Lack of State Funding Results in Hidden Fees for Students

Angela Januzzi

September 5, 2007 

In the 2005-6 school year,  fees for public universities rose faster than tuition at over half of the country’s state-funded schools. The skyrocketing surcharges are due to legislatures that are not keen on increasing tuition, but also not adequately funding schools. 

New student fees across state schools include those such as library charges, fees for moving sports status to Division I, and the ambiguous “technology” student fee. Though private colleges also are guilty of charging hidden student fees, these charges are usually overshadowed by private school tuition costs.  Now student groups and grassroots movements are beginning to retaliate against the fees free-for-all charged by colleges and universities. In 2003, for instance, the state of California was issued to pay back millions of dollars to students who were charged for costs they were not aware they owed at the time of enrollment. 

Administrators must take note that transparency and honesty are the best conduits to winning students’ trust—and retaining student enrollment. 

Source: Glater, Jonathan. As Support lags, Colleges Tack On Student Fees. www.nytimes.com. Posted: September 5, 2007.