Published January 25, 2008
Resident undergraduate students at the University of Wyoming will not have to pay
increased tuition costs for the second consecutive year as a result of action taken
today (Friday) by the UW Board of Trustees.
In approving tuition costs for the 2008-2009 academic year, the trustees also voted
increases of about 6 percent for resident graduate students, law students and pharmacy
students, and an increase of about 6 percent for all non-resident students. Trustees
also approved differential tuition rates for students in the College of Law and School
of Pharmacy.
Vice President for Administration Phill Harris said Wyoming is in a good position
to keep tuition increases at such a low rate because of the tremendous support from
the governor and Wyoming State Legislature in recent years. Salary and benefits, capital
outlay and one-time funds have been provided and UW's pressing technology needs have
been funded.
However, operating budgets that are met by tuition, such as laboratory and office
supplies, postage and phone costs continue to be eroded by inflation.
"Increases in tuition revenue can be used to mitigate the inflationary impact on support
budgets and provide for a meaningful adjustment to this budget category," Harris reported.
"It is essential that these budgets be adjusted on a regular basis to maintain operations."
Harris presented charts showing that Wyoming's resident undergraduate tuition ranks
the lowest among 25 comparator institutions in the Western Undergraduate Exchange
program.
Resident undergraduate tuition will remain at $94 per credit hour, for a total of
$2,820 for the 2008-09 academic year. Graduate student tuition for residents was increased
6.1 percent from $164 to $174 per credit hour, for an academic year cost of $3,132.
The per-credit hour tuition for non-resident undergraduates increases from $322 this
academic year to $341 per credit hour in 2008-09, an annual cost of $10,230, a 5.9
percent increase. Non resident graduate tuition for next year will increase from $470
to $498 per credit hour, for an annual cost of $8,964.
Trustees approved raising the resident tuition for students in the School of Pharmacy
from $238 to $262 per credit hour, for an academic year total of $8,908. Non-resident
pharmacy tuition will increase from $455 per credit hour to $532, for a total of $19,924
for the academic year. This increase includes a base increase plus differential tuition
to cover 12 four-week rotations in an advanced pharmacy practice site, and for a new
position to assist with student admissions, data management and continuing education.
Tuition for Wyoming residents attending law school will increase from $247 per credit
hour this year to $288 for 2008-09, for an academic year cost of $8,928. The tuition
for non-resident law students will increase from $553 to $643 per credit hour, for
an academic year cost of $19,933. This includes an increase in the law tuition differential
to achieve the College of Law's planning goals to build strength in natural resources
and energy law, and to address issues raised in forthcoming accreditation reports.
