Austin Community College District trustees voted Monday night to increase tuition by $5 per credit hour for all students, effective summer 2011. In-district tuition will be $47 per hour; out-of-district tuition will be $155 per hour.
In-district tuition applies to students who reside within ACC’s taxing district, which includes the city of Austin as well as the Austin, Leander, Manor, Del Valle, Round Rock, Elgin, and Hays school districts. Out-of-district tuition applies to students who live outside the taxing district but within Texas.
This summer, ACC trustees plan to consider possible additional increases that may go into effect fall 2011 and spring 2012.
“We don’t like to raise tuition, but we are facing an extremely tough economy,” says Dr. Barbara Mink, chair of the ACC Board of Trustees. “This is a modest increase that allows us to partially offset drastic cuts in state funding while maintaining quality programs and services. We will look at all options for cost savings, because we are mindful of the impact a tuition increase has on students.”
ACC continues to expand scholarship opportunities, and the college offers a variety of payment options to help students. The college’s budget development process provides for a number of institutional efficiencies. These include streamlining course schedules and reducing the administrative budget by 10 percent.
The college has three primary sources of funding: local property tax revenue, state appropriations, and student tuition/fees. Property tax revenue is expected to stay flat in the upcoming fiscal year, and state appropriations are expected to fall approximately 20 percent before accounting for enrollment growth. ACC is currently growing by more than 4,000 students annually (enrolling a record 45,056 credit students this semester). Considering the failure to fund growth, the net loss in state aid is more than 30 percent.
“The state has put us in a very difficult position; however, ACC remains dedicated to providing an affordable option for higher education,” says Dr. Mink. “We will maintain our focus on student success and providing access to programs that encourage economic growth in Central Texas.”
Summer 2011 registration starts April 7 for current and former ACC students. New students can register for summer classes beginning May 2. For more information on applying and registering, please visit austincc.edu/apply.
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By Ken April 7, 2011 - 11:38 pm
Nice to see that there is a SEVERE budget crisis that requires an 11.9% in tuition costs for the summer and another planned tuition increase in the fall to students, yet ACC has plenty of money to buy land at Highland Mall. What a bunch of hypocrites. It’s always the students who pay while the overpaid administrators continue to collect more than they are worth. How about a 10% pay cut for administrators, instead of cutting everywhere else.
By International Student April 8, 2011 - 7:41 pm
That’s not cool,especially for international students who cannot even find on campus jobs and are not allowed to work off campus. This falls back on their families back home who already tie their belts so high, to afford the tuitions. Am sure they’re keeping all the money to build that new campus on the ancient macy hall(forgotten the street) and they make us pay for that.This is no more a community college. Soon we’ll have the same tuition as 4 yrs universities.
By International Student April 8, 2011 - 7:43 pm
@ken for real,i vote for the 10% pay cut for administrators
By Chris Eddleman April 10, 2011 - 4:00 pm
I see alot ways to cut what is already there , one way is to hold the teachers and the administrators accountable for the quality of the education that we recieve while on campus. More accounability and less gripping about cuts ,let the teachers teach and get the administration out of the way for them to do so.
By Jacqueline June 21, 2011 - 10:44 am
Im not happy that while registering for class the payment cost increased $130 per 3 credit hours….. The very least yall could have done was send out a mass email to all the students to let them know.