U of I Tuition Could Spike 9 Percent or More

Open your wallets, students (and parents).

On the same day University of Illinois officials announced an increase in housing costs, they also cautioned that the next tuition increase could see a double-digit percentage increase.

Trustees voted Thursday to raise the cost of room and board at the flagship campus in Urbana-Champaign by 4.6 percent to $9,086, starting this summer.

The cost at the Chicago campus will increase 6 percent to $9,688. In Springfield the cost will go up 2.2 percent to $9,400.

Trustees also voted to increase undergraduate fees in Urbana-Champaign by 2.8 percent to $2,842. Fees in Chicago will go up 1.3 percent to $2,928 and Springfield fees will increase 6.4 percent to $1,714.

The annual fees pay for student health services, career counseling facilities repair and other services.

Tuition is guaranteed for four years, with the next proposal coming up for a vote later this year.

Interim president Stanley Ikenberry said tuition would increase at least nine percent but "could go double that." Phased over a four-year period, a 9 percent hike would equate to an increase of about 3 to 3.5 percent a year. An 18 percent hike would be about 7 to 7.5 percent a year.

Tuition is $9,484 this year for freshman at Urbana-Champaign.