Student Life Newspaper

Tuition for the 2012-2013 school year is increasing 3.8 percent. The 3.8 percent increase is the smallest increase in the last 7 years.

It is an increase of $1,550 from the 2011-2012 year’s tuition of $40,950. The change is similar to the 3.9 percent increase last year that brought tuition to more than $40,000 for the first time.

“The past several years have been difficult ones economically for many both here in the U.S. and around the world, although there are continuing signs of recovery and hope for a more stable financial future,” Provost Edward S. Macias said in a letter to students and parents.

The letter states: “Washington University continues to set a course based on careful, prudent planning and cost containment.”

Washington University is one of the first schools to have announced tuition for the upcoming year.

Housing costs will also increase by about 3.9 percent, and meal plan prices will increase by 2.7 percent. Double-occupancy housing will cost between $8,700 and $9,624, depending on what housing students select, compared to the current range of $8,374 to $9,264. The meal plans will range from $3,700 to $5,138, compared to the range of $3,600 to $5,000 this year.

Feiner estimates the student health fee will increase by 23.4 percent, to $780 per student from the current $632. The increase is due to the uncertainty around healthcare reform, Feiner wrote in an email to Student Life.

Though the tuition hike is similar to last year’s, the percentage continues to decrease since the 5.5-percent increase in the 2006-2007 year.

“In setting the tuition rate for undergraduates, the administration considers the tuition costs of similar universities, the ability of families to pay, and, of course, our budgetary needs,” Feiner wrote.

Tuition constitutes approximately two-thirds of the operating revenue for the undergraduate schools of Washington University.

“Although the University has seen improvement in its endowment over the past year, its value is still below its value from just a few years ago. We continue to be prudent stewards of this important asset and its potential to fund important future initiatives. Following two successive years of reductions in endowment spending, in response to the endowment downturn of 2008 and 2009, we were able to increase the spending by a modest amount for the current academic year. However, this source of revenue is still below the level of three years ago,” Macias said.

Feiner stressed that the University remains committed to providing financial aid to its students.

In retrospect, I ascribe the reluctance to something more than the sheer amount that makes tuition stand out. Tuition differs from other types of payments also in that what we receive in return depends mostly on us. I know I get a pen in return for $3, a simple transaction. Provided that I use it, it is worth the $3. It’s easy to make it worth the money, but even if I don’t, the loss is small. Tuition is a five-digit dollar amount—something I cannot afford to let slip away—and yet it is tough for me to extract its worth. That was the source of my reluctance.

I’ve heard many times that college is not just about academics, but academics is what college offers that other places do not. That is what distinguishes universities in the end. If not for that, colleges wouldn’t ask for huge amounts of money. Out-of-class activities can add valuable experiences. Rests, weekend night parties or “having fun” in general can also help improve work efficiency. Yet, several tens of thousands of dollars need not be paid to load life with activities and certainly not with parties, rest or light pleasure. There must be better places for those. As soon as these start to victimize academics, the already submitted college tuition becomes a waste. Though everyone can and should occasionally relax, with a life cycle leaning toward leniency, one has no excuse to complain about what it costs to attend the school.

I don’t think I am paying the tuition money to spend my time with easy work, but rather to work more and harder—to challenge my comfort zone in academics, be pressured and learn things the hard way if necessary. That is ultimately what I came here to do. There is a way to make our tuition worth it. Earnest work stemming from a desire to learn is the first step, but we can also take more classes. Loading up credits is an unpopular idea as it brings up vague worries about miserable semesters, but misery doesn’t have to be the inevitable outcome depending on what priority one’s mind is drawn to. Being busy with a purpose can be rewarding, healthy and fun, even. There is nothing to lose for giving it a try. You can prove that the worry about misery was just a rumor in the air. With class registration still up for changes, take it into consideration.

