On March 7, 2006, Seton Hill University (SHU) released the tuition changes for the 2006-2007 academic year. Full-time tuition (12 to 17 credits per semester) rose from last year’s $21,870 per year to $23,180, an increase of $1,310 per year ($655 per semester).
�By increasing tuition we increase the quality of education, which attracts more students,� said Maryann Dudas, director of financial aid.
By Kayla Sawyer,
Staff Writer
On March 7, 2006, Seton Hill University (SHU) released the tuition changes for the 2006-2007 academic year. Full-time tuition (12 to 17 credits per semester) rose from last year’s $21,870 per year to $23,180, an increase of $1,310 per year ($655 per semester).
�By increasing tuition we increase the quality of education, which attracts more students,� said Maryann Dudas, director of financial aid.
The same is true for Adult Degree Program and part-time tuition, which rose from $580 per credit to $615 (a $35 difference).
The amount of money per credit for the graduate program has increased from $585 per credit to $620 (also a $35 difference).
�I�m scared that I�ll have to drop out because I can’tafford it,� said Sarah Slates, a freshman. �I�m already looking at other schools.�
As of July 2005 the tuition per credit at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (UPG) was $380.00, but they are also expecting an increase.
Yearly tuition at UPG in 2005 was $10,562 and $21,104 at St. Vincent College. Westmoreland County Community College charges $65 per credit for Westmoreland County residents, $130 for those out of county, and $195 for those out of state.
According to Dudas, SHU’s tuition rose in order to keep up with the increase of inflation, to fund financial aid packages, scholarships, computer upgrades. There are also the necessary expenses of general upkeep to the infrastructure of the university, such as gas and water lines.
�A lot of these buildings are over a hundred years old, so improvements for safety are our main concern,� said Dudas.
�I can see that things need to be redone but it’s already so expensive as it is. Thank God for financial aid,� said Brittany Shunk, a freshman.
The money will be used for a variety of projects like the University Center downtown and a pedestrian walkway in parking lot A.
�These things have to be dealt with before they become expensive to the university,� said Paul Roman, vice president for finance.
�I�ll just camp out on the new pedestrian walkway when I can’tafford to live here anymore,� said Slates.
�Maybe they�ll let me commute from there,� she added.
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