Vincennes University discusses raising tuition as costs continue to rise

Tuition at Vincennes University is expected to be raised after a vote at the next Board of Trustee meeting.

Earlier today, VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson spoke at a public forum to discuss the increase.

Johnson says the increase is due to the raising operational costs for instructional and support services, repair and rehabilitation, maintenance, utilities, and instructional technology and equipment for the labs and facilities on campus.

He says utilities have increased 35% costing $1.2 million.

Instructional supplies, equipment, information technology, and facility repairs have increased by 2% costing $390,000.

Compensation increased by 2% costing $800,000 and Employee Health Insurance costs have gone up by 5% costing $350,000.

In total, the university has seen a $2,740,000 increase in costs, which is what lead the Board of Trustees to look at raising tuition costs.

To break even, the tuition would need to be raised by 11.4%, but the Finance Committee has proposed only raising it by 3.5% saying they will fund the other 7.9% using cost-saving measures and reallocations.

In the 2022-2023 school year, the tuition of a full-time student at VU was $6,656.

With the 3.5% increase, in 2023-2024 a full-time student would pay $6,889, a $233 increase, and in 2024-2025 students would pay $7,130, an increase of $241.

Johnson says the university takes this very seriously and they worked to keep the increase as low as possible, while still maintaining quality of instruction and supporting staff.

The Board of Trustees will vote on the increase at their next meeting on June 14th.