UTC students face 6% tuition bump, higher fees

photo Staff Photo by Dan Henry/Cattanooga Times Free Press Sophomore classman Whitney Lowe, a nutrition student at UTC, walks past a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sign off McCallie Avenue.

NASHVILLE - Students attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in August likely are looking at a 6 percent jump in tuition along with hefty fee increases under a budget expected to be approved today by the UT system's board of trustees.

The 6 percent tuition increase comes as Gov. Bill Haslam cut much of his original new state funding for higher education as revenues fell below projections.

Under recommendations UT officials are recommending to trustees, the 6 percent tuition increase would bring annual tuition for undergraduates up from last year's $6,065 to $6,430 -- a $365 increase. Graduate students' tuition would go from $7,272 to $7,708 -- a $436 increase.

Student activity fees, meanwhile, would rise 11.9 percent for all students, going up $70 from $590 to $660. That's largely because of bringing health services from Erlanger Health Services back under campus control.

Technology fees are going up 25 percent, a $50 jump, from $200 to $250 for undergraduates. There's a new transportation fee that starts at $48 and increases over the next three years. That's because parking is near capacity.

Facilities fees rise 33.3 percent, going from $150 to $200. Add them all up and it comes to $218 per student.

The increases will be considered by UT trustees today. But there are other anticipated increases in areas ranging from dormitory fees to student meal programs that would be approved either by UT President Joe DePietro or UTC Chancellor Steven Angle.

UT trustees' Finance and Administration Committee heard presentations on the increases Wednesday.

Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.

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