Austin Community College to keep tuition, fees flat for 2023-24 academic year
The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to keep tuition and fee rates flat for the 2023-24 academic year, continuing a decade-long trend.
ACC’s tuition rates for students will remain at $67 per credit-hour, or $85 with fees, which include access to tutoring, academic coaching and additional services. The $18 in fees per credit-hour comprise a $15 general fee, a $2 student success fee and a $1 sustainability fee.
With the board's decision last week, the college has not raised tuition for 10 years, according to a news release.
“We understand the financial challenges that many students and their families face. The board is committed to providing affordable higher education opportunities to all students in our community,” said Barbara Mink, chair of the ACC board. “I am proud of the board’s work to support our students to access an affordable path to higher education and their career.”
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According to ACC data, the college had the lowest tuition among public and private colleges and universities in the Austin area during the fall 2022 semester with an in-district tuition cost of $1,020 for 12 credit-hours. The average in-state tuition cost at the University of Texas for the same semester and number of hours was $5,931, according to UT data.
“ACC is a home for students who want a brighter future, for students who might be the first in their family to attend college and for those who want a smart start to their college journey,” ACC Chancellor Richard Rhodes said in the release.
“Decisions like these demonstrate our commitment to every student — no matter where they are in life or along their academic journey. It’s about standing by our word to ensure college is for everyone,” he added.
The college's out-of-state tuition rate also will stay flat at $335 per credit-hour, and the out-of-district fee is $201 per credit-hour. ACC's out-of-district tuition rate per credit-hour for fall 2022 is the lowest among nine similar Texas community colleges in metro areas, such as Dallas and Houston, according to ACC's data.
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The board's tuition rate approval comes as the Legislature considers a bill that would appropriate millions in additional funding for community colleges, including ACC. Last week, the House approved House Bill 8, which would allocate additional funding to the 50 public community college districts in Texas based on certain student success metrics. The bill has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
Neil Vickers, ACC's executive vice chancellor for finance and administration, said during the board's meeting last week that ACC's "conservative" budget currently assumes the board will approve "something close to" the maximum possible tax rate that does not require voter approval and that state appropriations will remain flat. The budget also assumes a "larger than normal compensation package" for ACC employees, he said.
The ACC board is expected to vote on the full budget later this year.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Higher Education: Austin Community College keeps tuition, fees flat
