With the 2024-2025 academic year approaching, universities across Michigan, including Grand Valley State University have set higher tuition costs for the tenth consecutive year. On April 26, GVSU’s Board of Trustees (BOT) approved an increase in tuition, including room and board.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the cost of in-state and out-of-state tuition at GVSU rose 3.5%, while the cost of housing and dining rose 5.2%. GVSU students will have to pay an estimated additional $524 per year in tuition fees, according to MLive. The $524 doesn’t include the estimated $185 increase in campus living costs or the $100 increase in meal plan costs.
During GVSU’s 1995-1996 academic year, the cost of tuition per semester was only $1,390, and has steadily risen ever since. In 2020, the average cost at GVSU for a 12-15 credit semester was $6,622 for an in-state resident. The current semester’s price rate has risen to $7,570, marking the tenth consecutive year the university has increased the cost of attendance.
Laker Food Co. falls under the umbrella of GVSU’s Auxiliary Services. Director of Auxiliary Services Doug Wentworth said the costs for these services are evaluated regularly.
Despite the elevated meal plan rate, Wentworth said GVSU’s dining cost for the 2023-2024 academic year was the lowest in the state, “more than 25% less than other Michigan universities.”
“We recognize that any increase has an impact on students,” Wentworth said. “We continuously evaluate the entire campus dining operation to hold prices down, while providing a service that meets students’ needs and desires.”
Besides tuition and dining, there are multiple factors that contribute to increases in room and board expenses. The aim of price increases are to ensure students have access to improved amenities, a wider array of options and reliable maintenance services, according to Kyle Boone, Director of Housing and Residence Life at GVSU.
“Our goal is to provide an exceptional living experience that aligns with our commitment to affordability, allowing students to focus on their education without the added stress of financial burdens,” Boone said.
Boone also noted that the number of students admitted to the University doesn’t impact housing rates.
“Instead, our rates are set with careful consideration of maintaining affordability, while offering a variety of on-campus housing options at different price points,” said Boone.
Other Michigan universities, including Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University have also increased their tuition rates by as much as 4.5%. According to GVNext, GVSU’s tuition cost for residential undergraduate students is still in the bottom quarter of Michigan public universities. However, the University remains in the top quarter for standards such as completion rates and job placement rates.
In the United States as a whole, tuition costs have soared to unprecedented levels. Since the 1970s, tuition in the U.S. has steadily increased, sometimes at the same rate or even higher than that of general inflation.
As tuition costs continue to rise, the opportunity for lower-income families to afford higher education dwindles, and access to financial aid services becomes increasingly crucial for students in need. Services like Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Laker Meal Share Program and the campus food pantry, Replenish, offer students who may be experiencing financial insecurity support options. Campus guidance programs like the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at GVSU continue to provide FAFSA information to students.
“We encourage students facing financial challenges to reach out to our Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, where they can explore a variety of support options designed to alleviate financial strain and ensure they can pursue their educational goals,” Boone said.
The BOT chose to set its 2024-2025 tuition rates earlier than previous years so that potential new students could have more time to financially plan before the next semester. GVSU President Philomena Mantella reiterated her commitment to helping students through the financial aid process and providing cost-certain information to parents.
“Today, we demonstrated our commitment to providing transparency and the cost certainty that parents need by being one of the first universities in the state to share tuition information for the fall,” Mantella said to GVNext. “This is especially vital right now with the challenges around FAFSA and we are proud that our Financial Aid Team is dedicated to helping families through this stressful time.”
“Grand Valley should be a place where anybody, regardless of background or circumstance, can get a high-quality education and be successful for the rest of their life,” said Greg Sanial, GVSU Vice President for Finance and Administration, according to MLive.
