Rutgers Hikes Tuition, Student Fees for 2018-2019 Academic Year
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Rutgers University Board of Governors today approved a 2.3 percent hike in tuition and fees, as well as increases for dorm rooms and meals, for the 2018-2019 academic year.
The increase now brings the annual cost for undergraduate students to $14,975, which is $337 more than this past school year.
Student housing will increase 1.9 percent, and dining services will go up 2.25 percent.
For a student living on campus, the total cost for tuition, room and meals on the New Brunswick campus will be $27,681, up 2.18 percent or about $590, university officials said.
At Rutgers University-Camden, rates will increase by similar percentages for typical Arts and Sciences undergraduates to $14,836 and, for those living on campus, to $27,172 for total charges. At Rutgers University-Newark, tuition and fees would increase to $14,410 and $27,946 for total charges for students living on campus.
University officials said the increase is consistent with the average hike of 2.3 percent at Rutgers over each of the last five years.
Kathy Dettloff, Rutgers vice president of financial planning and budgeting, said the increase puts the university in the middle of the increases at the other Big Ten schools, and in the middle for hikes at peer schools in the nation.
Dettloff also said most students will not pay the full price because of the various forms of financial aid. She said 70 percent of university receive financial assistance, in the form of grants, scholarships work-study programs and student loans.
“We understand that any increase is difficult for our students,” said Sandy Stewart, chair of the board, “but we must balance that with the need to provide access to the highest quality education for our students.”
Board members also approved a $4.3 billion university budget for the coming academic year, which reflects the hikes in tuition and other costs as well increases in enrollment at the three campuses.