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New Law Could Impact Community College Tuition Rates

John A Logan College

Community colleges in Illinois sometimes face a disincentive for wanting to keep tuition rates lower. A potential law change might make things easier. But opponents of the current rules say they come with unintended consequences.
 
Rockford's Rock Valley College trustees will meet Tuesday night to vote on a proposed rate hike. The plan would add $6 to the school’s tuition rate of $93 per credit hour. Rock Valley officials cite a bump in faculty salaries as part of their consideration of higher tuition next year. But they say another contributing factor is a state requirement when it comes to equalization grants, which are aimed at reducing disparities between schools and their property tax revenue.  RVC Trustee Ted Biondo, who disagrees with the rule, says it’s pretty simple: “Community colleges must maintain in-district tuition and fees, on a credit-hour basis, equal to 85 percent of the state average combining those two rates."  The law says that if a school falls below that 85-percent threshold, it stands to lose the equalization funding. Biondo says he doesn't think its fair that other colleges determine Rock Valley's costs. Biondo says the state could at least lower the average so that schools in equalization districts wouldn’t have to worry as much about raising costs.

In fact, a bill sitting on Governor Pat Quinn’s desk would do just that. Ellen Andres is Chief Financial Officer for the Illinois Community College Board, which pushed for the bill’s approval. She says the law would lower the equalization threshold to 70% of the statewide average. Or, she says, if students are already paying 30% of the total revenue, then it doesn't matter what your tuition is.  The bill is in the Governor's office awaiting action.  A spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn says he does plan to sign the measure.  Andres says the law’s original intent was to create fairness among community colleges when it came to awarding these grants. She says in years past some colleges never raised their tuition and they were receiving a grant for equalization. But Andres says that, when the economy crashed, the size and frequency of tuition hikes began to go up, forcing others schools to raise their rates in order to keep pace with the current 85% requirement. She says that made them question whether 85 percent was an acceptable level.
 
 
According to the Illinois Community College Board,  tuition rates range from a high of $138 per credit hour at Sandburg College to a low of $74 per credit hour for the Illinois Eastern Community College system.  Other tuition rates at community colleges in southern Illinois include $88 per credit hour at Southeastern Illinois College; $92 per hour at John A Logan College, Shawnee College, and Kaskaskia College; $96 per credit hour at Rend Lake College; and $99 per credit hour at Southwestern Illinois College,

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