Oakton talking tuition hike again

It likely will cost a little more to study at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines.

Oakton has become the latest community college to consider a tuition increase for next year.

Oakton board members on March 18 will consider raising tuition at the school's Des Plaines and Skokie campuses from $82 a semester hour to $84, a 2.4 percent increase.

Costs for out-of-district students and seniors also would be increased by $2 starting this fall.

This would be the third straight year the college has increased tuition, but past increases have been steeper.

Last year, tuition increased to $75, up $6 a credit hour. This year, tuition rose to $82.

Citing the fact they expect to get less money from the state, Oakton officials say the increase is necessary to maintain services.

"Unfortunately, this is the world we live in where an increasingly larger percentage of costs of higher education are borne by students," board Chairman Jeffrey Rosen said.

Harper College and College of Lake County last week increased tuition by $5 per credit hour for next year, saying the state's reduced budget forced them to hike charges.

At Harper, students who pay $99 a credit hour will pay $5 more. Lake County students will pay $5 more per credit hour, bringing the total to $95 per credit hour.