Rutgers Approves 2.3 Percent Tuition Hike For 2018-19

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Board of Governors at Rutgers on Wednesday approved tuition and fee increases of 2.3 percent for the 2018-2019 academic year for undergraduate students.

This is at least the third year in a row there has been a tuition increase at Rutgers. The Board approved a 1.85 percent tuition hike last year, and a 1.7 percent tuition hike in 2016.

For the upcoming 2018-2019 academic year, a typical in-state, full-time Arts and Sciences undergraduate at Rutgers University-New Brunswick will be billed $14,975 in combined tuition and mandatory student fees in 2018-2019, an increase of 2.3 percent. For such a student living on campus, total charges (tuition, fees, room and board) will increase to $27,681, up 2.18 percent from last year.

At Rutgers University-Camden, rates will increase by similar percentages for typical Arts and Sciences undergraduates to $14,836 and, for those living on campus, to $27,172 for total charges. At Rutgers University-Newark, tuition and fees would increase to $14,410 and $27,946 for total charges for students living on campus.

“We understand that any increase is difficult for our students, but we must balance that with the need to provide access to the highest quality education for our students,” said Sandy J. Stewart, chair of the Board of Governors. “This moderate increase allows us to maintain the top academic programs that Rutgers offers to our outstanding students.”

Rutgers’ tuition increase is lower than 2018-2019 increases at several state schools in neighboring states Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware, where tuition will rise between 3 percent and 4 percent, Rutgers pointed out.

For the previous five years, meanwhile, Rutgers’ average increase of 2.3 percent is on par with average tuition and fee increases at all New Jersey public colleges and universities for the same period, and it is in the mid-range of average five-year increases among Big Ten universities.

“For the past five years, we have worked hard to keep tuition increases to an absolute minimum,” said Robert Barchi, university president. “Rutgers, along with all public colleges and universities across the country, is facing significant financial challenges and making difficult choices to keep tuition and fee increases as low as possible while maintaining our commitment to excellent programs, teaching, research and service.”

Photo by Carly Baldwin/New Brunswick Patch