APSU, MTSU approves tuition and fee increase for the 2023-24 academic year

Kenya Anderson, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle
Updated ·4 min read

UPDATED June 9: This story includes the APSU Board approval to increase tuition and fees.

UPDATED JUNE 20: This story includes the MTSU Board approval to increase tuition and fees.

Two Middle Tennessee state universities approved raising tuition and fees by 3% for the 2023-24 academic school year.

Austin Peay State University and Middle Tennessee State University Board of Trustees announced in May that both would consider proposals for each institution to increase tuition and fees at meetings this month. ASPU voted on June 9 to raise their tuition 3% and MTSU voted on June 20 to increase tuition, fees and housing rates by approximately 3%.

The University of Tennessee tuition remains unchanged for the 2023-24 year, although some fees will increase. Current tuition and fees are $8,761 for APSU, $9,952 for MTSU and $13,244 for the University of Tennessee according to data from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay's Board of Trustees voted to increase tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduates at a meeting on Friday, June 9.

"I just want to say that this is not something we (The Board) take lightly," said APSU Board Chair Don Jenkins before the vote. "Inflation has raised by 10% and we're raising tuition by 3% to offset the cost of salaries, but we are aware of the economy."

APSU said in a statement that "Austin Peay offered first-time, full-time freshmen the opportunity to avoid this increase by making early enrollment commitments before May 1" by signing up for orientation and registering for housing.

The last time Austin Peay increased its tuition was in June 2021, for the 2021-22 academic year when the tuition increased by 1.6% and fees increased by 2%.

Austin Peay currently has the second-lowest tuition rate for undergraduates among Tennessee's public universities, behind Tennessee State University.

Public comments can be submitted in advance of the APSU's Board of Trustees meeting regarding the tuition increase. Comments are accepted until Tuesday, June 6 via the Tuition Transparency and Accountability website or by mail to the Secretary to the Board at P.O. Box 4576, Clarksville, TN 37044.

The chart shows a comparison of tuition and fees for the 2021-22 academic year for Tennessee state public universities with ranking for in-state undergraduates from highest to lowest. The information is provided by Middle Tennessee State University.
The chart shows a comparison of tuition and fees for the 2021-22 academic year for Tennessee state public universities with ranking for in-state undergraduates from highest to lowest. The information is provided by Middle Tennessee State University.

Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee's Board of Trustees voted on June 20 on an approximate 3% increase in tuition, fees and housing rates for the upcoming academic year.

This year's budget includes a 2.98% increase in tuition and mandatory fees spread throughout many areas of the school's budget, according to MTSU.

The revenue from the increase of tuition will be used for:

  • Enhanced scholarship programs for incoming and continuing students

  • Promotions for faculty that advance from assistant to associate to full professor

  • New academic programs in high demand in the job markets

  • Inflationary increases in technology infrastructure and utility costs

Fee increases include:

  • $2 increase for parking services

  • $4 increase for the student health services

  • $2 increase for the student recreation center

  • $5 fee for technology access

  • $23 increase in the athletic fee, to support the debt on the Student Athlete Performance Center and renovations to the Murphy Center

Before the vote, Board members stopped for comments that included discussing a letter from the Student Government Association and acknowledging the over 100 public comments they received from students, parents and staff members.

One of the SGA's concerns was the athletic fee increase, which will now be $38. The fee will go towards athletic capital projects like work on the Murphy Center, which is 50 years old.

SGA recommended doing a gradual increase over a three-year period, instead of all at once.

"I'm sympathetic with cost and rise of inflation, but let's just get it over with," said Trustee Bill Jones.

After a vote, the decision to spread the fee over 3 years failed, but the vote to raise fees, tuition and housing passed unanimously.

The Board of Trustees also expressed regret in naming it the athletic fee because it now has the idea that the money is going to the athletic department, instead of work on the Murphy.

"I read all of the comments," Rick Cottle said. "Over 40 mentioned the athletic department, so now it's like a negative view of them."

Public comments had to be submitted to the MTSU Board of Trustees by Friday, June 9 at 4:30 p.m. to the Board of Trustees website.

University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee's proposed budget comes as a relief to some, as it keeps tuition the same for the fourth year in a row.

Although the tuition remains the same, the facilities and transportation fees would increase, which would make the cost to attend for in-state students $13,484, increasing by $240.

The last time UTK increased its tuition was in 2020 when it rose by 2%.

This story is ongoing and we will report on the outcome of both APSU and MTSU's meetings.

Reporter Kenya Anderson can be reached at kanderson@nashvill.gannett.com or on Twitter at KenyaAnderson32.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Tuition and fee increase for APSU, MTSU are coming this fall