Rising Costs Prompt SEMO to Increase Tuition

In an effort to keep up with rising operational expenses, SEMO has announced a 4.29% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, starting in fall 2024.

SEMO President Dr. Carlos Vargas said the reason for the increase stems from a few different financial areas.

“We have our revenue that comes mostly from the appropriation that the state of Missouri gives us, plus the tuition from students. Our expenses are the personnel costs, the faculty, the staff and the expenses resulting from keeping the campus operating,” Vargas said.

Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success Dr. Debbie Below said the university has two main cost drivers: personnel—the teachers and other staff needed to keep the university running—and the costs associated with maintaining physical facilities.

“There was a 5% increase in fringe benefits, which is just the pass through of all the costs related to having employees that are not always in our control. When you think about the size of this campus and the deferred maintenance, that is the responsibility of the institution. Providing a safe campus, a well-maintained campus, is somewhat of a driver as well,” Below said.

In a news brief released on SEMO's website following the decision, the costs per credit hour for this upcoming academic year were outlined. For undergraduate domestic students, 1 credit hour will cost $316.50 including all course fees, and $546.50 for non-domestic students.

For graduate domestic students, that cost will be $427.74 per credit hour and $735.39 for non-domestic students. For regional campus costs, it will be $214.96 per credit hour after other course fees.

Vargas said that to ensure tuition increases are feasible, all recommendations for increases are presented to the Board of Directors for approval.

“The governor, on a yearly basis, makes a recommendation to the legislator as to what percent increase he is proposing for the higher education institution. It’s not until the legislator reacts to the budget proposed by the governor that they come together. At the end, the governor signs a budget for the state of Missouri,” Vargas said.

Vargas also emphasized that raising tuition is not a decision taken lightly. It takes careful consideration and ongoing measures to keep classes as affordable as possible.

“Increasing tuition is not something that we enjoy doing. We typically go into it with a very thoughtful analysis of what it is that we need to do, and very often throughout the year we are looking at what kinds of things we shouldn’t be doing and what we can do to modify to make it more efficient, so students can afford to come to the university,” Vargas said.

With the added financial burden the increased tuition may cause, Below said there are a few things students can do to stay on top of their payments, such as setting an appointment with financial services to create a payment plan and ensuring that the FAFSA is completed.

“Students need to complete their FAFSA no later than March 1st. What's critical is entering a payment arrangement now, as opposed to waiting and seeing what happens,” Below said.

Below also noted what keeps the university running and providing quality education for students is its faculty and staff.

“We’re extremely proud of the quality of education that we offer here, and our ability to attract talented faculty and staff. So much of our tuition goes to funding the people who make the organization run, and who interact with students every day. And so the fact that we’re able to do that as a larger public university, and at a lesser cost than any of our peers is something we’re extremely proud of,” Below said