Tuition well above national increase

Although tuition and room and board costs have risen just five percent nationwide in the past year, Cabrini's have increased more than nine percent.

by Linsey Heiser staff writer

It's no secret that Cabrini's tuition has been rising by the year.

Most schools' tuition rises, but Cabrini's is rising more than the national average.

According to a study recently released by The College Board, tuition and fees nationwide rose less than .five percent for the current school year, the smallest increase in four years.

According to The College Board, the average student at a four-year, private school paid $15,380, or $671 more this school year than last, a 4.6 percent increase.

The increase in Cabrini's tuition from last year to this year was higher than $671 and the tuition is now very close to the national average.

Cabrini's tuition is $15,250 for the 1999-2000 school year. From the 1998-1999 school year to this year, the tuition rose $1,350. This is a nine percent increase, well above the five percent national average.

Cabrini's room and board for the 1999-2000 school year is $7,200. Students are paying $300 more than last year, which is a four percent increase, just above the national average.

According to The College Board, students at four-year private colJeges this year are paying $5,959, a $205 increase, or 3.6 percent. Cabrini's room and board fee is well above the national average.

Cabrini has seen an increase in tuition and fees from year to year, but none as significant as the rise in the last year.

For example, from the 19961997 school year to the 1997-1998 school year, Cabrini's tuition went up $1,040 and room and board went up only $130. This is only a six percent increase.

UNDERGRADUATE CHARGES, 1998-2000

From the 1995-1996 school year to the 1996-1997 school year, tuition and room and board only rose about four percent.

In addition to paying tuition and room and board, Cabrini students also have to pay $750 in additional fees. These fees include a student activity fee, which is $150 a year, a computer fee of $100 a year and a general fee of $500 a year.

With the fees, tuition and room and board, residents at Cabrini are paying just over $23,000, which does not include book costs and other school supplies.

This may seem high, but it is very close to the national average of $23,651 for residents at fouryear private colleges, according to The College Board.

According to Nancy Santos Gainer, director of college relations, several factors contribute to why Cabrini's rate of tuition increase is higher than the national

Nationwide increase levels off

average.

"At Cabrini, we struggle to keep pace with technology developments, and these developments are costly," Gainer said. "Also, over the past few years Cabrini has heavily invested into computer technology and subsequent upgrades."

According to Gainer, Cabrini is trying to keep pace with ongoing upgrades and maintenance with the technological infrastructure.

It takes a lot of money to keep pace with some technological aspects that are required in colleges, according to Gainer.

Some of the other contributions to the higher rate of tuition increase include the Phase II renovations of Founders Hall, which is the construction of the new communications center, the renovations of the Sullivan House and the hiring of four new faculty members for the 1999-2000 school year.