For the first time in six years, tuition will increase by three dollars per credit hour effective this summer. 

“Tuition is increasing because we cannot afford to keep tuition flat for too long,” said Ryan Kolbusz, ECC student trustee.

Here are the new rates:

District Resident, Work In-District, In-District Internet $135 per semester credit hour 

Out-of-District Resident $297 per semester credit hour 

Out-of-District Internet $260 per semester credit hour 

Out-of-State & International Resident $396 per semester credit hour

Out-of-State & International Internet $310 per semester credit hour

During its Dec. 12 meeting, the Board of Trustees voted and approved the increase. Trustee Shane Nowak made a motion to raise the tuition by $2 rather than $3 a motion. However, no trustee seconded his motion, so it failed. 

“The cost of everything has gone up due to inflation and we need to be able to keep up [with rising costs],” said Kolbusz.

According to ECC board of trustee meeting meetings, ECC administration proposed the tuition increase to cover projected costs for future student enrollment and student success initiatives. The administration projects that a $1 per credit hour increase “would generate approximately $146,184 annually, using fiscal year 2023 credit hours,” according to board documents. 

Despite the tuition increase, Kolbusz touted ECC’s low tuition rate. “[It] still leaves us as the second or third lowest tuition in the state among community colleges,” he said. 

Harper College’s current tuition rate for in-district residents is $135.50 per hour, while Oakton’s current tuition rate for in-district residents is $136.25. ECC’s new rates will still be lower than both of these neighboring institutions. 

Although the tuition increase is small, some students are worried about its impact. 

“For the people that have to pay on their own [school costs and] who have no family contribution and have to work for their tuition, those three dollars could really hurt them financially,” said first-year student Viviana Mancera. 

On the other hand, some students are welcoming this change.   

“Seems like a fair increase considering the economic situation we find ourselves in,” said Fernando Jimenez, a first-year student. “And I feel that if it’s increasing, then it’s for good reason.”