Credit: Jeff Bohen
Tuition at Bucks County Community will be increasing this fall.
Officials from the community college with campuses in Bristol Township, Newtown and Perkasie said the increase will be $5 per credit for county residents. The student activity fee will increase by $1 to $2 a credit, while technology and college services fees remain unchanged.
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The community college Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to increase tuition to balance the budget for next academic year.
“The college made some very difficult decisions in crafting this budget,” Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt, community college president, said, adding, “Bucks continues to be a great value with strong academic programs.”
The community college has roughly 9,300 student enrolled this year and has worked to expand its academic offerings in recent years.
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“The Board of Trustees is always extremely reluctant to raise tuition,” Board Chairman James Dancy said. “We have taken every action possible this year to reduce our operating costs while continuing to provide the top quality education that students have come to expect from Bucks. Our primary goal is to minimize tuition increases, and do so only as a last option.”
Tuition for Bucks County residents will be $135 per credit starting this fall. The cost for Pennsylvania residents who live outside of Bucks County rises from $260 to $270 a credit, and tuition for out-of-state residents increases from $390 to $405 a credit, according to the college.
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The typical full-time student (12 credits per semester) will pay $4,178 for 24 credits and fees for the 2015-16 academic year, an increase of $144.
More than 70 percent of students from the community college plan to transfer to continue their education.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Bucks County Community College.
