Lower Tuition for BBCC Students

Big Bend Community College students will benefit from a reduction in tuition costs when they pay for fall classes in 2015.

Widely discussed as a 5-percent decrease in tuition, the actual reduction will be slightly less, according to college officials.

The new tuition rate will allow a full-time in-state student at BBCC to save approximately $300 in tuition in the next academic year.

Tuition is comprised of three parts: operating fees, building fees, and student and activities fees.

The state Legislature cut tuition for operating fees by 5 percent, but increased building fees 1.8 percent. BBCC also raised its technology fee from $50 per quarter to a maximum of $75 per quarter for 2015-16.

Still, it is a decrease in tuition costs for the first time in memory, and a welcome relief from double-digit increases in tuition common in the last decade.

The Legislature provided funding to the colleges for the lost tuition revenue, which means the state increased its share of support of students attending a community college.

“We applaud our lawmakers for recognizing that community and technical colleges are one of the best investments our state can make,” said Terry Leas, BBCC President.

BBCC students taking 15 credits per quarter will pay annual tuition of $3,846 in 2015-16, instead of more than $4,100 the previous year.

Washington is the only state in the U.S. to cut tuition for its college and universities this year. Lawmakers reduced tuition at universities by 15 to 20 percent.

The rollback makes a dent in the 34-percent tuition increases during the last five years. During the recession, Washington increased tuition more than almost any other state.