Hardin-Simmons University Accelerated Learning Resources

Hardin-Simmons University

The Hardin-Simmons University board of trustees decided Friday not to raise tuition for incoming freshmen in 2012-13 school year.

Tuition rates next year for full or part-time students will not increase above the $715 per semester hour rate that freshmen are paying in the current school year.

Base fees paid by full-time students will increase from $900 to $1,000 next year, according to Shane Davidson, vice president for enrollment and marketing management.

Because HSU’s tuition is frozen at a student’s freshman rate, incoming students in 2012-13 will be able to lock in the $715 per hour rate until they graduate, as long as they remain full-time students.

“With rising costs of higher education across the country, reduced state financial assistance, and our country developing new attitudes toward student loan debt, HSU felt a positive response was necessary,” Davidson said in a statement.

Davidson said this is the first time in recent history that HSU has not raised tuition for incoming students.

Students taking 30 credit hours this year will pay $22,350 in tuition and fees. Next year, taking into account a $100 fee increase, students can expect to pay $22,450 for 30 hours.

Elsewhere, Abilene Christian University recently revealed its plans to charge all full-time students next year a flat tuition and fee rate of $26,770 for the entire year, regardless of the number of hours they take.

Students taking 30 hours in the current school year are paying $25,270 in tuition and fees. The change next year will represent a 5.9 percent increase based on the assumption that 30 hours is an average course load.

But students who are currently taking 36 hours are paying nearly $30,000 this year, and they will see a drop to the flat rate of $26,770 next year.

At McMurry University, Gary Ellison, associate director of university relations, said no decisions will be made on tuition rates for the 2012-13 school year until the board of trustees’ spring meeting, which takes place in March.

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