Anticipating No Increase in State Aid, RVCC Board Passes Resolution for Modest Tuition Increase
Faced with a continued decline in enrollment due to changing demographics and no expected increases in aid from the State of New Jersey or the Counties of Somerset and Hunterdon, Raritan Valley Community College’s Board of Trustees voted last night to raise tuition a modest $4 a credit. The new tuition of $147 per credit will take effect for the Fall 2017 semester.
“We recognize the importance of keeping the cost of a college education within reach for our all of our students. When deciding on any tuition increase, we carefully balance the College’s commitment to keeping tuition affordable with the need to invest in academic programs and support services that are critical to our students’ success,” said RVCC President Michael J. McDonough.
For the average full-time student taking 30 credits during the academic year, tuition would increase by $120. For the average part-time student taking 12 credits during the academic year, tuition would increase by $48.
The tuition increase is based on a projected budget of $54.9 million for FY 2018 that is expected to be voted on at the March 21 Board of Trustees meeting. The budget represents a 3.3% increase over last year. The increase is due to rises in contractual costs for employee healthcare and other benefits; a continued decline in the size of the area high school graduation classes; and additional operating expenses related to the new Workforce Training Center.
Following is a list of the new tuition rates approved by the Board and effective for the Fall 2017 Semester:
Fall 2017 Tuition Schedule
| Hunterdon/Somerset County Residents | $147 per credit |
| Out-of-county residents (Board grants a waiver of $40 per credit to students who provide verification of employment in Somerset or Hunterdon Counties) | $187 per credit |
| Out-of-state residents | $187 per credit |
| Early College Program | $200 for all courses taken at participating high schools; regular College tuition and fees apply to all courses taken at the main campus. |
| RVCC Online Courses & NJ Virtual Community College Courses | $194 per credit; no fees charged. |
| Hunterdon/Somerset Senior Citizens minimum age 65. One course per semester on a space available basis. May register during the 5 business days prior to course start. | No tuition assessed; $32 enrollment service fee. Course books/materials extra cost. Audit status, no credit awarded. |
| NJ National Guard & Reserves | Free tuition for up to 16 credits per term for individual only; fees apply. |
| Volunteer Emergency Medical Personnel and Firefighters | Free tuition for up to $600 per year and $2,400 lifetime per family of volunteer; fees apply. |
| September 11 Victims’ Families | Free tuition for children and spouses of victims; fees apply. |
Raritan Valley Community College’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. Serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for close to 50 years, RVCC is an educational and cultural center that is nationally recognized for its innovative programming, service to the community and environmental leadership. The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, professional development and personal enrichment courses. The College also has a performing arts center and planetarium.
RVCC is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community’s businesses, and state-of-the-art technology. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2017
Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383
PR #113