Huntington announces low tuition increase for 2006-07
FOR RELEASE: Sunday, January 29, 2006
Huntington, Ind. "The Huntington University Board of Trustees has approved a 2 percent increase for full-time undergraduate tuition for 2006-2007, administrators announced today. This is the second year for low or no price increases at the Christian liberal arts college. The low two percent tuition increase for next year comes on the heels of a zero percent tuition increase for this current academic year and is helping to make a Huntington University education an even better value. These conservative pricing efforts, combined with a new expansion of our Merillat Scholar Grant program, will make Huntington a more affordable option for many high school students, said Jeff Beggren, vice president of enrollment management and marketing.
The Independent Colleges of Indiana ranks Huntington's tuition and fees twentieth of the 31 privately funded colleges and universities in the state Across the United States, the average tuition and fees at four-year private institutions this year is $21,235, reflecting an average increase of 5.9 percent over 2004-05, according to College Board's 2005-2006 annual survey of colleges.
Annual tuition at Huntington University is currently $18,060. The 2 percent increase for the 2006-2007 academic year means that a full-time student at Huntington will pay only $180 more in tuition per semester. Huntington's 2 percent rise in tuition is expected to be one of the lowest increases in the state this year.
Huntington University is working diligently to moderate any tuition increases while allocating appropriate resources to provide a high quality program. Our hope is that in doing so, we will be able to provide a great value at an affordable price to students and their families, said Tom Ayers, the University's vice president for business & finance.
Results of the Student Satisfaction Inventory " a national survey of college students " indicate that Huntington University students are more satisfied with their overall experience at the institution than students at many other public and private universities around the country.
According to survey data, Huntington students believe the tuition they pay is a better investment than students who participated in the Student Satisfaction Inventory at other public and private schools, Berggren said.
Approximately 90 percent of Huntington University students receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans or work-study assistance.
Recently, the University announced a measure that will allow some students to qualify for higher scholarships through the Merillat Scholar Grant program. Students who are children of Huntington alumni, members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, or student leaders in Youth for Christ or Young Life will be able to stack qualifying criteria and receive additional scholarship funds. Students who meet one of the criteria will be eligible for up to $3,500 in aid. Those who meet two criteria will be eligible for up to $4,500, and if all three criteria are met, an additional $500 will be awarded. Merillat Scholar Grants are given through the generosity of the Merillat Foundation.
Huntington University has also expanded its Church Matching Grant program. When participating churches help pay for their members' tuition at Huntington, the University will match those funds up to $500 per student. For churches of the United Brethren in Christ, the University's sponsoring denomination, the University will now match up to $1,000.
