SOUTHEAST SURVEY PLACES FEES IN MIDDLE OF AREA COLLEGES

Southeast Missouri State University's student fees rank in the middle of the pack among 13 public, regional universities, despite the school's high tuition.

This fall, in-state students at Southeast will pay $87.50 a credit hour. That ranks them behind only Northeast Missouri State University at $120 a credit hour and the four University of Missouri campuses at $111 a credit hour.

But when other general fees charged students are included, Southeast ranks eighth in total cost at $1,104 a semester.

The cost figure is based on a student taking 12 credit hours. The survey, compiled by Southeast, excludes room and board charges.

"We are right in the average band," Executive Vice President Ken Dobbins said. "We are not the highest and we are not the lowest."

The survey compares Southeast with the University of Missouri campuses at Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla and St. Louis, as well as Lincoln University, Southwest Missouri State, Central Missouri State, Northeast Missouri State, Northwest Missouri State, Murray (Ky.) State University, Arkansas State University and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

Some of the charges listed for other schools are based on projections, Southeast officials said.

Rolla topped the list as the most expensive school. Beginning this fall, students will pay more than $1,500 a semester.

Northwest ranks the lowest at $912 a semester.

Dobbins said many of the schools have substantially higher general fees than Southeast.

The survey doesn't take into account the cost of textbooks, he said.

Most of the colleges require students to buy textbooks instead of renting them as is done at Southeast.

Dobbins said Southeast's tuition and general fees have increased less in terms of percentage than any of the 13 schools, except for Lincoln University.

Southeast's fees have climbed 5.7 percent since fiscal 1994, while Lincoln's have climbed 5.3 percent.

In contrast, fees at the University of Missouri-St. Louis have risen 21.3 percent, according to Southeast officials. Most of the other schools have had double-digit increases.

Two members of the Board of Regents at Southeast have expressed concern that rising fees are pricing some students out of a college education.

Last Monday, the regents approved a scaled-back tuition hike for the 1995-96 academic year.

Dobbins said Regents Don Dickerson and Pat Washington have valid concerns.

But he and others, including President Kala Stroup, argue that the university must maintain quality programs. That includes providing up-to-date computer technology on campus.

Computers have become an integral part of society. Students must have some computer training to compete in the workplace, Dobbins said.

In the last two years, Southeast has spent nearly $3 million upgrading its computer systems and setting up new computer labs, Dobbins said. Increased student fees and internal budget reallocations have helped fund the improvements.

Washington, however, said the university alone can't afford the cost of new technology. She said the school must look to corporate sponsors for financial help.