Tuition Hike Coming For Montclair State University Students

Montclair State University students can expect to pay about $232 more for their college educations in 2015-16.

On Thursday, the university announced a two percent tuition hike for undergraduate tuition and fees.

Administrators at the school claim that the increase is the smallest percentage increase enacted during the past 31 years.

According to a release, the University has grown enrollment by 60 percent, from about 12,500 students to over 20,000 and has increased the number of degrees granted by over 100 percent, from about 2,200 to over 4,500 a year.

At the same time, the University’s direct operating support from the state per full-time equivalent student has declined by 56 percent, from about $4,669 to $2,068.

Currently, 41 percent of Montclair State undergraduates receive Pell grants, and for the recently completed academic year, 7,452 undergraduate students – or 46.9 percent – received some form of grant or scholarship assistance.

“Montclair State faces an unfortunate and unique challenge since the university receives less state support per full-time-equivalent student than any other senior public institution of higher education in New Jersey,” MSU President Susan Cole stated in a release.

“The 2015-2016 tuition and fee structure will ensure that Montclair State can sustain our operations, support our successful programs and implement our strategic goals, while remaining one of New Jersey’s most affordable universities,” Cole said.

“Montclair State works hard to keep tuition increases to a minimum in an extremely challenging environment, where the state’s funding for the university continues to erode,” Cole added.

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