2008 Woodie Awards
Board approves tuition hike of 7.3 percent
Students will now pay $44,976 for annual comprehensive fee
By: Matt Day, News Editor
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: News
The cost of a Macalester education will rise to $44,976 for the 2008-2009 academic year, President Brian Rosenberg announced in a letter, which he sent out on Monday, to parents of current students. The comprehensive fee will go up $3,062 from this year's cost of $41,914, at an increase of 7.3 percent.
This year's tuition hike is due in part to an expansion of Macalester's academic offerings, like Arabic, Chinese and the new human rights concentration, as well as an increase in funding for study abroad programs, said David Wheaton, vice president of administration and finance.
"[The new academic programs] reflect the kind of world [students] are going into and in many ways that's what we try to do," Wheaton said.
The Board of Trustees approved the revised comprehensive fee during its conference call Jan. 15.
Blythe Austin '08, student liaison to the Board, said that the fee increase also factors in the additional programming that will come with the completion of the Macalester Athletic and Recreational Facility.
"The issue with the Board is you've got all these programs you want to fund, and you have to figure out how to do that," Austin said.
A graph included with Rosenberg's letter to parents shows the 2007-2008 comprehensive fees of the top 40 liberal arts colleges as ranked by US News & World Report. Macalester has the fourth lowest comprehensive fee of the group.
"I think we're doing a good job as one of the most selective schools in the country," Wheaton said.
"In next year's budget, we have increased our budget for student work, both by raising the hourly rate significantly and by expanding the available hours," Wheaton said. "Since over 70 percent of our students have some work hours, this may help mitigate the comprehensive fee increase in a small way."
The Board approves the comprehensive fee, a combination of tuition, room and board costs and the activity fee, each January so prospective students can consider the new figure before they commit to any school.
This year's tuition hike is due in part to an expansion of Macalester's academic offerings, like Arabic, Chinese and the new human rights concentration, as well as an increase in funding for study abroad programs, said David Wheaton, vice president of administration and finance.
"[The new academic programs] reflect the kind of world [students] are going into and in many ways that's what we try to do," Wheaton said.
The Board of Trustees approved the revised comprehensive fee during its conference call Jan. 15.
Blythe Austin '08, student liaison to the Board, said that the fee increase also factors in the additional programming that will come with the completion of the Macalester Athletic and Recreational Facility.
"The issue with the Board is you've got all these programs you want to fund, and you have to figure out how to do that," Austin said.
A graph included with Rosenberg's letter to parents shows the 2007-2008 comprehensive fees of the top 40 liberal arts colleges as ranked by US News & World Report. Macalester has the fourth lowest comprehensive fee of the group.
"I think we're doing a good job as one of the most selective schools in the country," Wheaton said.
"In next year's budget, we have increased our budget for student work, both by raising the hourly rate significantly and by expanding the available hours," Wheaton said. "Since over 70 percent of our students have some work hours, this may help mitigate the comprehensive fee increase in a small way."
The Board approves the comprehensive fee, a combination of tuition, room and board costs and the activity fee, each January so prospective students can consider the new figure before they commit to any school.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 52
Adam
posted 2/08/08 @ 1:13 PM CST
Are they kidding? $45,000?! For what?
Parent of Mac student
posted 2/10/08 @ 2:28 PM CST
So Macalester's "sticker" price is slightly below peer schools. But Rosenberg creatively dodges the question of where Macalester ranks in financial assistance, and whether Macalester will, like other leading schools, eliminate loans in the financial aid packaging. (Continued…)
Marc
posted 2/10/08 @ 3:29 PM CST
This is ridiculous. Did anyone else see the irony in having this article placed alongside the lead article, "Athletic Center's Interior Unveiled"?
Will
posted 2/15/08 @ 12:48 PM CST
Regarding Parent of a Mac student-
Unfortunately, the few schools that have been able to eliminate loans in financial aid packaing have substantially more resources than does Macalester. (Continued…)
Mac Parent
posted 2/15/08 @ 10:19 PM CST
Thanks for the response. My student receives $6,000 in subsidy to attend Macalester each year, all of it is merit-based, and $3,000 of it comes from an outside scholarship source. (Continued…)
Mac Parent
posted 2/16/08 @ 11:58 AM CST
Matt, if you'd be kind enough to mention your last name I'll make sure my daughter doesn't date you (just kidding, but really, I'm not just kidding -- I mean, imagine you marrying someone in the same situation and having a combined $150,000 in education debt as you try to begin your lives together. (Continued…)
Mac Parent
posted 2/16/08 @ 12:07 PM CST
Matt, one other piece of advice for your parents -- because they cosigned the plus loans they are still liable to pay those, even if something happens to you (death, disability, etc. (Continued…)
Parent
posted 2/18/08 @ 8:59 AM CST
When Macalester reports average financial aid numbers does that include loans? The loans don't discount the cost; they are simply a "deferred payment" mechanism. (Continued…)
will
posted 2/23/08 @ 9:22 AM CST
Regarding the questions about the average financial aid package:
The average student on financial aid gets almost $30,000 in financial aid each year. (Continued…)
Parent
posted 2/23/08 @ 11:44 AM CST
A previous student poster mentioned that he'd graduate with over $75,000 in debt, so I'm assuming he is one of the "outliers", which is indeed unfortunate for him. (Continued…)
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