COCC Discussing Tuition Increases

Central Oregon Community College

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BEND, OR -- Central Oregon Community College's budget committee met Wednesday to discuss raising tuition by 6% for the 2010-2011 school year. COCC spokesman Ron Paradis was a guest Thursday morning on Wake Up Bend! He said due to the sudden growth on the Bend campus, funds are needed to ensure student needs are met.

"Our enrollment is up 85% in three years. That's almost double in a three-year period."

Paradis said the tuition increase, if passed, would tack on $4 per credit hour per semester, averaging out to $150 dollars addition per year for the average full time student. But he added that the school would receive much needed funding.

"Each dollar we raise tuition garners about $170,000 of income that would allow us to hire more faculty and staff to serve students."

Paradis said there have been a few groups, both representing students and staff, which have expressed reservation about raising tuition rates. He said the additional funds generated would help COCC better serve the area.

"The two major tenants of community college are accessible and affordable. And right now, we're not sure that we're accessible because each of the last four quarters, we've had to cut off enrolment and tell students ‘you can't sign up because there's no room', so we've got to balance that accessibility and affordability."

The 2009-2010 In-District tuition and fees at COCC are $3,093, the lowest of the 17 community college in Oregon. The COCC Budget Committee is expected to make a decision on the proposed tuition increase Wednesday April 14th.

Oregon Community Colleges In-District Tuition and Fees:

Southwestern: $4,095
Lane: $3,915
Treasure Valley: $3,825
Tillamook Bay: $3,729
Portland: $3,666
Rouge: $3,615
Mt. Hood: $3,521
Columbia Gorge: $3,510
Clatsop: $3,510
Chemeketa: $3,510
Oregon Coast: $3,495
Clackamas: $3,465
Klamath: $3,435
Linn-Benton: $3,330
Umpqua: $3,285
Blue Mountain: $3,272
Central: $3,093

Statistics provided by COCC

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