Tuition costs hiked up
TRACKING CHANGES (Tim White)
According to the California State Treasury Department, the state has a debt hovering around the figure of $44,776,500,338. To the more fiscally informed community college student, this may not have come as a shock after receiving an e-mail titled “SOCCCD FEE INCREASE” on Aug. 8, 2009.
The fee increase, which raised tuition from $20 to $26, surprised many students who had already paid for their classes before the fees were raised.
“Things have to get paid for,” said Sara Tilden, 23, major undecided.
The campus is divided on the issue, but according to the Student Payment Office, there has not been any complaints regarding the matter.
Back in 2003, the price per unit at Saddleback was also at $26 per unit, due to the bind the state was in over the economy.
“The college received notification from the State Chancellor’s Office on Tuesday, July 28, that it was required to up the fee to the current $26 per unit it is at right now,” said Carol Hilton, director of fiscal services. “The fee was increased on the low side, and the state could have increased it to a much higher price.”
Prices are not expected to drop anytime soon with the current state budget, according to Hilton.
Saddleback College, as well as every other community college in California, all pay the same $26 per unit, which makes it the lowest-priced tuition in the United States.
In the end, people can be grateful that California still offers the cheapest community college tuition in the nation.