Southeast Missouri State University raises tuition, fees

Southeast Missouri State University students will pay more to attend classes this fall.

The school’s regents voted Friday to raise tuition and the maintenance-and-repair general fee. As a result, students will be paying $780 or more for a single, three-hour class.

In-state undergraduates will pay $11.75 more per credit hour in tuition and a $1 higher maintenance-and-repair general fee, the university said in a news release.

Southeast president Carlos Vargas-Aburto said, “I am aware that the tuition and fee increase is higher than has been the case in the recent past. Unfortunately, the increase is necessary to ensure that we are able to continue providing the high-quality programs that our students have come to expect from Southeast.”

Under the new tuition and fee schedule, Southeast’s per-credit-hour tuition and fees will total $260 for in-state undergraduates; $461 for nonresident undergraduates; $300 for online-only undergraduates; $331 for resident graduate students; $584 for nonresident graduate students; and $365 for online-only graduate students.

The regents increased tuition and general fees for lower-division courses at Southeast’s regional campuses by $3 per credit hour, bringing that rate to $178 per credit hour.

According to the release, the new rate at regional campuses is “consistent with area community college rates.”

Student leaders backed the tuition and fee increases, according to the release.

Student Government president Matt Rolwing said in the release Southeast faces enrollment challenges and needs to focus on maintaining a quality faculty and staff.

In addition, he said the university needs the fee increase to help pay for maintenance and repairs.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641