By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
During the Tuesday study session for the Barton Community College Board of Trustees, Vice President of Administration Mark Dean told the board the college is planning on raising tuition and fees for the 2025 fiscal year. While rates will vary, Dean said to expect a $2 increase in tuition per credit hour and a $2 bump in fees per credit hour.
Dean said Barton does not want to price themselves out of the market, but there will be budget challenges the college will have to handle.
"I'm going to say the vast majority of other community colleges will also see increases this year," said Dean. "Especially based on what we're being told is going to happen to us with state aid. I wish I had that crystal ball so I knew exactly how much they were all going up but I don't. Some of them have already increased."
The increases across the board are expected to generate an extra $411,000 in revenue for the college next year.
Barton charges $113 per credit hour for students from Barton County. That price scales up for students outside of the county within Kansas, out-of-state students and the highest rate for international students. Dean said online courses remain at $155 per credit hour.
"The other thing that affects us with this is we have a large military presence," said Dean. "With our large military presence, it works out much better for us to have a flat tuition and fee rate for online versus having multiple rates depending on where you happen to be at the time."
With enrollment for next fall’s classes beginning in March, Dean said the new rates need to be in place soon. The board is expected to vote on the matter in the regular meeting this month.