Beginning next school year, Jefferson College will have a tiered-tuition model that should make it easier for students to know exactly how much they will pay to take a particular class there. The new model also will better match what it actually costs the college to provide a specific class, college officials said.
Jefferson College students currently pay a certain fee per credit hour, along with other applicable costs, such as lab and technology fees. The credit-hour fees vary depending on whether students live in Jefferson County, outside the county but still in the state or out of the state.
Right now, Jefferson College tuition costs $120 per credit hour for in-district (county) students; $180 for out-of-district students; and $240 for out-of-state students. When applicable, technology fees are $25, activity fees $5 and book fees $24.
Under the tiered-tuition model, which will take effect for the 2024-2025 school year, classes will be categorized in three tiers, with Tier 1 classes costing the least and Tier 3 classes costing the most.
In addition, class fees, which currently are charged separately, will be included in the overall hourly tuition cost for each class when the tiered system takes effect.
“We will have three tiers that vary in price based on the costs of running the programs,” said Chris DeGeare, the college’s vice president of academic affairs. “A higher (number) tier costs the college more to operate. The higher the tier, the more expensive.”
■ Tier 1 classes will cost $175 per credit hour for in-district students; $235 per credit hour for out-of-district students; and $295 per credit hour for out-of-state students.
Examples of Tier 1 classes, which account for about 78 percent of the college’s credit hours, include art, business-management, criminal justice, EMT/paramedic, English, mathematics, physical science, psychology and theatre.
■ Tier 2 costs will be $230 per credit hour for in-district students; $290 per credit hour for out of district; and $350 per credit hour for out of state. Some of the Tier 2 classes, which make up about 14 percent of the college’s credit hours, are automotive technology, chemistry, culinary arts, engineering, the Law Enforcement Academy, machine tool technology, music and veterinary technology.
■ Tier 3 costs will be $295 per credit hour for in-district students; $355 per credit hour for out of district and $415 per credit hour for out of state.
Tier 3 classes, which comprise about 8 percent of the college’s credit hours, include those for physical therapist assistant, practical nursing, radiologic technology and registered nursing.
DeGeare said he believes the tiered-pricing system benefit students.
“It will improve transparency. It will be so much easier for students to learn what it costs to pay for classes.
“Right now, we have a variety of different fees, which is typical of higher education. But, going forward, will have specific rates for each credit hour. Right now, students enrolling in a class do not necessarily know all the fees for a class until they’re enrolled in the class. That can include lab fees, activity fees, technology fees and other fees. Instead, we roll it all into one tuition price.
“Take a science class, for example. Now, there would be the charge for the current tuition rate, an activity fee, a technology fee, a lab fee. If that same class was online, it would have an online fee. Instead, that will change to one tuition price.”
DeGeare said that Jefferson College tuition will increase overall for the next academic year, but it would have increased even if the tiered system had not been adopted..
“For example, computer concepts, an online course, currently is a three-hour course that with fees that costs $496,” he said. “The new price will be $525, a 5 1/2 percent increase.”
DeGeare said the increases will vary depending on what type of classes they are.
Despite the upcoming tuition increases, DeGeare said, Jefferson College remains an economical option for students who want to pursue degrees.
“Our tuition did not keep up with the rate of inflation the past three years,” he said. “Even with the increase, we’re still far more affordable than going directly to a university. And, our students do as well as students who start at a university (in their college careers).”
DeGeare said Jefferson College is one of the last community colleges in the state to change to a tiered-tuition system.
“Tiered tuition has been a very recent development at community colleges in Missouri,” he said. “Almost all are doing it, 10 out of 12.”
“We’ll make it 11 out of the 12 community colleges in Missouri,” Jefferson College President Dena McCaffrey added.
The Jefferson College Board of Trustees voted 4-0 Jan. 11 to adopt the tiered-tuition system.
Board member Marc Williams was absent from the meeting, and board member Steve Meinberg left before the vote was taken.