Undergraduate tuition increase approved

The Lehigh University Board of Trustees last week approved a 5.5 percent increase in undergraduate tuition for the 2007-08 academic year. As a result, tuition will increase by $1,840, from $33,470 to $35, 310.
The total cost of attending Lehigh will be $44,950, an increase of $2,260, or 5.3 percent.
Typical room and board charges will go up by 4.7 percent to $9,340, an increase of $420. The technology fee will remain at $300, while the engineering/science fee charged to all engineering and upper class students with a declared major in a natural science will increase by $30, from $350 to $380.
There will be no increase in graduate tuition for the coming year. Per credit-hour graduate tuition will remain at current levels which include:
• College of Arts and Sciences, $990
• College of Business and Economics, $630
• Education, $510
• P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, $990
In addition, the per credit-hour cost of the MBA and Engineering program will remain at $760, and the per credit-hour cost of the MBA/Educational Leadership program will hold steady at $570.
In order to support those with financial need, Lehigh will make available an additional $4.6 million for grants and scholarships next year from the university’s endowment and other funds. The undergraduate financial aid pool will grow by 9.7 percent, to more than $52 million—the highest level ever.
Student scholarships are one of the key goals of Shine Forever: The Campaign for Lehigh. And to date, $70 million has been raised to help create 350 new endowed scholarships.
Among the numerous factors cited as contributing to the tuition increase are investments in many of the university’s academic priorities and student life, including the Global Citizenship program, ArtsLehigh, and the minor in business for non-business students; and investments in facilities, such as the extensive renovation of Linderman Library, and learning resources through Library and Technology Services, such as e-classrooms and electronic journals.
Also, the university has enhanced academic programming to expand multicultural experiences and has provided programs to help students make wise, informed choices, such as enhancing the first-year experience to support students’ transition into college life, and the Matter of Degree program, designed to provide a healthy and safe environment for students. In addition, the rapid rise in energy costs during the past year has significantly increased costs related to heating and transportation at the university.