Increases, increases, increases — college tuition and fee rates are going up, no one can argue that. In the last 10 years, tuition has nearly doubled at the University of Idaho, and no student is happy to foot this bill.
Certainly, no one wants to keep paying more and more for their education. Yet this year, many of my frustrations and concerns are being addressed. This year, I know that my tuition increase will help fund a tangible and worthwhile purpose. This year, for only the third time since 2008, salaries will increase for our faculty and staff, funded by a student tuition increase.
UI is the state’s national research university and is one of the best in the West. Year in and out, this institution attracts the best students and provides an incredibly high quality education. Currently, the university has more National Merit Scholars than all other Idaho institutions combined, and is second in the Northwest only to the University of Washington.
Additionally, Forbes Magazine ranked UI among the top 25 universities in the nation for quality and value this year, and Pay Scale reports that UI has the best return on investment in the state and is a leader in the West.
As a sophomore student at UI, I have experienced this educational quality first-hand and am appreciative to have such an excellent program in place at UI.
However, while this program is phenomenal, I am wary of its sustainability as we — the students, the state and the institution itself — move forward. In recent years, faculty salaries have fallen from 92.3 percent of peer average to a dismal 84.3 percent. If we intend to maintain such a high quality of education, something needs to be done to attract and keep outstanding faculty.
On April 17, UI will ask the State Board of Education to approve a 4.7 percent tuition increase for undergraduate students. This increase will be used, in part, to fund staff and faculty salary increases.
Generating $2 million in revenue, this tuition increase will help preserve UI’s educational quality. No one likes paying more, and tuition increases can be challenging. Yet, when it comes to outstanding quality, higher faculty retention and an excellent collegiate experience, $34 more per month is well worth the cost.
Nate Fisher can be reached at [email protected]