoming increasingly popular. Sams says she has seen an increase in the amount of Plus Loans requested this year. Plus loans are funds usually borrowed by a student’s parents.
Tuition at ETSU has risen for the past several years and as the legislature continues to place more financial responsibility on colleges and universities and as of now, it looks as if the cost of higher education in Tennessee will continue to be passed down to the student.
Sams, who has two children attending ETSU and is a student as well, says she is sympathetic for the student.
“It would be nice if we could hold our own and not burden the student,” she says. “I think it depends a lot on the legislature. It’s a balancing act.”
Linda Embree, assistant director client services, says she does not know of any instances where the increase in tuition has prevented students from funding their education this semester.
“There is plenty of money in the federal loan program,” she says. “ETSU also has a short term loan fund and a Student Government Association Loan Fund.”
Both loans are available for students, but must be paid back at the end of the term. Both special loans can also only be borrowed once during a student’s career.
The Pell Grant which is the largest financial aid program the federal government has, also received an increase this year. “There is plenty of money in the federal loan program,” Embree said.
Embree says students could save themselves a lot of time and effort if they would become familiar with the Goldlink system and read the information sent to student P.O. boxes.
She also says the biggest problem students have when trying to borrow money is that many wait until the last minute to apply for money and said students of all classes are making simple mistakes.
“It’s not just the freshmen,” she said.

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