SWCC tuition to increase

In addition to raising the tax levy and the Iowa legislative session providing $7.2 million in new money for community colleges, the Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees approved a tuition increase Tuesday at their monthly meeting.

“This proposed increase plants us right in the middle if everyone does exactly what they say they’re going to,” SWCC interim Chief Financial Officer Bill Meck told the board. “I think it’s a very representative increase of what’s happening across the state this year.”

The recommendation was for a $6 per credit hour increase for the 2023-24 school year. The change results in a 2.84% increase.

“Just looking at the rest of the data throughout the state, we’ve got six colleges that are proposing or have already ratified increases that would result in their rates being in excess of $220,” Meck said. “The remaining nine will range anywhere from $185, which is the low at DMACC, to anything under $220.”

SWCC’s resident cost has increased from $198 to $204 while non-resident and international students will pay $211, an increase from $205.

The increase was smaller than the previous year when the board approved a $9 increase. Over the past 10 years, tuition has increased by more than 30%.

While board member Jerry Smith asked how much $1 per credit hour is equivalent to with current enrollment, Meck said their isn’t an exact answer.

“I wish I could tell you that it was a marginal number,” Meck replied. “We don’t have a large population of credit hours that this particular increase will apply to. I think we’re talking somewhere in the neighborhood of $16,000 to $17,000 per hour.”

A lot of SWCC’s credit hours come from high school and online students who are subjected to different pricing factors.

Smith followed with a question about increasing the rate for concurrent enrollment.

“The way that we have those set, they will see that increase at some level,” SWCC interim President Lindsay Stoaks said.

The change is expected to generate an additional $100,000 in revenue.