True. All you can look at is results. The trend in Lutherans is DOWN 80% to 120+ last fall. I may be off by a bit. But the drop is massive. We have anecdotal comments on Fort Wayne and from another big former feeder high school of 5-8 students where VU has whiffed.
Well, now we talking in a more general way about higher ed enrollment. I suggest we take this important but well-worn topic to the enrollment thread. It's certainly not "Valpo News" anymore. See you there.
Sad. Just sad. With already sky high tuition. The school is now increasing that tuition. This will have a negative affect on the already declining enrollment. Current students may also look elsewhere as well
What was the tuition increase? I can’t get the article.
@usc4valpo I can’t get the article but here is what I do know:
Students were informed of the tuition increase by email on November 7. The increase is a 4% increase to $48,820 per year. Housing and meal plans will have increases between 1% and 3%. Graduate programs have increases in the general fee but most per-credit rates will remain the same.
At a 4% increase, this is the same percent increase as last year. When that increase was announced, I was told the administration was anticipating a 4% increase for each successive year. However looking back on my old emails I cannot find official communication about that so maybe that was just word-of-mouth news that seems to be confirmed with this increase now.
Its exactly what I have been outlining multiple times here. Students are way more interested in where their money is going. I expect a decrease in enrollment on top of the current decrease as a response.
@rezynezy I would not expect a markedly significant decrease in enrollment since this is the reality for the vast majority of private schools (even some public schools) across the country. National tuition increase annually has been 3.63% since 2010-11, very close to this 4% increase from Valpo. This tuition is still about $17K less than Notre Dame for example…people are not gonna go away from Notre Dame for the pure reason of cost alone. While I agree that students care about where their money is going, the onus is on Valpo to create a holistically viable option for higher education that creates an attractive experience regardless of what students are paying for tuition.
Is 4 percent that significant? Did it go up 9 percent under the previous 2 to 3 years? Valpo is in the red and they need revenue.
My major issue is with the changes to tuition for current students. These are students who are either going to drop out, or find other institutions that will treat them as students rather than a pay piggy. I understand that a VU education offers more than just a price tag, but to a student. I feel as if their feelings are going to lean more towards the pay piggy mindest. This only further drives down the grad rate.
Valpo students concerned about the cash crunch and want leave also have to consider how many credit hours will transfer over to another college/university. Theology classes usually will not transfer, which can be up to 9 credit hours - a little over half a semester.
I wonder what the tuition increases at Valpo were from 2016 to 2024 and how much it was over the federal inflation rate. Also, someone has to pay for Heckler’s ever important cathedrals.
@usc4valpo which of Heckler’s “cathedrals” is Valpo still paying off? Meanwhile the current president is banging on about new dorms, a new gym, and an unnecessary academic restructuring that will cost even more money.
But don’t worry — he got a flashy new electric sign.
