New legislation aimed at lowering increase for recent spike in tuition at Rutgers
The rise in price came after state legislators introduced a bill to cap tuition increases at the state’s public universities.
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There's been a recent spike in tuition for Rutgers University students, but a new bill from the state Legislature is pushing for a limit on that increase.
“Rutgers is too expensive for pretty much anybody,” said Isaiah Briggs, a senior at Rutgers University.
As a senior, Briggs says he has seen a rise since he started four years ago.
“I believe tuition was pre-pandemic, $13,000, and then when we came back, it was up to $20,000,” he said.
The cost of going to school at Rutgers jumped from 6% last year to an additional 4% this year. That means the average in-state Rutgers undergraduate will pay about $17,520 per year in tuition and fees on the New Brunswick campus. Once room and board are added in, the total cost to attend Rutgers will be about $33,234 a year. The tuition and fee increase is higher than the rate of inflation, which is currently about 3.3%.
The rise in price came after state legislators introduced a bill to cap tuition increases at the state’s public universities.
A bill sponsored by Assemblyman Cody Miller, D-Gloucester, would limit tuition increases to 2% annually. He says, "At a time when students are struggling and families are paying more for their basic needs, this bill, which caps tuition hikes at 2%, is necessary to ensure higher education remains accessible and affordable."
Regardless of the price, “RU Pride” is roaring, and students want their school to be the best in can be.
“I think because of the rising cost, we'll have to cut down on fun activities,” said one incoming freshman.
“I knew this would happen, so I'm working,” said another incoming freshman.
Most students say they rely heavily on FAFSA and scholarship money to be there and live comfortably.
