Community college students to pay more

Tuition likely will rise again next fall for thousands of students at community colleges in Washington, meaning the annual cost of attending the two-year schools has jumped by $1,215 in a decade.

The increase for the fall will be small, but with other costs will almost certainly push the cost of attending one quarter to more than $1,000.

Earlier in the year, the Legislature gave the colleges a green light on raising tuition just 2 percent for the fall quarter. That means yearly tuition for a full-time student would go from $2,676 to $2,730 -- a difference of about $55.

The Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges is set to approve a tuition increase Thursday.

When the board discussed the seemingly small tuition increase during a meeting at North Seattle Community College on Wednesday, some wondered whether students would perceive paying more than $1,000-per-quarter for tuition and books as a financial hardship.

If so, some worried students might decide not to enroll at all.

"It does look large to a student who is counting dollars," said board member Tom Koenninger, an editorial columnist for The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver. He said he's worried about how students might perceive a higher price tag during an economic downturn.

But others pointed out that tuition is a key revenue generator for the 34-college system. Administrators are seeking about $5 million in additional revenue for 2009.

In the past several years, board members have opted to keep increases lower for part-time students in an effort to keep the cost of the degrees more in line with those of a full-time student. That's because part-time students pay a higher per-class cost than full-time students.

This year though, the board's staff recommended an across-the-board 2 percent increase for all students who are Washington residents. The staff is recommending tuition for nonresident students be increased from $7,884 to $7,944, and that the cost of upper-division credits for applied baccalaureate degrees be raised 5 percent.

The cost of attending community college in Washington is low compared with tuition in some states. This year's tuition is below the national average, according to data compiled by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

There are 23 states that have pricier resident tuition; New Hampshire is most expensive at $5, 900 for a standard year. California's community college system is least expensive, charging just $600 for the same number of credits, according to the data.

Students at Seattle Central Community College had mixed feelings about the impending increase Wednesday. No one wanted to pay more, but some said they don't worry too much about increases because of financial help from parents, loans or government help.

However, those who work to pay for classes said that even small expenses are felt keenly. And $1,000 a quarter for tuition and books seems like a lot of money.

Second-year student Nicole LaBrie said she works so she can attend school part-time, and so do many of her classmates.

"This campus is a working-class campus," she said. "People of all different ethnicities come here. We're not a rich campus."

In the past, some community college students have turned to private loans to finance their education, as some two-year schools -- the Seattle community college system included -- don't offer federally backed loans. But with a national credit crunch threatening the future of private student loans, some students might have a tougher time coming up with tuition money.

"I can barely afford this now, but I can't get any financial aid," said Polina Tereshina, a second-year Seattle Central student. "Two percent is manageable. But then 2 percent is going to be 4 percent next year and 6 percent the year after that."