Tuition at the University of Indianapolis has risen over $9,000 over the past decade. There are various reasons for tuition increases at colleges and universities. An article written by University of Massachusetts Global said that residency status may have a part in tuition increases at universities. Additionally, UIndy’s enrollment has been slowly declining since 2019, according to an article written by College Tuition Compare.
According to an article by former Reflector Editor-in-Chief James Figy, for the 2014-2015 academic year, tuition rose 3%, making the total cost $25,155. For this year, room and board also increased 2.5% making the total $9,010, according to the article. The reason for the increase was due to the higher costs for maintenance, heating and cooling and healthcare for the staff and faculty. According to former President Robert Manuel in the article, the tuition needed to rise in order to keep the university competitive. Financial aid was funded by the $2 million generated by the increase.
For the 2015-2016 academic year, tuition rose another 3%, making the total $25,910, according to an article by former Reflector Editorial Assistant Emanuel Cela. For a standard room, the price rose from $4,570 to $4,730 and the 14-meal plan ros from $4,440 to $4,594. The reason for the increase was maintenance, heating and cooling and salary price increases, according to the article. Another $2 million was added to financial aid.
In an article by former Reflector Editor-in-Chief Kylee Crane, tuition for the 2016-2017 academic year increased 3.9%, making the total $26,920. The price of a standard room rose from $4,730 to $4,928 and the 14-meal plan rose from $4,594 to $4,720, the article said. According to former Executive Vice President for Campus Affairs and Enrollment Services Mark Weigand, the main reason for the increase was faculty and staff salaries. UIndy had a 11:1 student-faculty ratio and needed to raise salaries in order to keep faculty, Weigand said.
Tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year had a 3.5% increase, making the total $28,836, according to an article by former Reflector Editor-in-Chief Zoë Berg. A standard double room rose from $4,928 to $5,280 and the 14-meal plan rose from $4,720 to $5,008. These funds were meant to be allocated to electricity, heating and cooling, snow removal, bandwidth and insurance price increases, the article said. Additionally, there was a $4 million increase for financial aid. At this time, UIndy was still the third-lowest priced private university in Indiana.
For the 2019-2020 academic year, tuition rose 3.5%, making the total $29,844, according to an article by former Reflector Managing Editor Maia Gibson. The standard room rate rose from $5,280 to $5,464 and the 14-meal plan rose from $5,008 to $5,136, the article said This was due to increased salaries, electricity, heating and cooling and other maintenance costs, according to the article. A $3 million increase was allocated for financial aid. According to the article, UIndy was the sixth-lowest costing private university in Indiana at the time.
In the 2020-21 academic year, UIndy surpassed $30,000 for tuition, making the total $30,888, according to an article by former Reflector Editor-in-Chief Noah Crenshaw. The standard room rate rose from $5,464 to $5,656, and the 14-meal plan rose from $5,136 to $5,316. According to the article, UIndy was ranked 18th in Indiana, second-lowest, right above Huntington University. Many of these funds went to improving technology capabilities for UIndy’s network and classes, enhancing academic programs, creating a new student recreation center in Schwitzer Student Center and more.
According to an article by former Reflector Editor-in-Chief Jacob Walton, tuition rose to $33,252 for the 2022-2023 academic year, marking the largest tuition increase over the past four years. Manuel said that the conversations for this increase were difficult because of the COVID-19 pandemic but needed to be done in order to “provide the desired level of education.” The article said that overall student fees, meal plans and room and board increased $600. The reasons for the increase, according to the article, were COVID-19 responses, security expansion and more. Tuition will be $34,416 for the 2023-24 academic year, according to an article written by current Reflector Editor-in-Chief Kassandra Darnell. For a standard room there will be an increase of $304 and for the 14-meal plan there will be an increase of $284, according to the article. Funds from the increase will go toward payroll expenses, utilities, vendors, updates to the Cory Bretz residence hall, initiatives to improve safety on campus and looking into dining experience, the article said. This is the highest tuition has ever been, with an almost $10 thousand increase in less than a decade.
