The board approved a modest 3.5% increase for in-state tuition ($100 increase per semester) and a 4% increase for the year for out-of-state tuition ($259 increase per semester). The Student Center Complex Fee will also increase by $25 for a total $225 per semester. None of the other regular fees will be increased.

 

In addition, the board also approved a 3.5% increase for the room and board rates in the University’s seven traditional on-campus residential halls. The semester cost to reside in traditional student housing now ranges from $3,164 to $3,397. Residential meal plans per semester range from $1,501 to $1,693.

 

The rates for the on-campus University Village Apartments and the institution’s off-campus University Courtyard Apartment complex will be set after those facilities’ Housing Foundation meets in the near future to determine their charges for the upcoming school year.

 

DSU President Harry L. Williams said the increases are necessary due to rising energy costs and state budget cuts that stem from the current nationwide economic challenges. “The DSU administrators and the University’s Board of Trustees have worked hard to minimize the impact of these challenges on students and their families,” Dr. Williams said. “The result is an increase that is very modest, especially in light of the fact that it follows a year in which there was no increase in tuition and fees.”

 

The history of DSU increases over the last two years compares favorably to other institutions such as Norfolk State, Virginia State, Howard University, Hampton University, Temple University, Rutgers University, Cheyney University, Lincoln University and the University of Delaware, which have all increased their tuition between 9% and 14% in that period.

 

In that same two-year period (2008-09 to 2009-10) DSU increased only by 5.5%.

 

“Even with this year’s increase, DSU is still a ‘best-buy’ in higher education,” Dr. Williams said.