Tuition is a big concern for everyone here at RPI and all campuses across the country and the world. Last year the tuition for both undergraduate and graduate RPI students saw a seven percent increase from the previous year to $31,000. “This allows Rensselaer to move forward and provide a world-class technological environment and to compete,” said President Jackson on the issue of tuition at last year’s spring Town Meeting.
With the budgeting season concluding and the Board of Trustees budget meeting approaching, the Student Senate has been lobbying to keep any potential tuition increases to a minimum. Spearheading the issue are Grand Marshal Max Yates ’06 and Director of the Student Advocacy Corps Mike Goldenberg ’06. Goldenberg showed his confidence that “Max’s campaign and SAC complement each other perfectly and, if successful, will ensure a steady or even decreasing average cost of attendance for Rensselaer students.” When asked about expected tuition trends for next year, Yates stated that there is “no reason to believe we won’t see an increase next year” but that through their efforts they hope to keep it in line with inflation, approximately three or four percent.
One of the main points Yates brought up about the tuition increases was how the constant tuition hikes seem detrimental to the Institute’s goal of addressing the “quiet crisis” and revitalizing interest in science and engineering among students. Yates fears that if tuition continues to rise, more and more students will choose to attend other schools and pursue other careers with a cheaper education.
Yates met with Vice President for Finance Virginia Gregg on behalf of the students to discuss the broader issue surrounding tuition and the necessity to align expectations for the future of Rensselaer. Yates also expressed to her his understanding that “there is a certain price to pay for going to a technical school, especially for an aggressive school such as RPI” when considering that the expenditures on labs and equipment are much higher than a liberal arts college. He does not, however, believe that tuition could go up much higher, pointing out how it is becoming increasingly difficult for students to keep up with the cost.
The GM also spoke about his worries that these are not just a problem for RPI, but rather a national one, saying that “responsibility for this issue lies with Congress and all the other universities across the country.”
He did want to make it clear to students that he believes the administration “is not out to get students” and that they are indeed “keeping our interests in mind.” He explained that when tuition rises, many people look for a simple why, but there are many factors involved in the decision, including inflation levels, cost of living increases, cost of energy, and healthcare.