College has almost become a rite of passage in society, at least in the middle to upper classes. But it doesn’t have to be, because colleges still ask for tuition, and they provide things that not too many other places do. This is particularly true of a school like Wash. U. While being here, we might as well try challenging ourselves further and extract more from the opportunity and the tuition by taking advantage of what this place can uniquely offer. If anyone else also felt reluctance when clicking the payment button, this is a way to legitimately feel better about paying and about ourselves and to make Wash. U. as valuable as possible.

Finally, if we can manage it, in the course of pushing ourselves more, we might have the option of graduating early. For those ready for it, an early graduation happens to save a semester’s or a year’s worth of tuition on top of providing a head start into other desires we might want to pursue—a win-win.

It is an increase of $1,550 from the 2011-2012 year’s tuition of $40,950. The change is similar to the 3.9 percent increase last year that brought tuition to more than $40,000 for the first time.

“The past several years have been difficult ones economically for many both here in the U.S. and around the world, although there are continuing signs of recovery and hope for a more stable financial future. Washington University continues to set a course based on careful, prudent planning and cost containment,” said Provost Edward S. Macias in a letter to students and parents.

Housing will also increase about 3.9% and meal plans by 2.7%. Double-occupancy housing will cost between $8,700 and $9,624, depending what housing students select, compared to the current range of $8,374 and $9,264. The meal plans will range from $3,700 to $5,138, compared to $3,600 to $5,000 this year.

Feiner estimated the student health fee will increase 23.4% to cost $780 per student.

Though the tuition hike is similar to last year’s, the percent increase continues to get smaller since a 5.5% increase in the 2006 – 2007 year.

“Although the University has seen improvement in its endowment over the past year, its value is still below its value from just a few years ago. We continue to be prudent stewards of this important asset and its potential to fund important future initiatives. Following two successive years of reductions in endowment spending, in response to the endowment downturn of 2008 and 2009, we were able to increase the spending by a modest amount for the current academic year. However, this source of revenue is still below the level of three years ago,” Macias said.

Feiner stressed in the letter that the University remains committed to providing financial aid to its students.

Around 50 students gathered in Tisch Commons Monday night to take part in the University’s annual Tuition Forum, which featured panel presentations and an open forum in which students could ask high-ranking University officials’ questions.

Wrighton took the occasion to stress the importance of continually working toward the betterment of the University.

“We are striving to improve, and we want to do things that respond to student interests and faculty interest,” he said. “We want to have higher impact [and] we want to build the stature of Washington University.”

Academically, Wrighton said that he considers the University comparable to schools such as Northwestern University, Duke University, Emory University and the University of Pennsylvania.

He noted that maintaining and enhancing the University sometimes requires increased costs for students. But he added that the University is working to increase tuition as little as possible by pulling from gifts and endowment funds.

While the rate of tuition increase is higher than the inflation rate, Wrighton said that the rate is actually at its lowest since the 1960s.

Wrighton said that the University was working to keep the cost of tuition manageable by improving scholarships and financial aid. He said that increased financial aid opportunities will help the school achieve greater socio-economic diversity.

“We’ve significantly increased the annual commitment to scholarships,” Wrighton said. “In fact, we’re outpacing our philanthropic success by the commitments that we are making.”

Specifically, Wrighton noted that the University has raised more than $125 million over the past two years, under a public initiative to attract funds for undergraduate and graduate scholarships.

While some students voiced additional concerns about the high price of room and board, Wrighton said that the price was in keeping with quality of the product that students received.

“We receive very positive responses to the quality of our rooms and residential environment and the food service here,” he said. “So yes, we’re expensive on room and board, but we’re not the highest [among peer institutions] there either.”

The Princeton Review awarded the University with a “best value distinction,” a title given to 50 private and 50 public universities based on 30 components categorized within three principal classifications: academics, cost of attendance, and financial aid factors.

Because of the ways in which best value schools are decided, the significance of Washington University’s designation is unclear.

