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YSU readies tuition increase
Trustees panel OKs 3.5% jump this fall
By Denise Dick
youngstowN
Undergraduate and graduate students at Youngstown State University likely will see a 3.5 percent tuition increase this fall.
YSU trustees’ finance and facilities committee on Tuesday approved the increase, effective for fall semester.
Gene Grilli, vice president for finance and administration, said the increase is needed to deal with a loss of state funding and to maintain academic quality and student services.
The increase will go before the full trustees board June 17 for final approval.
The change means a $126 increase — from $3,560 to $3,726 — per semester for full-time undergraduate students who live in Ohio.
For full-time students living in the 10-county region considered the Western Pennsylvania Advantage area, tuition will go up $131 per semester, from $3,700 to $3,831.
Full-time students living in the 15-county regional service area in Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia will see a $193 per-semester increase and full-time, out-of-state students outside of that region will pay $268 more per semester.
It also means an increase for graduate students.
Full-time, in-state graduates will pay $167 more per semester, from $4,788 to $4,956. Full-time, out-of-state tuition for graduate students will increase $172 per semester, from $4,888 to $5,060.
Trustees said the increase is an unfortunate but necessary move.
“It’s painful, but we can’t help it,” said Sudershan K. Garg, committee chairman.
The university is projecting a deficit of about $9.5 million for fiscal year 2012. The tuition increase will generate about $3.2 million.
“We never like to see tuition increase, but if we keep the educational quality up to where we’re accustomed to, and we have campus support, I support it,” said Scott R. Schulick, trustees chairman.
YSU’s tuition is the lowest of the state’s 11 largest universities and $1,600 below the state average.
“That is especially important in these difficult economic times,” YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson said. “We are equally committed to maintaining and advancing our quality academic programs and services for students.”
Last June, trustees approved a 3.5 percent tuition increase for both graduate and undergraduate YSU students, effective in fall 2010.
Also on Tuesday, Gov. John Kasich announced the appointment of David C. Deibel of North Lima as the newest YSU trustee. Deibel’s term runs through April 30, 2020. Deibel is the owner of Boardman Steel, Southern Boulevard.