The Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees approved at its March meeting a tuition and fee increase for the 2011-2012 academic year.
In-district students, which include those living in Berrien County, Covert Township and the South Haven Public School district, will see a tuition increase of 5.2 percent. Those living outside the district will see increases up to 6.5 percent.
During discussions about tuition and fees for the upcoming year with the board, LMC President Robert Harrison outlined how the college expects declines in state allocation, property tax revenue and Renaissance Zone reimbursements, as well as a state-mandated 26 percent increase in retirement contributions.
“Increases in retirement contributions alone will cost the college an additional $465,000 in the upcoming year. This continues a trend over the past few years of the state increasing required contributions, with another increase slated for the year after next,” Harrison said.
Harrison went on to explain that the college would have to raise tuition by nearly an additional $2 per contact hour to fully cover all anticipated lost revenue and increased retirement contributions.
“We’ve worked hard to minimize this increase, while still finding new ways to improve student success, create access to new programs and foster continued instructional excellence,” Harrison said.
Per contact hour tuition rates will be:
• $81 for in-district students, a $4 increase
• $122 for in-state students, an $8 increase
• $159 for out-of-state students, a $10 increase
• $174 for international students, an $11 increase
In addition, total fees will increase by $3 per contact hour to $35. Included in that increase is a new $1 student senate campus fund fee. The new fund will be used to address campus needs that students identify as a priority to them, such as new technology, furnishings and other campus infrastructure needs.
LMC Board Chairwoman Judy Truesdell noted that LMC remains one of the most affordable higher education options in Michigan, and is the most affordable in the region.
“Lake Michigan College students will still save on average $18,000 in tuition, fees, room and board on the first two years of a bachelor’s degree compared to public universities in the state,” Truesdell said.