Students, parents raise concerns with state college costs
By: Stephanie Brown
MONROE For Casey Dancisin, a senior at Monroe Township High School, selecting which college to attend next fall was all about compromise.
Tuition costs were a factor in her family’s decision, and while Casey was pulling for a private, out-of-state college, her mother after having a look at the $30,000-plus price tag suggested she look elsewhere.
"To be honest, I had to tell her no," Leslie Dancisin said Wednesday. "I wanted to send her to a good school, but also something we could afford."
Eventually, they chose Montclair University, a reputable, but less-expensive state school in Essex County.
However, Ms. Dancisin, who is a music teacher for the Old Bridge elementary schools, said even the state school tuition is "tough" to afford and payment will most likely remain a struggle during the next four years, especially if costs continue to increase.
While Ms. Dancisin has saved for her daughter’s education, she said the money would only be enough to cover costs for the first year of college.
"After that, I don’t know what we’ll do," she said. "I’ll have to take out loans."
Throughout the state, many families are faced with the pressure of affording college tuition that may be increased to offset Gov. Jon Corzine’s proposal to slash $169 million from direct funding to higher education.
Many state schools, such as Rowan and Richard Stockton College, said they would have to increase tuition by at least 10 percent or eliminate classes to make up for the loss in funding.
During the 2004-2005 academic school year, an in-state resident attending a community college full-time paid an average of $2,216 in tuition, $5,353 to attend a four-year public state university, not including room and board, transportation, and other expenses, and $20,863 to attend an independent school, according to the state Commission on Higher Education.
Catie Kovach graduated Monroe Township High School in 2005 and recently finished her freshman year at Montclair University. She pays for her education with student loans.
For the 2005-2006 academic year, undergraduate tuition and room and board was $16,636.68. That price does not include a food plan, which is an additional $2,390.00.
While she may not feel the effects of the increased tuition now, Catie will graduate tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
"But education is one of the most important things we can get," she said Wednesday.
College officials acknowledged the financial burden raising tuition will place on students. They said they are looking at additional ways to generate revenue.
Rider University, a private college in Lawrence, is concerned about the effects the governor’s budget proposal will have on students, said Christine Messina-Boyer, assistant to the president.
"We don’t want our students to bear the full burden of the proposed budget cuts," she said Wednesday.
While tuition for the 2006-2007 academic year has increased by 5.5 percent over the 2005-2006 tuition of $28,822, which includes room and board, Ms. Messina-Boyer said, the school also has developed a contingency plan that offers additional ways to raise revenue aside from increasing tuition.
She said the university is looking to increase revenue by enrolling more students and deferring on operation costs. But cutting back on classes is not an option for Rider, she said.
"The president is convinced that we shouldn’t cut any corners that would affect our quality of education," she said.
Other state schools are turning to alternative solutions to increase revenue aside form raising tuition.
Middlesex County College is not going to increase its tuition as a means to generate revenue, Director of Marketing and Public Information Tom Peterson said Tuesday.
Instead, the college will introduce new fees to be paid each semester, increase enrollment by making the summer schedule more appealing to students, and filling vacant staff positions with newer professors who have less expensive salaries.
"Assuming there is no restoration at all, we’re looking at a $1.3 million hole to fill," said Mr. Peterson. "We couldn’t do it from just the expense side or just the revenue side."
Despite the potential for increased tuition, some families are not anticipating a significant burden on their budget.
Michael Widmer of Monroe, who’s daughter Ashley attends The College of New Jersey, said his family would not experience any financial hardships if the college raises its tuition.
"The cost of higher education is a concern for any parent," he said Wednesday. "We’re fortunate she earned a scholarship and chose a school that isn’t terribly experience.
"Corzine has to find some way to balance the budget," he continued. "It’s less politically palatable than to raise taxes."
However, Catie the Montclair student with student loans questions Gov. Corzine’s priorities.
"I believe the message he is sending is that he doesn’t think that highly about our education, or that we can get by on very little."

