Clovis CC increases tuition rates

Consuell Garcia, a 33-year-old cosmetology student at Clovis Community College, said she and her husband decided she would return to school and do whatever it takes to finish.

Garcia, a Portales resident, pays out-of-district tuition to attend the school. That tuition was raised from $26 to $27 per credit hour at Wednesday’s CCC board meeting.

The motion passed unanimously to increase tuition $1 per credit hour for in-district and out-of-district students. A $10 increase per credit hour was passed for out-of-state students.

Garcia said the $1 increase, which takes effect this fall, will be a burden.

“It is, being that I have three kids,” she said. “Anytime tuition goes up it is not a good thing.”

Students residing inside the Clovis city limits will pay $25 per credit hour, while out of district students residing in New Mexico will pay $27, and out-of-state students $55.

School officials said the tuition hike would raise $123,665 next fiscal year based on the current enrollment.

According to 2003-2004 tuition statistics, CCC is one of the most cost-efficient public schools in New Mexico for residents. Only New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs at $17 per credit hour is more affordable. University of New Mexico had the highest tuition at $114 per credit hour. Eastern New Mexico University charges $74 per credit hour.

CCC President Beverlee McClure said the increase was necessary due to state House Bill 2, which decreased the school appropriation this year by more than $138,000. To offset the loss, McClure said tuition needed to be increased.

“We don’t make money off the students. We are trying to remain at a break-even point,” McClure said. “We can’t afford to lose money. If we lose money then we will have to cut classes or services. So it affects students either way.”

Increased college tuition has been a theme throughout the state and nation. ENMU officials announced last month a 6 percent tuition increase. New Mexico State University increased tuition 8.7 percent. New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M., raised tuition by $4 per credit hour.

University of New Mexico officials are expected to raise tuition by at least 12 percent later this month, according to The Associated Press.

But comparative increases provide no solace to CCC student Kayla Claybrook. Commuting from Muleshoe, Claybrook will be hit with an extra $10 per credit hour next fall.

“The only time I can work is on the weekends,” Claybrook said. “That $10 goes to gas and what I eat and car payments.”

McClure said the $20 required semester fee, among the lowest in the state, will not be raised.

“There is a point where we could raise tuition to the point that we would lose students,” McClure said. “So it is not even a wise business decision to raise tuition too high.

“Finances should never be a barrier to coming here.”

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The price of knowledge

• CCC’s resident tuition per credit:

2003-2004 —$24 (2,318 in-district students and 397 students living at military base.)

2004-2005 — $25

• Out-of-district tuition per credit:

2003-2004 — $26 (822 students)

2004-2005 — $27

• Out-of-state tuition per credit:

2003-2004 — $45 (677 students)

2004-2005 — $55

— Total students: 4,214

Source: Clovis Community College