When considering the price tag put on education, the Princeton Review considers the aggregate cost of tuition, room and board, and other miscellaneous fees. For a school to qualify for the “best value” tag, it must charge a relatively low sticker price or make attending college more affordable via scholarships, grants, loans and work-study options. The University falls into the latter category.

Julie Shimabukuro, director of undergraduate admissions, acknowledged that while the Princeton Review’s recognition is an honor, the admissions office is unsure of how it will affect future enrollment at the University.

“What influences admissions the most is when our current students tell their friends, prospective students and our visitors about their experiences at Wash. U.,” Shimabukuro said.

According to the Princeton Review’s website, the nation’s best academic institutions are in the running for best value schools. The Princeton Review decides which schools will receive the distinction after reviewing data and student opinion surveys from 650 institutions.

To make the list, schools must attract high-quality students and have outstanding admissions credentials. Furthermore, students must rate their experiences positively.

Many students on campus view Washington University as a high-value institution.

“I agree [with the ranking]. I get financial aid from the student office [Student Financial Services], and I’m satisfied with the education,” junior Jun Yoon said.

Still, some students are hesitant about the meaning of the ranking,

“It’s hard to put a dollar value on education….If education is about getting high-paying jobs, then this is a top-value school,” senior Catherine Yeung said.

In addition to academics, Princeton Review assesses financial factors with equal consideration. At Washington University, because tuition rises steadily, this monetary issue is of particular importance.

Seniors Sarah Fern admitted that she valued the information from the Princeton Review when deciding on a college to attend. She used the rankings to get a cursory look at schools of interest but didn’t ultimately consider the rankings when making her enrollment decision.

“Rankings get people interested in the school, but it’s the environment that draws them in,” Fern said. “There were other elements besides what was written on paper that sealed the deal.”

Washington University has set undergraduate tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year at $40,950, a 3.9 percent increase from the $39,400 tuition rate this academic year. Barbara Feiner, vice chancellor for finance, made the announcement in a news release on Thursday.

“Tuition is by far the largest source of revenue for all the schools on the Danforth Campus,” Feiner wrote in an e-mail to Student Life. “For the schools with undergraduate programs, tuition pays for more than 60% of the budget, with the remaining coming from gifts, spending from the endowment, research grants and some other minor sources. Many of the costs of providing a high-quality education and experience continue to rise.”

The required student health fee will jump to $410, and the maximum fee for comprehensive coverage will not exceed $632.

The tuition hike, however, is the lowest percentage rise in tuition in the past six years. Tuition rose by 4.2 percent last year and by 5.5 percent in 2006.

“We have worked to implement efficiencies and reduce administrative costs where possible so that the tuition increase is somewhat less than in prior years,” Feiner said.

Housing and meal fees will also rise by 4.9 percent and 4.4 percent respectively. The charge for a double-occupancy room for 2011-2012 will range from $8,374 to $9,264, compared to this year’s rate of $7,982 to $8,828, depending on whether students live in modern or traditional dormitories. On-campus meal plans, which currently cost between $3,498 and $4,788, will now range from $3,600 to $5000.

In a letter sent to parents, Provost Edward Macias attributed the 3.9 percent hike in tuition—down from 4.2 percent the previous year—to a recovering economy

“The national and global economy is beginning to show small signs of recovery and the University, like all of us, is optimistic of better days ahead. And yet, we are ever mindful that we must continue to plan carefully and prudently for the coming years. Most importantly, despite these difficult times, we must continue to strengthen the University and allow it to live up to the high standards that you and your sons and daughters have come to expect. We take that obligation extremely seriously.

We have seen some improvement in our endowment during the past year, but the overall value of the endowment and its income-producing potential is still significantly below where it stood in 2007-08. Nevertheless, throughout this difficult time, the University has placed the highest priority on the financial needs of our students and has once again increased funds that are available to help families that qualify for need-based financial aid,” Macias wrote.

The tuition increase will be considered when determining financial aid packages for students, according to Feiner.

Students were not surprised by the tuition increase.

