College of Charleston raises tuition for 2009-10

The College of Charleston Board of Trustees voted Monday to increase tuition for the 2009-10 academic year by seven percent for in-state students and seven percent for out-of-state students.

Tuition for in-state students will increase by $294 per semester for in-state students, and by $714 per semester for out-of-state students.

The board also voted to increase the differential tuition rate for The Graduate School of the College of Charleston by 5 percent.

To help offset the effects of the tuition increase, the College will increase the amount of financial aid available to students by $1.1 million.

“Because we understand the financial pressures many families face in the current economic environment, 15 percent of the tuition increase will be designated for financial aid,” said College of Charleston President George Benson. “The remainder of the funds will be used to pay for the operation of new academic facilities such as our new science center and our new arts center, and to pay for increased energy and maintenance costs.”

Tuition for in-state students for the 2009-10 academic year will be $4,494 per semester and $10,923 for out-of-state students.

In the past 12 month, the College of Charleston said it’s seen an approximate 24 percent cut in state funding, more than $8.8 million.