By Dan Klepal
The Cincinnati Enquirer

In the four years since Dave Stover started classes at the University of Cincinnati, his tuition has gone from $4,700 a year in 1998 to the $7,000 he'll pay this year.

Pamela Griffin of Bond Hill says she has taken out $6,000 in loans to help her make it through this year. (Ernest Coleman photos) | ZOOM |

It's enough to keep the pre-med student up nights.

"I had to pick up another job because of it," Mr. Stover, 21, said of the tuition increases. "And I've had to take out more loans, about an extra $2,000, just to help me cover it. Picking up more hours at work and losing hours that I can study has caused a lot more stress in my life."

College students enrolled in state universities across Ohio are feeling the same pinch after state lawmakers cut funding and abolished tuition caps - moves that have paved the way for hefty tuition increases. At UC, tuition has increased 46 percent during the past four years.

Molly Schmidt of Western Hills says she has to live with her parents to afford classes at the University of Cincinnati. | ZOOM |

Katie Trainer is just starting her education at UC. The 18-year-old freshman from Blanchester said she's had a hard time affording tuition, books, and housing this year. But she's worried about the potential of future increases.

"I know it's probably going to happen, so I just have to hope the minimum wage goes up," Ms. Trainer said.

Pamela Griffin has the same concerns. The freshman from Bond Hill received a $1,000 scholarship from her church to help defray some of the cost. She's taken out loans and has two jobs to pay her bills. The extra work has translated into less social time.

"I haven't met anyone since I've been here because I'm always so busy," said Ms. Griffin, 18, who has taken out $6,000 in loans to help her get through this year. "If the costs go up again, I'll either have to work harder or take off a year and save some money."

UC tuition consists of four components: an education fee; a general fee for things such as student advising and organizations; a technology fee to provide students with Internet access and e-mail; and a campus life fee to help fund construction of a new student center.

Molly Schmidt said she has to live with her parents to afford classes. The 20-year-old from Western Hills, who is studying communication, said she's ready for the next round of tuition hikes.

"It's pretty much a given that it will go up again," Ms. Schmidt said. "The price of books and parking are going up too. It's not a good situation."

E-mail dklepal@enquirer.com