By Bethany Peterson/editor-in-chief
Tuition will go up in the spring, but TCC students don’t think the sky is falling.
The TCC board of trustees voted Aug. 29 to increase the tuition rate by $2 to $52 a credit hour in the spring.
Some students said they receive financial aid, so higher tuition won’t touch their wallets. South student Chelsea Oakley is one of these.
“I don’t think that really makes a difference,” she said.
On TR Campus, Pepe Nava said he didn’t see the increase as a big concern.
“Just $2 per hour,” he said, “seeing as most students that come here are on financial aid and they probably use that for things they don’t need, it’s probably not that big a problem.”
SE Campus English student David Ysasi said the increase won’t affect him because his military benefits cover his tuition.
However, Ysasi said he does see some who are struggling.
“It might affect them more,” he said.
Students put the $2 increase in various perspectives. For instance, Andrietta Baxter, a NW Campus student, put it in food terms.
“You go buy a Coke for $2, and what’s the difference?” she said.
Sayara Velasco, another NW Campus student, still thinks TCC is a good deal.
“TCC is already cheap as is, as opposed to universities,” she said.
NE Campus student Kelly Colwell, who was at TCC years before, saw it in a wider sense.
“It was $29 a semester hour when I first started,” she said. “Now it’s over $50. It’s expected because of the economy. Everything is going up. It’s not that much compared to a university. But on the community college level, it is. Lower prices are expected at community college. It makes a difference to those who don’t get financial aid.”
On NW Campus, Chau Tran hopes tuition doesn’t continue to increase.
“Two dollars is OK, but if it gets any higher, I’ll consider going elsewhere,” she said.
Jose Caballero, another NW Campus student, thinks raising tuition to cover improvements to the college is fair.
“I pay a little extra, and my school gets to be a little nicer,” he said.
Ysasi is concerned with how the benefits will be distributed.
“The other campus programs are getting more of the benefits than we [SE Campus] are,” he said. “South is getting an energy program. NW is getting an aviation program. What are we getting other than renovations?”
