Plagued by ongoing budget issues, Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) is proposing to raise tuition by 3.4% for the 2024-25 academic year, potentially the second consecutive annual increase, according to an article from Newsday.
Under the proposal unanimously approved by SCCC’s board of trustees, full-time resident tuition would climb $190 to $5,830 per year. The per-credit cost would rise $8 to $243. The tuition hike is included in the college’s $206.8 million operating budget for next year, about a quarter of which is funded by Suffolk County.
Board chair E. Christopher Murray acknowledged the tuition increase is unpopular but said it strikes a balance between affordability and keeping the college running “in an efficient and positive way.”
While no program or service cuts are planned, overall spending would decrease 1.9% year-over-year due to staff reductions, part of “stringent management” of vacancies and a retirement incentive, officials said. The budget would use $4.5 million from reserves.
A new $25 health and wellness fee for full-time students is proposed to cover mental health, medical and other services. SCCC is also seeking a 2% rise in county funding to $51 million for 2024-25, while state aid is expected to remain flat around $50 million.
Further tuition hikes are projected each year until 2028 when the budget gap is forecast to close, according to interim VP Sara Gorton. Increasing enrollment, which has declined 24% since 2011, is a crucial long-term goal, Murray said.
The proposal comes on the heels of Nassau County Community College’s plans to consolidate over 20 academic areas into six departments due to a $14 million deficit projection.
