Community College Tuition To Climb

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Tuition at Mississippi’s 15 community and junior colleges will rise almost 7 percent on average this fall.

Thirteen of the independently governed schools will raise charges on students this fall. Tuition will remain flat at Copiah-Lincoln Community College and East Mississippi Community College.

Figures from the state Community College Board show average tuition will rise to $2,748 annually, up from $2,577 last year.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will charge the most, $3,040 for two semesters of full-time classes.

The increases come as state funding to community colleges falls 2 percent in the budget beginning July 1. The decrease of $5 million cuts state aid to $258 million. That remains below the level required by state law.

Tuition continues to rise faster than inflation and incomes.

Here are the rates each college has approved, as well as the percentage change from the 2015-2016 academic year:

– Coahoma: $2,670, 6.8 percent

– Copiah-Lincoln: $2,730, unchanged

– East Central: $2,330, 4.5 percent

– East Mississippi: $2,840, unchanged

– Hinds: $2,840, 9.2 percent

– Holmes: $2,740, 16.1 percent

– Itawamba: $2,600, 8.3 percent

– Jones: $3,000, 10.2 percent

– Meridian: $2,514, 8.6 percent

– Mississippi Delta: $2,620, 4 percent

– Mississippi Gulf Coast: $3,040, 1.6 percent

– Northeast Mississippi: $2,702, 11.6 percent

– Northwest Mississippi: $2,800, 9.8 percent

– Pearl River: $2,990, 8.7 percent

– Southwest Mississippi: $2,800, 2.9 percent

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Source: Mississippi Community College Board