BOWLING GREEN, OH (Toledo News Now) – It is going to start costing more to attend Bowling Green State University. The board of trustees has approved a 3.49 percent increase in tuition and fees.
BGSU has already e-mailed a letter to students and parents explaining the decision. Trustees said they could not avoid a tuition increase.
Students said they are already dreading the bill.
"We already have a hard time paying for books and staying on campus as it is," said Cierra Light.
It is not going to be any easier next year. The nearly 3.5 percent increase translates to an additional $175 per semester.
Students feel that adds up quickly.
"They raised it the last three years I've been here since my freshman year. They're killing our pockets. We come in, we try to get scholarships and everything, but it's just not helping. I think I've gotten two scholarships since I've been here and I'm still paying them money," said Devon Hervey.
Beau Slater is a BGSU student and a representative on the board of trustees. He said they did not have a choice.
"It's hard because you obviously don't want tuition and fees to increase, but at the same time, you still need that quality education. And with our state funding slowly going away, we have to be able to replace that somehow," explained Slater.
BGSU officials said the university is in a tight spot, even with tuition hikes because state funding has declined by $23 million over the last four years.
Officials said they are looking for additional ways to make up for the loss.
"We do that through greater efficiencies on campus and we're finding ways that we can cut budgets, but not have any dramatic impact on the students. Our first priority is always for the students," said Mary Ellen Mazey, president of BGSU.
BGSU is not alone. Seven other state schools have already approved tuition increases and the board of trustees expects the remaining ones to do the same.
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