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Tuition and Fee Rates for 2008-2010 Approved by UT System Board of Regents

AUSTIN – Tuition and fee rates for the next two academic years at University of Texas institutions were formally approved today (March 26) by the UT System Board of Regents. 

The action came following a review of tuition and fee proposals submitted to the Regents by the campuses earlier this month. 

The approved tuition and fee increases for full-time resident undergraduate students were limited to 4.95 percent per year or $150 per semester, whichever was greater, adhering to the Regents’ resolution last December to limit tuition increases. 

A few exceptions to the tuition and fee cap were approved by the Regents. Among them, nursing programs will be allowed to recommend new tuition and fee proposals for consideration next year and UT Brownsville was allowed to allocate more of its increase in the first academic year to better address the effect of its policy on student satisfactory academic progress. 

Several campus proposals also included student-initiated fees – such as fees to fund recreational facilities and transportation needs – which were proposed by the students themselves and have been approved through student referenda, thus slightly increasing total academic costs.

The approved rates for Fall 2008 and Fall 2009 may be found on the UT System Web site. Regents approved rates for two years largely at the request of students who desired more financial predictability. 

“We believe these modest increases in tuition and fee rates will go a long way toward furthering excellence at our campuses,” said Regents’ Chairman H. Scott Caven, Jr. “The Board remains committed to ensuring an affordable and quality education for our students, but at the same time we must continue to enhance our operations and programs to keep our institutions competitive in the higher education arena and ever-changing global environment.” 

UT institutions will use the additional tuition revenues to continue to enhance student services and academic programs, such as hiring additional faculty and advisers, reducing class sizes, and repairing and renovating campus buildings.

“These tuition increases will allow our academic and health institutions to hire more faculty and advisors and improve course offerings and availability,” UT System Chancellor Mark G. Yudof said. "These additional funds and the services they provide are essential to maintaining the quality of a UT education. The most important thing to remember is that an education in the UT System is still a great value, and we have set aside money for financial aid that ensures no qualified student will be turned away because of financial need.” 

Since 2003, additional tuition revenues have allowed UT institutions to hire more than 650 faculty members and create nearly 500 course offerings. 

The plans approved also include a variety of incentives to encourage students to graduate on time by taking more semester credit hours in each term they are enrolled.
Last week, the UT System launched a revamped Web site aimed at helping inform students, parents and others about accessing and paying for college. The updated site includes the campus tuition and fee proposals planned for the next two academic years. The expanded Web site contains information and resource links on financial aid, how tuition is used, campus cost-saving initiatives and how to pay for college, among other things.

About the University of Texas System

Serving the educational and health care needs of Texans for more than 125 years, the UT System is one of the nation's largest higher education systems with 15 campuses – including nine academic and six health institutions – and an annual operating budget of $10.7 billion (FY 2008). Student enrollment exceeded 194,000 in the 2007 academic year. The UT System confers one-third of the state's undergraduate degrees and educates three-fourths of Texas health care professionals. With more than 80,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in Texas.