Keene State College will lose $1 million from its biennial budget for the upcoming year. As a result of the loss, student tuition rates will increase by 2.5 percent, or on average, $300 for in-state students and $600 for out-of-state students.
While some current students and alumni said they understand the increase, some are also frustrated and concerned about the possible lasting effects.
“I feel that compared to the cost of other college tuitions it is not that bad,” first-year Eric Allen said. “However, I think with the state of the U.S. and the whole world still being affected by the [COVID-19 and bird flu] pandemics after-effects on the world, it [tuition] could continue to rise.”
Allen said debt levels might increase with rising costs due to inflation but that he does not believe it will impact career choices. “I do think, however, that tuition increasing will affect return rate and also rates of incoming students.”
Some students also fear that the quality of education may be affected as well.
“I’m not sure how it’s going to affect the quality [of education], I can’t see it remaining steady,” senior Sophie Yellen said. “I imagine they’ll have to make budget cuts to teachers and professors as well.”
Yellen said there will be more debt for students to crawl out of, and with more and more employers wanting employees to have more advanced degrees, students will have no choice but to go to college, which means going into debt. “I definitely think it is going to make people reconsider where they are going to school and make people reconsider choosing Keene.”
Many current students and alumni, including Allen and Yellen, work or have worked part-time jobs to save money so they can pay for college.
Some alumni feel the tuition increase is reasonable given the rate of inflation.
“I don’t feel like that [2.5% increase] is too much to ask for. I think that with the rising cost of everything, college will definitely start to become more expensive,” ’23 alumna Izzy Lanslinger said. “It’s unfortunate, but it is definitely a possibility.”
Lanslinger said that costs increasing will influence high school students’ decision to go to college as well.
“I hear it every day at the school that I work at, my students say ‘college is a scam … there’s no point in getting a college degree’ and things like that,” they said. “I think that if Keene continues to up the tuition increments [from the 2.5%] that will definitely affect how many students are applying.”
Lanslinger also talked about how Keene State’s education seems to keep pace with the rising costs and that it does a good job of preparing students for their majors’ job markets. “Keene does really well when setting students up with internships, giving real-world practice in classes … the education is definitely keeping pace.”
They expressed concern that debt levels will impact a student’s college life overall, with more loans that will “affect them post-grad as well.”
With the rising uncertainty of the country’s economy and leadership, the challenge is not unique to Keene State but reflects a nationwide trend that could reshape higher education for years to come. For now, students are left to navigate the constantly changing landscape, hoping for relief as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
Vice President for Enrollment and Student Engagement MB Lufkin understands a tuition increase raises concerns, as the college carefully considered this decision.
“We remain committed to offering great value to our students,” Lufkin stated. “Our faculty, programs, resources, and campus services continue to support students’ academic and professional goals, and we believe the value of the education we offer justifies the increase. We also recognize the importance of accessibility, and we work hard to provide financial aid, scholarships, and support to make sure that students can still pursue their education here.”
Lufkin also noted that while a student’s decision to enroll is a personal choice, the college is confident that future students will see the benefits of attending Keene State College.
Dominic Rubio can be contacted at
drubio@kscequinox.com