“It makes sense to me given the economy right now…I guess they have to pay for everything somehow,” junior Don McCurdy said. “I’m lucky that I’m on financial aid to cover it.”

“Because the tuition is so expensive, I never live on campus,” said junior Sophia Cui, who transferred to the University from Bard College at Simon’s Rock.

Tuition will also rise between 3.8 and 4.2 percent for students pursing graduate and professional degrees.

Tuition for the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Design, and graduate programs in the School of Engineering will be $40,950 for the 2011-2012 academic year. The Graduate School of Art will raise tuition to $33,350, and the George Warren Brown School of Social Work tuition will be $32,760 for a Master of Social Work and $25,116 for a Master in Public Health. Tuition for the Olin Business School’s Master of Business Administration program will be $46,000.

The law and medical schools will announce tuition for the upcoming academic year in March.

The charge per credit hour will also increase in the University College and the Summer School in Arts & Sciences.

University College classes will now cost $585 per credit hour for undergraduates and between $585 and $765 for graduate students, up from $555 to $765 this year.

Summer school tuition is now set at $905 per undergraduate credit hour and $1,095 per graduate credit hour, increases from $865 and $1,030 respectively.

Tuition increased 7.9 percent on public campuses and 4.5 percent at private institutions this year, according to the Trends in College Pricing 2010 report published by the College Board.

The report is a collection of statistical data that seeks to assess the ability of students and their families to subsidize four years of college.

While tuition has increased across the board over the past 15 years, the net cost to students has actually decreased thanks to financial aid packages and grant subsidies that have increased with rising tuition.

But this trend is expected to reverse this year, as the College Board estimates that the net cost of private institutions will increase. Net tuition costs for the 2010-2011 academic year are expected to average $11,320 at private institutions—up from $10,270 the previous year.

The national average for tuition at private institutions this academic year is estimated at $27,290. If room and board were included, the grand total would rise to $36,990. Washington University’s price tag is well above the national average and comes in at $52,892—tuition alone is $39,400.

At Washington University, student financial aid packages are determined by a formula that takes into account both tuition increases and a family’s financial situation.

“Students’ need is calculated based on cost of attending minus expected family contribution,” said Bill Witbrodt, director of Student Financial Services. “If tuition increases and the family expected contribution remains the same, students’ financial aid will follow as much as the tuition increases. This is how we work.”

Despite the University’s above-average price tag, the University was 13th in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Private Colleges ranking, which was released in October.

The Kiplinger ranking differs from traditional college assessments since selectivity and academics only account for two-thirds of the ranking. The remaining third is computed by factoring in variables such as average need-based aid, the percentage of students receiving non-need-based aid and average debt at graduation.

Though the University fell to 17th in average need-based aid awarded, it maintained the 14th spot among colleges in terms of average debt at graduation: $17,288.

The University was just ranked as America’s 35th most expensive school in a ranking compiled by CampusGrotto on Oct. 18.

Students agree that tuition is too high but acknowledge that the University has a strong financial aid system.

“The tuition is too high, but the financial aid is really good here,” sophomore Jennifer Stevens said. “It is obvious that Wash. U. provides much better quality in facilities and services than cheaper colleges. However, I sometimes don’t see where the tuition goes, especially when I’m sitting in big lecture classes.”

The annual forum where students and administrators discuss the tuition price for the next academic year will take place on Nov. 22.

Steve Givens, associate vice chancellor for public affairs, said that the University will announce the 2011-2012 tuition price in January, and while it is uncertain how much tuition will rise, he said that tuition will increase again next year.

“It makes you wonder what it is that causes our tuition to be so high in the first place,” she said. “Yes, education is incredibly expensive, but what are we doing that makes it so expensive?”

It’s official: Wash. U. ain’t cheap. The University recently made the top 35 schools in CampusGrotto’s ranking of most expensive schools, thanks to a total yearly price tag of $51,918.

