McHenry County College to keep tuition flat for 2023
In a move to assist students and alleviate financial burdens from inflation and COVID-19, McHenry County College will not increase tuition and fees for the 2022-23 budget year, officials said.
School trustees voted unanimously in favor of the decision during their regular meeting Thursday.
The agenda packet cited a "conservative" and "strategic" approach to institutional finances, including grants and programs like cutting down on hard-copy textbooks, that allowed for keeping flat tuition rates.
"When considering tuition and fee rates, the most important thing we're looking at is the impact it would have on our students," college President Clint Gabbard said. "Keeping tuition flat for the second year in a row allows us to provide opportunities to more people in our community and reinforces our commitment to removing barriers to education for our students."
Currently, the tuition and fee rate for McHenry County College is $128.25 per credit hour for in-district students.
According to the college, a student taking 15 credit hours each fall and spring semester can expect to pay $3,847.50, while a year of in-state tuition at Illinois State University costs $15,319.
The college ranked 38th out of the 39 community colleges across the state in tuition and fees.
Beginning in the summer semester, tuition and fees for out-of-district and out-of-state residents will be $360.77 and $472.47 per credit hour, respectively. That marks a decrease for out-of-district students and an increase for out-of-state students, adjusted to better reflect the actual cost of instruction, according to board documents.
When the cost of living was accounted for, the college's tuition was "by far the lowest in the state," Chief Financial Officer Robert Tenuta said during the meeting Thursday.
Overall, 19 colleges in Illinois were raising tuition next year by an average of $5 per credit hour, Tenuta said. That would raise the average cost to $153 per credit hour, about 15% higher than MCC's rate.
The college also provides a variety of financial assistance options, including special resources like the Student Success Fun and Purple Pride Relief Fund that address student issues related to the pandemic.
Board member Molly Walsh of Crystal Lake had a one-word response following the vote: "Hurray!"