No base tuition increase for fall 2015 in-state freshmen
UIC is Chicago’s largest research university, with about 27,500 students.
Base tuition for fall 2015 in-state University of Illinois freshmen will be the same as the rate for fall 2014, the university announced Jan. 15. Incoming freshmen will pay the same base tuition for the next four years under the state’s guaranteed tuition law.
Tuition differentials in five academic units on the Chicago campus will increase modestly. Student fees at UIC will increase by 1 percent and room-and-board rates will rise by 2 percent.
The tuition and fee rates for the three University of Illinois campuses for the 2015-16 academic year were approved Jan. 15 by the university Board of Trustees at its meeting at UIC.
University of Illinois President Robert Easter said a zero base-tuition increase will help keep the university competitive with peer institutions and ease the financial burden on students, including those from families with incomes that are not low enough to qualify for federal or state financial aid, but not high enough to cover costs on their own.
“Holding tuition rates steady reflects our ongoing commitment to our students and our land-grant mission — providing an affordable, high-quality education to the children of all classes,” Easter said.
Base tuition for in-state students next fall will match rates for the 2014-15 academic year: $10,584 at UIC, $12,036 a year for the Urbana-Champaign campus and $9,405 for the campus in Springfield.
Tuition differentials, which cover additional costs for selected areas of study, will increase by $50 to $170 a year for all UIC freshmen enrolled in business administration, engineering, nursing, movement sciences/kinesiology and health information management. There will be no change in differentials for other Chicago academic units or on the Urbana-Champaign and Springfield campuses.
A policy enacted by trustees in 2011 holds down student costs by limiting tuition increases to the cost-of-living index or below, barring significant reductions in state funding or other university support.
Over the last decade, the university has ramped up efforts to protect the most financially vulnerable students, increasing institutional financial aid more than fourfold to $84 million annually. Through state, federal, university and donor-provided financial aid, half of undergraduates pay less than full sticker price across its three campuses.
By setting tuition in January, the university aims to make the planning process easier on families and allow more time to firm up financial aid.
Student fees and residence hall rates for 2015-16 were also approved by trustees Jan. 15.
Student fees, which help fund campus recreational facilities, student unions, career services, athletics, counseling centers, libraries and other costs, will rise 1 percent to $3,092 per year at UIC, 1.1 percent to $3,018 per year at Urbana-Champaign, and 2.3 percent to $2,016 per year at Springfield.
The cost for a double-occupancy room and standard meal plan in UIC residence halls will increase 2 percent to $10,728 per year in UIC residence halls; 1.5 percent to $10,332 per year at Urbana-Champaign and 0.5 percent to $10,700 per year at Springfield.