Wash. U. certainly isn’t unique in its high cost. Nearly 50 colleges and universities in the CampusGrotto ranking topped the $50,000 mark, and 43 more demand upwards of $40,000. Nationwide, average college tuition has increased at three times the rate of inflation for the last two decades. And strikingly, despite its high cost, only about 60 percent of Wash. U. students receive financial aid.

Statistics have revealed the magnitude of the problem; now we need Wash. U. administrators to step up with solutions. Much has been made of the apparent lack of socioeconomic diversity on campus, but we feel that little has been done.

True, the University began a financial aid and scholarship initiative “Opening Doors to the Future” just over one year ago, with the ultimate goal of raising $150 million from alumni and friends of the University. But if costs for undergraduates continue to rise at the approximately 4 percent rate of the last couple of years, this money will hardly make a dent over the long term. Wash. U. needs to be attracting a greater number of students from middle-class and low-income backgrounds; instead of doing so, the money will probably end up assisting prospective and current students from the upper middle class, who are nevertheless on the financial margin of being able to afford a Wash. U. education.

We encourage the University to continue this scholarship initiative to raise the target amount of fundraising, but further steps are needed to move forward on socioeconomic diversity among undergraduates. For one, Wash. U.’s ostentatious facilities (think of the plasma TVs at Bear’s Den and the DUC) are not only unnecessary, they may turn lower-income students off. Though we appreciate how hard our University works to make campus beautiful, we can’t help but presume that some visiting students are overwhelmed by the excessive display of wealth.

We also feel that admissions officers should visit high schools that are more socioeconomically diverse and reach out to students from a broader spectrum of financial backgrounds. The Office of Alumni and Development targets a specific network of schools, many of which are high-caliber “feeder” high schools. Reaching out to students from different backgrounds—who are less likely to have heard of Wash. U. in the first place—will enhance opportunities for these students.

Most importantly, we want more information about where money is being spent and how the University plans to move forward. As Challa indicates, students have little idea of how our tuition money is used. More transparency won’t necessarily reduce the burden our families bear, but it will help generate ideas among the student body about what is and isn’t needed. That way, we can finally move forward.

This leads us to question why Student Health Services (SHS) cut EST funding by $8,000. Nothing about this service renders it ineffective enough to warrant a budget cut. EST, which is jointly funded by SHS and Student Union, receives block funding from SU and therefore cannot request more money from SU until next year. Even then, there is no guarantee that the student body will approve the new funds.

We recognize that SHS, like all other University departments, faces budget difficulties in light of the economic recession. Painful decisions must be made without sacrificing essential services such as mental health counseling and treatment for eating disorders. It seems that the hands of SHS are at least partially tied. But given that SHS does not extend care past business hours, we believe that administrators should not have made cuts to EST, the only source of emergency and late-night care for students other than calling 911.

SHS administrators have not returned several phone calls from Student Life regarding this matter last week.

As a result of this cut, each student will have to pay up-front costs of approximately $1,000 for the certification course required to become a member of EST, with some of the money being refunded upon completing a certain number of hours on-call. According to EST director Stephanie Higgins, this cut will not affect the services that EST provides.

What it could do, though, is seriously limit interested students’ ability to join EST. Few college students have an extra $1,000 lying around, and even fewer can actually spend a few months waiting for reimbursement.

Especially in light of recent initiatives that aim to promote socioeconomic diversity, we feel that this fee is unfortunate. We encourage Student Financial Services to look into assigning grants to students interested in working for EST, and we strongly recommend that the Diversity Affairs Council and Washington University For Undergraduate Socioeconomic Diversity (WU/FUSED) investigate how this fee will affect the students who wish to join EST.

We find it particularly unfortunate that, at a school with stellar residential capacities, high tuition and well-ranked food, more money can’t be found for EST –a service that is valuable for both the students it employs and the students it serves. This is a classic problem of budget allocation that the University often must deal with, solely on the basis of its size: Because money is funneled into many administrative departments, bureaucratic complication often stands in the way of efficient allocation.