The College of Western Idaho Board of Trustees Tuesday unanimously approved a $3 per-credit-hour tuition and fees rate increase for credit-seeking students in its service district.
Beginning this fall, semester students will pay $139 per credit hour, up from $136. “It is the first tuition and fees rate increase at CWI since 2011. The increase will support the College’s operating budget for the coming year,” said CWI spokeswoman Jennifer Couch.
CWI has three primary sources of revenue: tuition and fees, property taxes, and state appropriations. Currently, the College’s tuition and fees are nearly half the cost of Idaho’s public universities; the property tax levy rate is $16.63, compared to Idaho’s other community colleges with levy’s ranging from $95-$112 per $100,00.
Additionally, state funding for CWI is 61 percent of the average of Idaho’s other community colleges based on full-time equivalent student enrollment, Couch stated.
“CWI’s increase of 2.2 percent is aligned with the State Board of Education’s 2 to 3 percent approved tuition and fees increase for Idaho’s public four-year higher education institutions,” she added.
“The decision did not come easy for the Board,” said Mary Niland, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “We have held our tuition for the last four years -- but with increasing costs to operations, the College has limited funding options to support the superior quality of instruction. We must maintain the quality of our programs to properly prepare students for the careers of the 21st century. The Board’s decision on tuition and fees rate increase is based projections in property tax revenues and state appropriations, anticipated enrollment for the coming year and, most significantly, the requirements of support services to maintain high quality education for our students. CWI will continue to operate as lean as possible to continue providing affordable, quality teaching and learning opportunities.”
CWI has seven campus locations throughout southwest Idaho.
