Tuition 2008/2009

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
1

<p>Administration announces 4.9 percent tuition increase
Average cost of Wash. U. tops $49k
Sam Guzik and David Brody
Student Life</p>

<p>In a letter to students and parents expected to be sent later today, the administration will annouce a 4.9 percent tuition increase for the 2008-2009 academic year. Undergraduates will now pay $36,000 a year, an increase of $1,700 from the current academic year.</p>

<p>Including room and board and other fees, the total average cost for undergraduate education at the University will rise to $49,006 from $46,132, a 6.2 percent increase.</p>

2

<p>I just got the same e-mail from Student Life. How much more can tuition and board and room go up? It wouldn't be so bad if everything else wasn't extra (ethernet, cable, health insurance) and if meals weren't so expensive. We're ending up spending a lot more than we thought we would.</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
I just got the same e-mail from Student Life. How much more can tuition and board and room go up? It wouldn't be so bad if everything else wasn't extra (ethernet, cable, health insurance) and if meals weren't so expensive. We're ending up spending a lot more than we thought we would.

[/quote]
Internet and cable is NOT extra as of next year. That fee has been rolled into the housing fee, which is one of the reasons for the housing increase.</p>

<p>My freshman year (I'm currently a junior), an old double + internet (no cable factored in, as it was separate back then) cost $6,359 for the year. According to StudLife, that same room will cost $7,360 next year, including cable and internet. That's an increase of 5% per year, including the cost of the now including cable for everyone. Reasonable in comparison to other schools' average increases. With the meal plans, the Meals Plus plan cost $3968 2 years ago, and will cost $4276 next year, which is about a 2.5% increase per year. Remember, it's always possible to move off campus after freshman year, and that you can find good apartments in the area for less than you're paying for with ResLife. Increases overall have been just about what I was told to expect going into this. You don't need the most expensive meal plan, and you don't need to buy the most expensive meals (and you won't starve, either).</p>

<p>Anyway, does anyone remember the crap that Princeton pulled last year? They "froze" tuition (0% increase to the next year), but then raised the cost of housing by 20% (and most students live on campus due to the extremely high cost of living in the area), effectively raising the total cost of attending by 4.2%. While Harvard and Yale might be able to actually keep their costs down, the fact is that Wash U just doesn't have enough of it's endowment appropriated for measures that can decrease tuition, either by increasing scholarships, or decreasing tuition increases. While that blame falls on "picky" donors, it also falls on Alumni & Development for not stressing the need for funds to be put towards those purposes.</p>

<p>In October of 06, the College Board reported average yearly cost increase (including room, board, and fees) of attending a 4-year private university was 5.9%. A 6.2% overall increase this year is nothing extraordinary.</p>

4

<p>For those footing the bill, any increase is a belt tighten, don’t forget we’re living a no so good economy and most parents have lost a great part of their retirement savings.</p>

5

<p>This year our cost for S to attend Wash U will be $35,000!!!
Thank you son you saved us a bundle. He is a Resident Advisor on the South 40 (we pay nothing for room & board). There are ways to save money. Move off campus or work for Residential Life.</p>

6

<p>Can anyone explain to me how much the entering freshman tuition has gone up from 2007. The 2008 number for entering freshman is $37,248.</p>

7

<p>Last year was $34,500 and the year before $32,800.</p>