RVCC Tuitions to Increase

Branchburg, NJ -- Students attending Raritan Valley Community College can expect higher tuition costs for the Fall 2016 semester.

The RVCC Board of Trustees passed a $53.1 million budget for 2017 on Tuesday night, that reduces operating costs and raises tuition. This is a total increase of 2.2% from last year's budget.

Under the budget, tuition would increase $7 per credit for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents. Tuition would be $144 per credit for the Fall 2016 Semester.

For the average full-time student taking 30 credits during the academic year, tuition would increase by $210.

For an average part-time student taking 12 credits during the academic year, tuition would increase by $84.

The resolution also stipulated that in the event additional funding is received, it will be applied to the reduction of tuition.

A number of factors are contributing to the increase in the budget, including a projected decrease in enrollment due to a decline in the size of the local high school graduating classes; contractual increases in employee healthcare and other benefits; and level funding from the State of New Jersey and Counties of Somerset and Hunterdon.

“The new budget carefully balances Raritan Valley Community College’s commitment to keeping the cost of a college education within reach for our students, while still providing them with the critical support services and quality instruction they need to succeed and thrive in today’s competitive world. Before asking students to pay more in tuition, we carefully examined spending and identified $500,000 in cost-savings through employee retirements and attrition,” said RVCC President Michael J. McDonough in a release.

“We recognize that the Counties of Somerset and Hunterdon face their own fiscal challenges and appreciate their ongoing support for the College and commitment to keeping college tuition affordable for residents,” McDonough continued.

The Board also approved a $3.2 million major capital budget and a $750,000 minor capital budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Some of the major components of the capital budget include:

• $600,000 for the Workforce Training Center
• $550,000 for renovating the College’s upper walkways and plaza areas
• $450,000 for expanding the Visitors Parking lot
• $400,000 for replacing the main computer server

The budget now goes to the Board of School Estimate for approval at its meeting on May 26, at 10 a.m., at the Hunterdon County Administration Building, Flemington. The Board of School Estimate includes two freeholders from Somerset County, two freeholders from Hunterdon County, and two members of the RVCC Board of Trustees.

Raritan Valley Community College’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.