By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
New Bowling Green State University students will see costs inch up this fall for on campus housing, dining plans and academic course fees.
The BGSU Board of Trustees voted Friday to increase the rates for the incoming class. The new fees will be locked in for those students for the next four years as part of the Falcon Tuition Guarantee. Rates for currently enrolled students are already locked in and will be unaffected by the new rates set Friday.
It’s likely the new incoming class will also see a hike in tuition costs when the board of trustees meets next in May.
For the class of 2030, the board approved an average 2.5% adjustment in rates for its housing, which ranges from basic to premium residence hall rooms. At the same time, student meal plans will increase by 3% or about $4.38 per week.
Casey Wyman, BGSU chief financial officer, recommended the increases.
The university has approximately 6,000 student beds, which are currently at 102% capacity. Wyman explained that some single rooms have been converted into doubles, and some common areas in residence halls have been renovated for housing students.
The costs for housing vary depending on the amenities of the four-tiered type of rooms. The average 2.5% increase should be enough to cover costs to operate and invest in necessary updates, Wyman said.
At the same time the increases should be manageable for new students.
“We wanted to keep our prices down for those who need it most,” Wyman said.
The different tiers of housing depend on the newness of the halls, the type of private spaces provided, and the presence of air conditioning in rooms.
The prices per semester will start at the lowest rate of $2,545 to the most expensive at $4,900.
Taken into consideration when increasing housing costs were the following issues:
- The need to reinvest in housing facilities.
- Effort to ensure prices of existing BGSU housing options are appropriate and competitive.
- Importance of aligning the room type and amenities with the room price.
- Recognition that room rates represent one component of a student’s total cost to attend BGSU.
- Continuation of the Falcon Tuition Guarantee, which means room rates remain constant for students for four consecutive years.
The cheapest rooms are in Kreischer, the only residence hall without air conditioned rooms. Plans are underway to remedy that. The next tier includes Conklin, Offenheimer, Kohl and McDonald, followed by Centennial, Falcon Heights and Founders. The most expensive are Falcon Landing and Village Units.
Also at Friday’s meetings, the board voted to increase meal plan rates by 3%. When quizzed by a board member about students’ opinions of food options, Wyman said they are quite satisfied.
“Our students love our food options,” he said.
BGSU partners with Chartwells for food selections on campus. As with housing, once the meal plans are priced for an incoming class, they remain the same for that class for four years.
There are three basic meal plans, ranging from $2,232 up to $3,007 for a semester. The 3% increase will mean the average weekly costs will go up between $4.38 to $5.86 depending on the meal plan.
When explaining the need for the increase, Wyman said the prices for food, supplies and labor have all increased substantially over the past 12 months.
With the new fees in place, BGSU ranks third lowest among Ohio’s 13 four-year public universities, for total room and meals costs.
The board of trustees also revised fees for special courses, following a 10-year suspension by the state of such fees. The increases will pay for such specific expenses as lab supplies, unique software, travel, special speakers or exhibits.
According to Wyman, the fees will cover the additional opportunities, hands-on experiences, group interactions and problem-solving opportunities that are invaluable to overall learning outcomes.
