Provost Stearns discusses raises in tuition costs

Provost Stearns looked at the causes of rising tuition in his blog (photo courtesy of Peter Stearns).

In a recent blog post, Provost Peter Stearns explained the reason for increases in tuition at George Mason University.

After a friend of the university mentioned to him that rising tuition costs could be a result of the school’s fiscal irresponsibility, Stearns researched the issue to check the validity of these claims.

“So for the record (all controlled for inflation): over the past eight years or so (and not just in response to the 2008ff fiscal crisis), the state has cut our per-student funding by 51%, or about $4000. That’s even counting the welcome but fairly slight increase in state funding this year,” wrote Stearns in his blog. “Largely in response, tuitions have risen about 104%, or a bit more than $4000. But almost all of this increase has been aimed at compensating for the state reduction.”

This raise in tuition has affected both in-state and out-of-state students. Eight years ago, in-state costs were about $4,000, now they are $9,420.

“Here’s the clear point: the main reason our tuitions have risen faster than inflation is because the state has changed its policy about paying for the majority of the costs of in-state student education,” Stearns wrote in his blog.

The state of Virginia used to cover two-thirds of in-state students’ educational costs. Now students must pay 75% of those costs.

Stearns reiterated that changes in the university’s tuition have nothing to do with senseless spending. It is completely related to changes in state funding.

Stearns also wrote that the university could potentially have found other ways to increase funds instead of raising tuition prices. Because university funding is almost entirely provided by tuition and state, tuition prices did increase when state resources decreased. However, there is a hope in the future to change the situation by looking to philanthropic sources.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia released a tuition and fees report for 2012 to 2013 indicating that all of Virginia’s public universities have seen tuition increases from 2011 to 2012. Mason’s tuition increased by $354 from 2011 to 2012. Meanwhile, Virginia Commonwealth University saw an increase of $368, University of Virginia $430, College of William and Mary $438, and James Madison University $360.

The Provost wrote the blog post to explain the real reason behind the rise in Mason’s tuition costs.

“To set the record straight because there's too much facile belief that university extravagance is the main problem. We should at least have the facts even if state cannot step up to help repair,” Stearns said.

The Provost's blog can be found at http://provostblog.gmu.edu.