HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Northern Kentucky University's Board of Regents voted Wednesday to increase in-state tuition for undergraduates by 9.5 percent for the 2002-03 academic year.

        Coupled with a 9.8 percent increase from a year ago, the school has increased in-state tuition nearly 20 percent in two years.

        “We do not like to do this, but unfortunately this is where we are,” said NKU President James Votruba. “Some other schools have been forced to implement much steeper tuition increases.”

        Undergraduate resident tuition will increase $108 per semester to $1,608. Nonresident undergraduate tuition will increase the same dollar amount, or 3.3 percent, to $3,372.

        Undergraduate juniors and seniors who transfer from Ohio and meet a specific set of requirements also receive the in-state rate.

        Graduate resident tuition will increase $13 per credit hour (9.4 percent) to $182. Out-of-state graduate students will pay 3.2 percent more per credit hour, which is $13, totaling $455 per credit hour.

        Graduate students from Southwest Ohio, including Hamilton and Warren counties, are charged another rate, called a metro rate, which will be $295 per credit hour for the 2002-03 year.

        For the first time, the school will combine student fees in the tuition rate to make it easier for students to determine the total cost of attending.

        The school will also become the first in Kentucky to require students taking more than 16 hours to pay an additional $67 per credit hour.

        Schools with a similar pricing structure include Xavier University and Wright State, he said.

        That provision was met with criticism in the 9-1-1
board vote. Student regent Kathryn Herschede of Fort Thomas, who voted against the measure, said only 8 percent of NKU's 12,548 students in the fall semester took more than 16 hours.

        “Students are very concerned that we are going to be discouraging people from seeking multiple degrees, to seek that extra classification and specialization,” she said.

        Regent Betty Pogue abstained because she thought that part of the measure did not fit with the institution's goal of bringing in bright students.

        “I don't think you should be penalized if you can do it,” she said.

        NKU joins other Tristate colleges and universities that have increased tuition for the fall semester:

        • University of Kentucky, 5.1 percent.

        • University of Louisville, 10 percent.

        • Western Kentucky University, 9 percent.

        • College of Mount St. Joseph, 5.3 percent.

        • University of Cincinnati, which increased full-time tuition in June by 8 percent before adding a mid-year increase of 6 percent.

        • Xavier, 7.5 percent (the largest increase in 10 years).

        E-mail kgoetz@enquirer.com

Carroll looks at N. Ky., sees casinos
Garage financing plan provides project a boost
Hotel tax deal seals financing
Beggars under new regulation
City allots $50 million as Tarbell dreams big
Holdup man picks policeman
Norwood to get windfall
Pamphlet effort seeks to counter tourism boycott
Pearl and his profession praised at service
Rockdale School will be first of new series of buildings
Tristate A.M. Report
HOWARD: Some Good News
RADEL: Just think!
Big retailers could join development
Club owners vow to reopen today, despite arrests
County hikes fund to sterilize pets
Fairfield to get fitness equipment
Health tech seen key to Butler
In no mood to be rude
Reading chooses service director
Reading school head sought
Contractor says he gave Traficant a $2,400 bribe
High court leaves door open
Plan would shield nursing homes
Popcorn was hot, in a way
Audit clears me, lt. gov. says
Kentucky News Briefs
NKU raises tuition by 9.5 percent
Panel OKs more zing in bingo
Patton pushes tax overhaul
Patton touts new law to ban phone annoyance
Visitor center closed, up for sale