Trustees vote to raise costs by $4 per credit

Sam Gauntt Managing Editor

AACC’s Board of Trustees voted in February to raise tuition and fees by $4 per credit hour starting next semester.

The increase is part of the $134,475,700 operating budget for fiscal year 2024, which the board approved at the same meeting.

As part of the approved budget, the college will raise in-county tuition by $2 per credit hour and increase student activity and athletic fees by $1 per credit hour each.

“The reason [for the tuition increase] is the guiding principle that we have for moderate tuition increases each year, versus going two or three years with no increase and then doing a large increase that’s inequitable,” Vice President for Learning Resources Management Melissa Beardmore told Campus Current. “Moderate increases, keeping pace with inflation, if you will. … We’ve been advised by students that that’s preferable to years with no increase, and then a big increase.”

Trustees also approved the 2024-29 capital budget, which funds construction, repairs on campus and renovations of buildings on campus, like Florestano and Dragun.

The college gets its funding from state and county