By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS - With an increase of almost 17 percent, Northern Kentucky University has raised next year's tuition by a higher percentage than any other university in the region.

NKU tuition

Current undergrad tuition (full year, two semesters) • KY resident - $3,744 • Non-resident - $7,992 Tuition for 2004-05 • KY resident - $4,338 • Non-resident - $9,096

TUITION INCREASES

Tuition increases at other schools in the region for the 2004-05 school year • University of Cincinnati: March 30, UC said it would raise in-state tuition by 9.9 percent beginning in the summer term. This is the second consecutive year UC students have been hit with such an increase, the maximum allowed by the state of Ohio. The action raises annual tuition to $8,379, up from $7,623. • Xavier (private): Will charge $20,100 a year, a 6.6 percent increase over last year's $18,850. • Miami: Miami University approved an 8.5 percent tuition boost Feb. 27, the first public college in Greater Cincinnati to announce an increase for the 2004-05 school year. • College of Mount St. Joseph (private): Fall tuition will increase by 7 percent, from $16,000 to $17,200. • Ohio State University: Announced last week a 13.4 percent increase in tuition for all new students. • University of Kentucky: 13.6 percent increase for freshmen and sophomores and 16.9 percent increase for juniors and seniors for the fall • University of Louisville: 13.3 percent increase for the fall

NKU's Board of Regents approved a $133.8 million budget Wednesday for the 2004-05 school year, which means that Kentucky residents will pay $2,184 a semester. This year, in-state tuition is $1,872.

The 16.7 percent increase was the largest tuition increase in the school's 36-year history.

On a percentage basis, it was also the biggest tuition increase of universities in the region - University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, Thomas More College, College of Mount St. Joseph, Ohio State University, Miami University, University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.

NKU officials said they need the increase because of insufficient funding from the state.

On a per-student basis, NKU receives less money than any other public university in Kentucky, including the community- and technical-college system.

"A university president never enjoys raising tuition," NKU President James Votruba said at the meeting.

"Make no mistake about it, I am not happy with this tuition strategy. This will undoubtedly increase the load of our already overburdened students.

"What would be even worse, however, is if we allowed the momentum and progress we have enjoyed over the past decade to stall."

Except for student Regent Chris Pace, the regents unanimously approved the budget containing the tuition increase.

Pace said he thought the increase was unnecessary because NKU is too focused on growth.

"I think we should grow. But we are focusing on growth ... and not focusing on access" and affordability for students, he said.

Votruba disagreed, saying that growth is actually being hampered because of the university's financial situation.

"This is not to fund growth," Votruba said. "There are going to be folks shut out of Northern Kentucky University, not because of costs ... because we can't accommodate them."

Compared to other universities and colleges in the state and region, Votruba said, NKU is still affordable for most students.

"While no one wants to increase tuition, this plan is still a very attractive package," he said. "We are still quite competitive."

About 30 students attended the Board of Regents meeting. Several held signs with messages that included "Why are you going to crush dreams?" and "Students are not just $$$."

Michael Tobergta of Eastgate in Clermont County, a junior studying political science, said many students he knows attend NKU because it is affordable.

Raising tuition will make it difficult if not impossible for some students to enroll or stay in college, he said.

"I do not have the financial means to go to any other institution than NKU," said Tobergta, 23, vice president of public relations for the NKU Student Government Association.

Not all students opposed the increase. Rachel Whisner, 24, of Cold Spring, an applied cultural-studies major, applauded the regents even though she is paying tuition through student loans.

"Our university needs to grow, and it needs to continue quality, and you can't do that without the increase" in tuition," Whisner said. "The board of regents knows what they are doing."

Chris Mayhew contributed to this report. E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com