Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents Takes Step to Help Students Afford College; Approves Zero Percent Increase in Tuition, Fees, Room and Board

YPSILANTI, Mich., April 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents approved a $280.9 million budget Tuesday, but the most important numbers in the plan were three zeros, as it unveiled a "0-0-0" percent increase in tuition, fees and room and board.

"Keeping higher education affordable and accessible is critical to our goal of doubling the number of college graduates in Michigan," Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said.  "I applaud the Board of Regents for its commitment to keeping the dream of a college education alive, because of what it means in individual lifetime earnings and the state's economic future." 

"Eastern Michigan cares about its students and the state," said Roy Wilbanks, chair of the board of regents. "We are a partner in our state's success. During these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever to support our students."

"We believe this is the right recommendation, at the right time, for Eastern and for Michigan taxpayers and citizens," said Susan Martin, president of Eastern Michigan University. "We have a responsibility to take the risk this decision represents to step up and help our families afford college in Michigan. Our low tuition, room and board rates are the result of increased enrollment and management focus on cost savings and efficiencies as well as increased vigilance in all areas of spending. At the same time, we have been able to maintain reinvestment in new faculty, authorizing 43 faculty searches for Fall 2010 and state of the art instructional academic facilities such as the $90 million science complex and renovation of Pray Harrold, our largest classroom building."

Eastern Michigan had the lowest tuition increase, 3.82 percent, among public universities and colleges in the state last year.

With no increase in tuition and fees, room and board, an in-state Eastern undergraduate student who is taking 30 credit hours a year will pay $8,377 for tuition and fees. Room and board for the standard 18-meal, double occupancy room will remain fixed at $7,786.

Included in the $280.9 million budget for Eastern is a year-to-year increase of $1.4 million in financial aid. In the past three years, Eastern will have increased its University-sponsored financial aid by $9 million to $30.4 million, a 42 percent increase.

SOURCE Eastern Michigan University