University of Akron students will have to pay more to attend classes at the University beginning this Fall . The UA Board of Trustees today approved a 3.5% increase in tuition and general fees, and a 3.3% increase in the transportation fee.

The tuition increase amounts to $318 per year for the average Akron student.

Trustees blame the need for the tuition hike on significantly reduced state funding of nearly $30 million over two years.

Trustees say the increase will also enable investments in the University's strategic plan, Vision 2020.To help minimize the effect on students, the University will increase scholarship funding by 3.5 percent as well. In 2011-12, the University committed more than $37 million to scholarships.

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News Release from The University of Akron

The Board of Trustees today approved a 3.5 percent increase to tuition and general fees, and a 3.3 percent increase to the transportation fee.

The tuition increase – amounting to $318 per year for the average Akron student – will help assure that the University continues to provide students with excellent academic programs and services.

The increase is in response to budget pressures due to significantly reduced state funding of nearly $30 million over two years. Further, the increase will enable strategic investments into the priorities identified in the University's strategic plan, Vision 2020.

To help minimize the effect on students, the University will increase scholarship funding by 3.5 percent as well. In 2011-12, the University committed more than $37 million to scholarships.

For students who take between 12 and 16 credit hours, the University will continue to charge tuition for only 12 hours. Additional tuition is charged beyond 16 credit hours. That “cap” was revised upward (from 15 to 16) in 2009, after a study indicated that full-time students could complete 128 hours within eight terms on their way to graduation. Further, to help alleviate the financial burden on students, a study of the University's fee structure and scholarship offerings is underway.

The increases approved today are in line with tuition and fee adjustments at other Ohio public universities.

Board members also approved a tuition increase of 6.3 percent for law students.