The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) voted to increase tuition by 6 percent during their June 2007 quarterly meeting at Jackson State Community College. The increase, which goes into effect beginning this fall, applies to undergraduate, graduate and out of state students.
Though the state budget included a 3 percent increase in funding for higher education, TBR board members still decided an increase in tuition was needed. “We received new operating funds,” said TBR Director of Communications, Mary Morgan, “but these funds were not sufficient to cover all costs.”
The money generated will fund a variety of programs at ETSU, including a 2 percent increase in funding to the employee equity program. “The equity program gives our employee salaries a boost, making them more competitive with the rest of the nation,” said ETSU Vice President of Business and Finance Dr. David Collins. Additional funds have been earmarked for the Honors College and advanced degree programs in clinical psychology and early childhood development.
The undergraduate in-state maintenance fee has risen from $168 per credit hour to $178. Full-time students, those taking 12 or more credit hours in a semester, will pay a maximum of $2,029 in maintenance fees, up from $1,914 last year.
The maintenance fee makes up the bulk of college tuition. Additional fees, the largest of which is the general access fee, will remain the same according to ETSU Bursar Dr. Lois Sams. “We haven’t had an increase in other fees since the opening of the CPA (Center for Physical Activity),” she said.
Though old additional fees remain the same, one new fee will appear. Beginning this fall, students will be charged a $10 international education fee each semester.” The new fee will go toward improving diversity on campus,” Collins said, adding that some of the money would help fund students who wanted to study abroad.
The total cost for undergraduate tuition, including fees such as the general access fee, will now total $2,443.50 per semester. Some classes, particularly lab classes, may carry additional fees.
Graduate student maintenance fees will rise to $288 per credit hour, up from $272. Full-time graduate students will pay a maximum maintenance fee of $2,723 per semester, compared to $2,569 per semester last year. Total tuition for an in-state graduate student, including additional fees, will come to $3,137.50.
Out-of-state students, who pay an additional maintenance fee on top of in-state tuition, will now pay $446 per credit hour, up from $421. Full-time students will pay a maximum maintenance fee of $5,138 per semester, compared to $4,847 last year. The total tuition bill for an out-of-state undergraduate will run $7,581.50 per semester; while out-of-state graduate students will pay $8,275.50.
Tuition for the James H. Quillen College of Medicine has also increased by 6 percent, while tuition at the College of Pharmacy has increased by 9 percent.
There are 18 board members serving on TBR, including one representative from each of the state’s congressional districts, each of which is appointed by the governor.
TBR supervises and approves the budgets for 19 colleges across the state, including six universities and 13 community colleges. Locally, TBR oversees ETSU, Northeast State and Walter’s State community colleges.

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