Tuition Hike for Community Colleges Around Albany

Tuition this fall at local colleges will be higher due to the state’s cut in aid to community colleges. Governor Cuomo and the Legislature may have reached a budget deal, but the result was a six percent decrease in aid for community colleges.  Students will pay almost nine percent more at Hudson Valley Community College while students at Schenectady County Community College will see a three percent increase.

Rensselaer County's Legislature passed a budget for HVCC not too long ago that calls for students to spend $3,700 a year to be full-time.  That's a $300 increase during the 2010-11 school year.  Schenectady County hasn't passed their budget yet, but will vote on Tuesday.  Their spending calls for full-time students to see a $304 increase this year.

Tuition at community colleges use to call for the county, state and student to split up and  pay a third of the tuition each, evenly.  However, students are now paying more than half because the local and state governments don't want to create an increase for taxpayers.  SCCC Presdient Quintin B. Bullock stated $1,700 per sememester is still one of the lowest tuition rates amongst community colleges across the state.

Did you go to a community college or, is your college student enrolled for the 2011-12 school year?  If so, what do you think of the tuition increase?