All community colleges across California are set to have another tuition increase this fall by 8.6 percent.
Last year’s which was an 8 percent increase. The cost for tuition goes up from $36 per unit to $46 per unit.
This new increase was made due to the new state budget that cuts $100 million from each school system.
State tuition costs are projected to reach $5,472, almost two times as much as they were five years ago.
Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal for 2012-13 will see students paying more for school, spending $150 more for 15 units students will also see shrinking faculty size and closing extra curricular activities.
The California Community College Chancellor’s office predicts an increase of Board of Governors fee waivers for low-income students form 56 percent to 70 percent with the state budget increase alone.
Despite the new increase, California remains the cheapest state in the nation when it comes to tuition, second only to New Mexico.
Business major Fader Shami expressed his disgust over the tuition increase.
“I feel like crying over the prices. It influenced me in a negative way and it makes me feel like I’m going to become homeless and it forces me to hustle hard for a dollar.”
Nursing major Jeffrey Manalang said that he is paying a total of $170 for four units alone. He also remembers tuition being $11 for one unit in 2004.
“I am working but for other students that depend on their parents or loans for money it would be an additional financial burden on top of other life expenses, which can be very frustrating,” Manalang said.
Elizabeth Aguilar, a returning student majoring in court reporting said learning about the tuition increase enablessteps in helping herself with the costs.
She now has a chance to budget her spending and save appropriately for the fall tuition prices.
“One of the best ways to cut budget is to get rid of these unneeded administrators and staff, there’s just too many of them, make them find a real job,” she said.
The vice president of business services David El Fattal elaborated on the new increases coming this Fall and said the state is basically legislating the increase to help them balance their budget.
The State gives money to schools depending on the number of students attending, when tuition is paid, the money is returned to the state (not the school). Whatever increase number there is, the state reduces money sent to the college thus affecting the students the most.
“Tuition in California is still the lowest in the country, Getting education you’re going to end up better off in your life”
El Fattal stated that colleges are forced to implement increase not because they want to but because it is legislated from the state feels students have every right to speak up and take actions being that this country is a democratic society.
“You’re going to make more money over the long run the more educated you are even with the rate escalating as it is it’s still a good value for what you’re receiving and for how it’s going to benefit you over your entire life,” he said.
