Trustees Approve Fall 2023 Tuition and Students Fees

The East Central College Board of Trustees on Feb. 6 approved an increase in tuition costs beginning in the fall 2023 semester, which maintains tuition lower than the federal Pell Grant threshold.

There will be an 8 percent tuition increase across the board for students who live within the taxing district, outside the taxing district, out of state and for international students. The amount paid in student fees also is higher to meet technology and activity cost increases.

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer said the increase was determined by a tuition sub-committee of the budget advisory committee, which presented its findings to the College’s administration.

Inflation at the state and national levels has caused operation costs to increase significantly over the past year.

“One of the challenges that everyone is facing is the high inflationary environment that we’re in,” Bauer said. “This increase allows us to continue to invest in our students and provide the technology and instruction tools that they deserve.”

He added that the impact on the students with the greatest financial need will be minimal.

“The students with the greatest financial needs receive Federal Pell Grant,” Bauer said. “The Pell Grant will increase next year, and tuition will remain below the maximum Pell Grant threshold.”

In addition, the Missouri A+ maximum pays $196 per credit hour, totaling $5,880 annually. Tiers 1 and 2 in-district tuition and general fees for a full-time student will remain below this A+ maximum threshold.

ECC also awards over $300,000 in academic and need-based scholarships annually, and the ECC Foundation provides more than $180,000 in scholarships to more than 120 students each year.

Bauer explained that the subcommittee on tuition recommended this increase for long-term planning and counter a projection of slow enrollment growth, adding that both state and national data show a decline in high school population in the years to come.

Trustees were presented with the new tuition plan in February so changes can be made public before students can begin registering in March. Registration for fall 2023 classes begins March 20 for current students and March 27 for new students.

Bauer added that community colleges in Missouri have yet to release tuition rates for the 2023-24 school year, but he anticipates that ECC will again be in the “middle of the pack.”

Tuition Tiers 

There are three tiers of tuition at ECC. East Central College. Tier 1 includes most programs including general education classes. Tier 2 consists of classes in culinary arts, industrial maintenance technology, nursing and precision machining programs.

Tier 3 courses include health care programs at ECC Rolla, radiological technology, surgical technology and licensed practical nursing (LPN) programs.

The new in-district tuition rates will be $125 per credit hour for Tier 1 classes, $151 per credit hour for Tier 2 classes and $216 per credit hour for Tier 3.

Out-of-district rates will be $174, $211 and $324 per credit hour for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3, respectively.

The rates per credit hour for out-of-state students will be $254 for Tier 1 and $309 for Tier 2. Tuition for international students will be $261 per credit hour for Tier 1, and $331 per credit hour for Tier 2.

Dual credit course rates in the 2023-24 academic year will be $63 per credit hour.

Student Fees 

The student fees will be $37 per credit hour. Listed below is the fee breakdown and how it was changed:

• Student Activities $12 per credit hour (increase of $3).
• Support Services $2 per credit hour (increase of $1).
• Technology $6 per credit hour (increase of $3).
• Facilities $8 per credit hour (unchanged).
• Security $9 per credit hour (unchanged).