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The
survey of over 1,000 college students was done by
Intelligent.com and showed that nearly 1 in 4 students would be
forced to drop some or all of their classes if their tuition
costs increased by 5%.
Ashli Smith, a spokesperson with Intelligent, said rising
inflation on tuition is becoming a problem for many students.
"Inflation is continuing to rise to 9% across the country,"
Smith told The Center Square. "This puts universities and
students in a tough position because a tuition increase will
affect many students."
Smith explained that many students have to trim their budgets in
other areas just to afford their classes.
"Students have to get an extra job, or they are reducing their
spending on food or leisurely activities," Smith said. "Those
are some of the sacrifices some students have been forced to
make due to the tuition increase."
An Illinois Policy Institute analysis from April shows that
tuition has increased by 49% at Illinois public universities in
the past 15 years.
According to ValuePenguin, the average in-state tuition in
Illinois is fifth-most expensive in the nation and the highest
in the Midwest. IPI said that's due in part to high pension
costs.
State Universities Retirement System pension payments made up
just 10% of state higher education spending in 2007. Now, they
take 49% of those dollars.
More money spent on the pension system means less money for the
school and, in return, more money to be paid through tuition.
Over the past 15 years and adjusted for inflation, Northern
Illinois University tuition increased 175%, the University of
Illinois-Springfield saw its tuition increase by 75%. Southern
Illinois University - Edwardsville saw a 70% increase, and
Illinois State University saw a 46% increase.
Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a reporter
and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a producer for the
Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan University and
Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south suburbs of Chicago.
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