Rational Tuition Policy

SUNY’s tuition is among the nation’s lowest. In addition, there has been only one in-state undergraduate tuition increase during the past 13 years, a 29%, $950 increase in 2003, which was implemented to offset a major reduction in state support.

• A rational tuition policy is necessary for SUNY to sustain its ability to properly serve the 439,000 students with which we have a contract for higher education; and for them and their parents to plan for their educational costs.
  
• Last month, the SUNY Student Assembly voted to enact a rational tuition plan. That sent a strong signal that a plan for rational tuition must be approved as the foundation for a stronger SUNY that will continue to fulfill its mission to our students of providing an accessible and affordable education while advancing excellence.
  
• The Student Assembly has resolved that New York State can neither afford nor accept the “irrational tuition policy” that currently exits which allows for $950 increases such as in 2003. A rational tuition plan brings predictability and removes tuition policy-making from the political constraints currently placed on it by our state leaders.
  
• A rational tuition plan includes predictable and annual tuition increases tied directly to an inflationary index, in this case the Higher Education Pricing Index (HEPI).
  
• The tuition revenue will allow the University to invest in academic quality initiatives such as full-time faculty, scholarships and program development; allow campuses to deliver services especially for economic development to their communities and enable SUNY to handle current and anticipated budget reductions and income shortfalls (i.e. endowment, gifts, etc) in this period of economic uncertainty.
  
• The SUNY Board has adopted a rational tuition policy that builds upon the tenants of investing in academic quality. The Board’s action raises tuition in accordance with the Higher Education Price Index. For the Spring 2009, the tuition increase equals $310 or two (2) HEPI units…annualized to $620 beginning in the Fall 2009. This $310 tuition increase in the first since 2003 and will allow SUNY campuses to maintain the academic quality they promised their current student body.