University of Michigan students can expect a 'moderate' tuition hike next fall
University of Michigan students can expect another tuition increase this fall, a top-ranking school official warned a group of faculty members Monday.
That increase, however, will be less severe than the 6.7 percent hike students experienced in 2011-2012.
Hanlon said U-M's "mandatory costs" rose roughly $10 million last year. At the same time, state support has dipped in recent years. U-M lost $47.5 million state dollars in 2011-2012 and will see an approximate 1.4 percent gain in state support next year.
"We have cost rivers we can't even control," Hanlon said, explaining that this year's increase "will be much more moderate" than the 6.7 percent hike students recently experienced.
Hanlon did not offer an estimate of the increase.
He also said that it's unlikely the university will freeze tuition or rollback tuition cost in the near future.
"That would be very damaging to the university," he said of a rollback. "It would be very difficult for us to handle that."
Tuition increases must be approved by the U-M Board of Regents. Changes in tuition rates are traditionally discussed at the board's June meeting.
Hanlon said that minimal state support and rising costs will affect other university operations as well. The school has saved about $400 million in health care and administrative costs by cutting back offerings and streamlining administrative offices.
The university will begin looking at poor-performing components of its academic enterprise as it makes further cuts, Hanlon said.
"We are going to have to impact the academic enterprise more than we have in the past, just because the low hanging fruit is gone at this point," Hanlon said, explaining that already in the past year the university has shuttered six of its centers and institutes.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
Eileen
Wed, Feb 22, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
I encourage kids to really push themselves and try to get into Harvard....it's cheaper!!
redwingshero
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 9:02 p.m.
"Every year our costs are going up." Sounds more like a systemic issue than something out of their control. Perhaps they should watch the salaries of tenured professors, administrators, etc. and see where the fat needs to be cut. It's either that or push the alumni association to have more phone-athons during the year to get more pledges.
redwingshero
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 8:34 p.m.
After making the tuition announcement, Dean Wormer told all the students that he is all for promoting good health and it was now time for all of them to go down to the health center for their annual physicals. Moderate tuition hike? Moderate is just an adjective to describe the discomfort most guys have with the last procedure of an annual checkup...
xmo
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.
Thank Goodness President Obama (Hope & Change) solve this problem for College Students and Parents already! Remember he gave a speech that solved this problem in Ann Arbor. Plus the economy is picking up, 8% unemployment, gas prices are up, etc It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day!
Michigan Man
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
How can this be? Was not POTUS just in Ann Arbor just days ago announcing reductions in the cost of elite higher education. Did U of M clear this "moderate" tuition hike with the White House? The recent Obama speech in Ann Arbor was just laughable. Hope no one really bought into that delusion and the bogus Obama promises?
bruceae
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
Well, they might have to keep the tuition increase under 4% so they can get the additional state money. Of course that just means they will add more on to the various fees they have that don't get as much attention. But the other article says record applications for enrollment so why should they care what they charge? People are still lining up to get in.
UtrespassM
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.
As long as UM is able to have more parents willing to pay and send their kids here, the tuition will raise up and up. As a UM mom, I have no choice. My child couldn't be accepted by Harvard, MA, neither Stanford, Ca.
Pickforddick
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 11:29 p.m.
I also agree with this post....unlike some.
The Black Stallion3
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 11:21 p.m.
I do not take offense to this post at all.........I agree with it.
julieswhimsies
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.
OH NO! Your child wasn't accepted at Harvard, or Stanford, so you had to dumb down and send her/him to the UM, home of the STUPID? I think there are a few schools who would have something to say about that...perhaps Yale, Brown, Columbia, and the dozens of really GREAT State universities all across America, including Michigan. There are a lot of people reading this who are taking offense at your elitist post.
redwingshero
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 8:53 p.m.
I thought UofM said that they woudl start restricting the number of admissions in the short future. Over-capacity or an excuse to raise tuition. Kids have plenty of choices for schools. Always cheaper alternatives for comparible education (depending on program of study). Or at least communityi college for the gen ed requirements.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 12:02 p.m.
Its all part of the plan to destroy the middle class. First get rid of manufacturing, then make it so only the elite can afford college.
Carole
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
There should be no tuition hike at all. In fact that should be a decrease in the massive salaries that UM administrators receive. There is a good deal of waste at the UM that could be cut thus allowing for no hike and even a decrease in tuition.
laurami8
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 5:01 a.m.
Raise hell not tuition....
Sparty
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 4:20 a.m.
Que the university bashing, as the haters begin their ranting ..... Conspiracy and drama abounds.
JustMyOpinion
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 12:01 a.m.
Yet massive raises and salaries for Dean's are not a problem. There is something VERY wrong with this school's priorities.