A proposed 10% in-county tuition increase at Mercer County Community College, introduced by President Dr. Deborah Preston at a March 11 public hearing, would be the school’s first double-digit hike in 30 years.
Over the past three decades, per credit in-county tuition has increased by an average of 3.9% per year, with most increases falling in the 2% to 4% range according to state and college data. Even a proposed 5% increase in 2022 drew heavy pushback, prompting the Board of Trustees to approve the original 3% increase proposed that year.
Tuition is not the only cost rising. The proposal also includes a $2 increase to the technology fee and a $4 increase to the college fee, both per credit. A student taking 12 credits would pay approximately $279.90 more in tuition and fees in the upcoming academic year.
Dr. Preston said students could rely on a range of financial aid options to offset the increase, including federal Pell Grants and SEOG, state programs such as NJ STARS, TAG and CCOG, as well as private scholarships and student loans
She noted that among Mercer students, “Only in the 30-something percent range” of students qualify for a Pell Grant, adding that when other forms of aid are included, that figure “gets up to 40 something.”
She also acknowledged that some students may still face financial gaps, adding, “If a student is not eligible for any of the above aid, they can receive Foundation scholarships, completion fund, or student emergency funds.”
Many of these programs are competitive or have additional eligibility requirements.
Antonios Kantarakias, a Mercer Funeral Service major who had to take this semester off for financial reasons, says the change would make a difference for him.
“This 10% increase would mean, even best-case scenario, a couple hundred dollars that I would have to start paying out of my pocket,” Kantarakias said. He continued, “I would probably have to take on some extra hours once the fall semester comes around just to pay for that difference.”
“If not,” he added, “I genuinely may have to look elsewhere, to find a different funeral service program.” Asked whether he expects to be able to return next semester, Kantarakias said, “As it currently stands, no.”
Dr. Preston said there were several reasons for the proposed increase.
She said, “The budget from last year to this year is about $4.2 million more … We figure in the salary improvements on the collective bargaining agreements. Those are a significant amount. We figure in increases in utilities, which are going up every year. We figure in some inflationary costs for supplies.”
Dr. Preston also cited increased health care costs for employees and a 5% drop in enrollment this semester as reasons for the proposed increase.
Some faculty have questioned whether those factors fully explain the size of the hike.
Faculty salary increases and rising health care costs predate this year, and similar pressures have historically been addressed through smaller annual tuition increases, according to college data. Since 1996, the largest increase before this year was 8.28% during the Great Recession in 2008.
A faculty member who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal said they believe poor leadership and administrative salary increases are more significant factors. Board minutes show several senior administrators received salary increases of roughly 10% to 16% tied to promotions or reclassifications, while most non-union confidential employees received a 3.5% increase.
In the current academic year, the college has implemented staff reductions, beginning with outsourcing the financial aid department and followed by the elimination of 24 additional positions this semester, according to a summary of the February Board of Trustees meeting prepared by the faculty union.
Dr. Preston said at the meeting that the layoffs in Financial Aid had not been implemented as a cost-saving measure but were instead aimed to help more students more quickly.
She said, “I have heard concerns that some people don’t feel like that is what has happened, and I assure you that I am way in the weeds trying to figure out if this was the right decision.”
Dr. Preston said at the meeting, “Not all our students are struggling” and that she does not believe the college has “priced students out.”
The Board of Trustees will vote on the tuition increase at their meeting on March 25.
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The VOICE will continue to report on this story as it develops.
