Most students will pay another $106 to learn at Ball State next year, after the Board of Trustees raised in-state tuition to $2,266.
Students who live out of state will pay $6,475 -- $425 more than last year.
The health and technology fees will also increase. The new technology fee will increase to $136, while the health fee will increase to $63.
Melanie Scott, the student member of the Board of Trustees, opposed the increases because of their timing. Summer students, who started classes the same day tuition was increased, wouldn't have enough time to receive
financial aid, Scott said.
Yet administrators have maintained that tuition cannot be determined until the state decides how much money it will give Ball State.
When the current year began, Ball State was suffering from about $3.8 million in state budget cuts, and because of that, it raised tuition by 10.09 percent. This year, state legislators had both good news and bad news for the university.
Students will receive the $21 million Communications Building. President Blaine Brownell will receive the funding for his Building Better Community Initiative.
But most importantly, legislators restored half the budget cuts, which gave Ball State $1.9 million in lost funding.
They also helped pay for the new students this year and provided about $1 million over the next two years for research.
All of this added up to a smaller tuition increase for students on Monday. Tuition went up by about half of what it did this year, though that doesn't include the $1,000 tuition increase for new students. Faculty can also expect an average salary increase of 2.5 percent next year.
"The General Assembly did an excellent job," said Tom Morrison, director of state fiscal relations. "They prioritized higher education, and they prioritized Ball State."
Legislators, however, had only so much money to give to universities for the next two years, and some areas had to be sacrificed.
The state will not pay for any new students next year, leaving the university to pay to educate them.
And the state gave Ball State about 25 percent of what it asked for building repairs. Several renovation projects will now have to wait because of the lack of funds, said Kevin Kenyon, associate vice president, facilities planning and management
For example, Kenyon said he hoped to renovate the third and fourth floors of the West Quad Building to create room for departments. But it will have to wait, and the costs will continue to increase.
"Unless you fill that in future years, it just becomes a hole you can't fill," Kenyon said.
Athletic facilities, dining halls and residence halls will not be affected by the lack of money.
The proposed $8.5 million parking garage will also remain unscathed. The garage, which will be built south of the Music Instruction Building, will offer 600 parking spaces.
To help pay for the garage, trustees increased parking and registration fees Monday. In the fall of 2004, fees will increase from $40 to $60, and they will increase $5 per year until 2007.
Fees for all 11 violations will also increase, but some fees will double, including the fee for parking too long at meters. Starting this fall, students will pay $10 if the meter's time expires.
RATE INCREASES
Tuition for in-state students will be increased to $2,266.
Out-of-state students will pay $6,475.
Technology fee will increase to $136.
Health fee will now be $63.
$1,000 tuition increase will be in effect for first-year students.
Parking permit fees will increase from $40 to $60, with $5 rate increases each year until 2007.
Parking violations will increase; fee for parking too long at meter will increase to $10.
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