By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – Incoming students at Illinois State University will pay a bit more than last year’s crop of students.

The university’s Board of Trustees on Saturday approved a 1.6 percent total increase in tuition and fees.  This does not include an increase in room and board rates. President Larry Dietz said the university did its best to keep the increase modest.

“We wanted to make sure that we had costs that were modest this year in light of the tough economic situations all over the state,” said Dietz. “When we decided that we can probably make it OK without an increase in room and board this year that helped keep the other costs down.”

Dietz said the increase is primarily due to expect cuts in state funding, although ISU does not know yet how much the cut will be.

Under the increase, new in-state freshman will pay $359 per credit hour this coming year. Out-of-state freshman will pay $620 per credit hour. In-state graduate students will pay $374 and out-of-state graduate students will pay $777.

Despite the decision, Dietz does not believe ISU will be any less attractive to prospective students.

“We are a Money Magazine top 25 Best Value for the Cost institution in the county, top ten percent in terms of graduation and retention rates,” said Dietz. “People are realizing that and they’re voting with their feet.

“We want to keep the cost realistic and reasonable and I think we’ve done that.”

Dietz noted roughly 70 percent of ISU students will not be affected by the new rates, due to the school’s four year price guarantee.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].